We're pleased to present to you the Annual Water Quality Report for the year 2005. This report is designed to inform you about the quality of water and services we deliver to you everyday. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the drinking quality of your water. Our water source is listed below:
Source Name |
Source Location |
Source Type |
Source ID Number |
South Toledo Bend Water District |
Toledo Bend |
Surface water |
1085055-001 |
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial Contaminants – such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants – such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
- Pesticides and Herbicides – which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic Chemical Contaminants – including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
- Radioactive Contaminants – which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
A Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) is now available from our office. This plan is an assessment of a delineated area around our listed sources through which contaminates, if present, could migrate and reach our source water. It also includes an inventory of potential sources of contamination within the delineated area, and a determination of the water supply's susceptibility to contamination by the identified potential sources. According to the Source Water Assessment Plan, our water system has a susceptibility rating of ‘high’. If you would like to review the Source Water Assessment Plan, please feel free to contact our office at 318-586-9836
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminates in water provided by Public Water Systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminates in bottle water which must provide the same protection for public health. We are pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets Federal and State requirements. If you have any questions about this report concerning your water utility, please contact Herman H. Herzog at 318-586-9836. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you have any questions about this report, want to attend any scheduled meetings or simply want to learn more about your drinking water, please feel free to contact our office at 318-586-9836. Our regularly scheduled meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 01:00 P.M. at the South Toledo Bend Water District's Main Plant located at 3260 Little Flock Road.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Office of Public Health routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The tables that follow show the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st - December 31st, 2005. Drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminates does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.
In the table below, you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:
- AL – (Action Level) - the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
- MCL – (Maximum Contaminant Level) - the "Maximum Allowed" (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
- MCLG – (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal) - the "Goal" (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
- MRDL – (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) – the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
- MRDLG – (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal) – the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
- Mrem/yr – (Millirems per year) - measure of radiation absorbed by the body.
- MFL – (Million Fibers per Liter) - million fibers per liter is a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers.
- ND – (Non-Detects) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
- NTU – (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
- ppm – (Parts per million) or mg/L (Milligrams per liter) - one part per million correspond to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
- ppb – (Parts per billion) or ug/L – (Micrograms per liter) - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
- ppt – (Parts per trillion) or ng/L – (Nanograms per liter) - one part per trillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000.
- ppq – (Parts per quadrillion) or pg/L – (Picograms per liter) - one part per quadrillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000,000.
- pCi/L – (picocuries per liter) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
- TT – (Treatment Technique) - a treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
- V&E – (Variances & Exemptions) - State or EPA permission not to meet MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.
During the period covered by this report we had the below noted violations of drinking water regulations.
There were no violations during the monitoring period of January 1st to December 31st, 2005
Our water system tested a minimum of 7 monthly samples in accordance with the coliform rule for microbiological contaminants. During the period covered by this report we had the below noted detections for microbiological contaminants.
There were no positive bacteriological samples during the monitoring period of January 1st to December 31st, 2005
In the table below, we have shown regulated contaminants but they were detected at levels BELOW their maximum contaminant level. These samples, except for lead and copper results and surface water systems, were collected at the raw water source and represent water before any treatment, blending or distribution. As such, the consumer tap levels could be less. The last chemical sampling of our source water was collected on Monday, February 14, 2005. Chemical Sampling of our drinking water may not be required on an annual basis, therefore, information provided in this table refers back to the latest year of chemical sampling results.
Contaminate |
Date |
Level |
MCL |
MCLG |
Copper
Major Sources: Corrosion of Household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives |
05/27/2003 |
0.20 |
AL= 1.3 |
1.3 |
Fluoride
Major Sources: Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
02/14/2005 |
0.10 |
4 |
4 |
| |
12/13/2004 |
0.10 |
4 |
4 |
| |
11/17/2003 |
0.10 |
4 |
4 |
| |
09/16/2002 |
0.10 |
4 |
4 |
| |
11/26/2001 |
0.10 |
4 |
4 |
Gross Beta particle Activity
Major Sources: Decay of natural and man-made deposits |
02/14/2005 |
3.00 |
50 |
0 |
| |
01/27/2003 |
3.00 |
50 |
0 |
| |
03/18/2002 |
3.00 |
50 |
0 |
| |
02/21/2000 |
4.00 |
50 |
0 |
Lead
Major Sources: Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits |
08/20/2003 |
1.00 |
AL= 15 |
0 |
TTHMS (Total trialomathanes)
Major Sources: By-product of drinking water chlorination
Annual Average 74 80 |
|
|
|
|
HAA5(5 Acids)
Major Sources: By-product of drinking water chlorination
Annual Average 13 60 |
|
|
|
|
Turbidity (Maximum Single Measurement) |
06/30/05 |
.222 |
TT= 1 |
n/a |
Turbidity (Lowest Monthly Percentage of Samples Meeting Turgidity Limits) |
1/12/05 |
100 |
TT= 0.3 |
n/a |
Note: Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. Its major sources include soil runoff. Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. |
There were no positive nitrate samples during the monitoring period of January 1st to December 31st, 2005 |
Environmental Protection Agency Required Health Effects Language
Additional Required Health effects Language |
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in the drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advise about drinking water from there healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline(800-426-4791)
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their livers, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in the drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advise about drinking water from there healthcare providers .EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline(800-426-4791)
Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than were allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their livers, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. |
Please call our office if you have any questions. The following personnel can assist you:
Don Kelly…………………………….. President
George Griffin …………………….Vice-President
Tom Harless ……………………..Secretary/Treasurer
Olie Forshee……………………………Board Member
Buddy Brandon………………………….Board Member
Herman H. Herzog…………………….Manager/Operator
Kurt Simoneaux………………………..Operator
Sarah Cooley…………………………….Operator
Steven Danley…………………………...Operator
Jimmy Speight…………………………..Operator
Belinda Houy……………………………Operator
Thank you for allowing us to continue providing your family with clean, quality water this year. In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply we sometimes need to make improvements that will benefit all of our customers. We ask that all our customers help us protect and conserve our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life, and our children's future. The water system did win the 68th Annual Water Tasting Contest at Houma, Louisiana on 17 March 2005. Also the AWWA Southwest Section Best Tasting Water at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 4 October 2005.
Herzog/hhh |
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