Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority

2013 ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT

PWS #CT1160011

Continuing Our Commitment

    Once again the Town of Putnam is pleased to present the annual water quality report for 2013. Federal and State regulations require public water systems to publish a yearly water quality report. We feel it is important that you know where your water comes from as well as how it is treated and what substances may be in it.

 2013 was a very active year for the Water Department as far as planning for the major projects go.  Our two (2) Water Diversion Permits have been issued by the CT DEEP for the Little River Treatment Plant and the Park Street Well Field. The permits are good for 25 years and allow us to withdraw a maximum of 1.8 million gallons of water daily from each source.  We should not have to issue mandatory water bans from this point going forward.         

We will be breaking ground in 2014 on the pipe replacement/relining project, the Richmond Hill Storage Tank modification / rehabilitation  project and installing Greensand Filtration at the Well Field to help reduce or eliminate the Iron and Manganese found in the ground water. 

For more information about this annual report, or for any questions relating to your drinking water, please call

 Gerard M. Beausoleil, Director of Public Works @ 860-963-6819 or the Water Treatment Plant @ 860-963-6823

Community Participation

If you have concerns about your drinking water or water supply, you are invited to attend the WPCA monthly meetings. For dates and times of committee meetings please call our main office at, 963-6819 or visit the Town of Putnam website @ www.putnamct.us  

Where Does My Water Come From?

We currently have three (3) stable sources of water.  Our main source of supply comes from Roseland Lake (Little River Watershed), which converges into the Little River.  Our second source of supply is from our Park Street Well Field which consists of ten production wells,  six (6) which are shallow sand and gravel wells and four (4) deep bedrock wells.  Our third source is via an Interconnection with the CT Water Company, Crystal Division, located in Killingly.       

How is My Water Treated?

The water treated from the surface water supply, consist of a series of steps. First water is drawn from the River and sent to a chamber for pre-disinfection with chlorine dioxide and chlorine. This allows for oxidation of iron and manganese and total organic carbon levels that are present in the raw water. The water then goes to a mixing tank where polyaluminum chloride is added. The addition of these substances cause small particles to adhere to one another (called “floc”) and makes them heavy enough to settle. The water then goes to a filtering unit where the smaller floc particles are removed, turbidity disappears and clean water emerges. Chlorine is added again as a precaution against any bacteria that may still be present. We carefully monitor the amount of chlorine, adding the lowest quantity necessary to protect the safety of your water without compromising taste. Finally, the pH of the water is adjusted with Potassium Hydroxide and an Ortho Polyphosphate (corrosion inhibitor) is added to protect the pipes. The water is then pumped to two one million gallon storage tanks and then into your home.

The wells are treated at the well field with a corrosion inhibitor, pH adjustment and chlorine.  The treatment process at both the Surface Water Treatment Plant and the Well Field are continuously monitored by instrumentation and State Certified Water Treatment Operators to ensure safe clean water is being produced and pumped to your homes. 

Substances That Might Be in Drinking Water

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Public Health and the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate the water poses a health risk.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it can acquire naturally occurring minerals, in some cases, radioactive material; and substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Substances that may be present in water include:

Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agriculture livestock operations, or wildlife.

Inorganic Contaminants, such as road salt and metals, which can be naturally occurring or may result from urban stormwater 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 stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and may also, come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or may be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Table Definitions

AL (Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment, or other requirements, which a water system must follow.

MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG as feasible using the best available technology. Secondary MCL’s (SMCL) are set to protect the odor, taste and appearance of drinking water.

MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known risk to health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.

NA: Not applicable     ND: Not detected    NS: No standard 

NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit): Measurement of the clarity, or turbidity, of water

PCi/L (picocuries per liter): A measure of radioactivity.

ppb (parts per billion): One part substance per billion parts water (or micrograms per liter)

ppm (parts per million): One part substance per million parts water (or milligrams per liter)

TT (Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Turbidity:  A measurement of how cloudy the water is. We monitor this because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

90th Percentile: Out of every 10 homes sampled, 9 were at or below this level

During the past year we have taken hundreds of water samples in order to determine the presence of any radioactive, biological, inorganic, volatile organic or synthetic organic contaminants. The table on the last pages show only those contaminants that were detected in the water. Although the substances listed here are under the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), we feel it is important that you know exactly what was detected and how much of the substance was present in the water. The state requires us to monitor for certain substances less than once per year because the concentration of these substances do not change frequently. In these cases, the most recent sample data are included; along with the year in which the samples were taken.

Violation Notes:

 There were no violations for exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level for any Substance in 2013.

Please see the table on the end of this report for the substances that were detected in your drinking water.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Why is my water brown sometimes?

Typical causes of discolored water include fire in the area, a water-main break, hydrant maintenance, or water main flushing.

Why does my water look cloudy or milky?

 Air becomes trapped in the lines. This trapped air becomes suspended in the water, giving it a milky appearance.

When I run the water, it smells.

 Most of the time it is not the water, but rather, food particles that are left in the drain overnight. When the water is run, the odor is forced out. Putting a small amount of bleach in the drain overnight, periodically, will remove the odors.

Is Tap Water Safe for Everyone?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromized 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 may be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline. (800-426-4791)

 

In 2013 Putnam Water produced 373,604,300 gallons of water from the following sources: 219,472,600 gallons from the Little River, 122,010,400 from the Park Street Well Field and 32,121,300 from the CT Water Co. Interconnection on Tracy Road.

 

SWAP

The Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP), established under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, requires every state to: inventory land uses within the recharge areas of all public water supply sources; asses the susceptibility of drinking water sources to contamination from these land uses; and publicize the results to provide support for improved protection.

Little River Diversion Source Water Assessment

The Overall Susceptibility Rating: HIGH

This rating indicated susceptibility to potential sources of contamination that may be in the source  

 water area and does not necessarily imply poor water quality.

Strengths: There are no point source pollution discharge points present in the watershed area. 

Potential Risk Factors: 

ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE

This source carries a high risk factor, as it is environmentally sensitive. The reservoir is able to support excessive growth of algae and plankton.

Potential contaminant sources are present in the watershed and homeowners should be encouraged to adopt residential best management practices that minimize the use of hazardous wastes or generation of waste in the watershed.

Potential Risk Factors

This source carries a moderate risk factor as major state and interstate roadways are present in the watershed, there are known contaminant release points present in the watershed. There should be monitoring for road salt and herbicides as well as addressing the potential for hazardous spills from vehicular accidents.

More than 50% of land for this source water is underdeveloped, which could present a risk if inappropriately developed.

Source Protection Needs

This source carries a high rating as less than 1% of the land is owned by the public water system and less than 5% exists as open space. It is advisable to increase ownership or control of watershed area whenever land becomes available for purchase. It is also recommended to establish local watershed protection regulations to protect public drinking water sources.

Park St Well Field

The Overall Susceptibility Rating:  MODERATE

This source carries the same recommendations as that of the Little River Diversion.

For the complete report on the Internet please go to: State of Connecticut Department of Public Health-Drinking Water Division- Source Water Assessment Report- Town of Putnam, CT PWS # CT1160011

Special Warning about the health effects of Lead & Copper:

Although all of our test results indicate we were well below the action levels for Lead and Copper we are required  to inform our customer of the possible health effects.

Lead – Major Sources in Drinking Water:  Corrosion of household plumbing systems including piping and fixtures; erosion of natural deposits in the environment.

Health Effects Statement:  Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities.  Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Copper – Major Sources in Drinking Water:  Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.

Health Effects Statement:  Copper is an essential nutrient,  but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress.  Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage.  People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal doctor.

Additional information on Lead and Copper is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water Conservation:

The Putnam Water Company and the Town of Putnam continues the partnership with the EPA on a water conservation project called the Water Sense Program.  The Town of Putnam and WPCA hired a consultant to conduct a Water Conservation Audit on all town owned buildings to determined where water usage could be reduced.  Please contact the WPCA Office at the Town Hall for more details.  A summary report on the water conservation program is available upon request.  We encourage all water users on the Putnam Water System to participate in this very important program. 

Source Water Protection Plan:

The Town of Putnam has adopted a Source Water Protection Plan that includes a number of action items to protect our Aquifer Protection Area containing the Park Road Well Field.  The Putnam Zoning Commission is the responsible town agency for implementation of the Plan.  This includes installation and monitoring of sentinel wells, public education of the various uses in the Aquifer Protection Area, including the Providence & Worcester Railroad, industries, Algonquin Pipeline Co., residences and emergency response personnel; inspection and maintenance program for storm water sewers, and elimination, as much as practicable, of roadway stormwater discharges.  This Plan will be continually reviewed and updated as required by changing circumstances within the Aquifer Protection Area.  The Putnam WPCA is committed to protect and preserve this vital source of water.