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43601 506th St. NW


Box 397


Ph (701) 385-4093 Fax (701) 385-4054 Kenmare, ND 58746




For Upper Souris Water Users Association
SYSTEM I
Upper Souris Water Users Assn. as requested by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), has prepared and is distributing to our customers this year's annual drinking water quality report. This is our opportunity to share information on the quality of water we provide to your home, apartment, or business. In addition, this report is an educational tool that allows us to inform you of the source of our water, our treatment facilities, and processes. It is our daily goal to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.
If you own or manage an apartment complex or have renters, we encourage you to share this report with them. If you have questions regarding this report, please call Gary Hager, our General Manager, at (701) 385-4093. Questions will also be answered at our regularly scheduled board meetings every 3rd Monday each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Association's office. If you are aware of non-English speaking individuals who need help with the appropriate language translation, please call Mr. Hager at the number listed above.
This report has required definitions of terms, language requirements, tables of water quality data, and other pertinent information you will hopefully find interesting and educational. Any information disclosed in this report does not compromise or threaten the security of our water system.
A. Source of Upper Souris Water Assn’s Water, System I:
Upper Souris Water Users - System I currently uses a ground water obtained from the Columbus Aquifer and we have two production wells.
Our ground water treatment plant has limited production of 150 gallons per minute and is treated for iron and manganese removal and chlorination.
B. Source Water Assessment:
Upper Souris Water Users - System I is involved in the Well Head Protection Program. Our public water system, in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Health, has completed the delineation and contaminant/land use inventory elements of the North Dakota Source Water Protection Program. Based on the information from these elements, the North Dakota Department of Health has determined that our source water is not susceptible to potential contaminants. Copies of the Wellhead Protection report along with the relevant information are available at our Association's office during normal business hours.
C. Contaminants Which May Reasonably Be Expected To Be Found In Drinking Water and Bottled Water:
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) Includes rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the 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:
(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic system, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
(B) 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.
(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
(D) 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.
(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Required Health Statements
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.
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 the 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:
Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic system, 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 field 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.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in 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 advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and ot,her microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Arsenic: At Arsenic Levels> 5 ug/L, but < or = 10 ug/L, use this Educational Language: While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
At Arsenic Levels> 10 us/L use this Health language:  Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the MCL over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Health Effects Language:
Copper: 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.
Lead: Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney or high blood pressure.
It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water; you may wish to have home water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than 6 months of age. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing Nitrate in excess of 10 ppm water can become seriously ill and, if left untreated; may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and “blue baby syndrome." Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.
HAA5s: Some people who drink water containing Haloacetic Acids (HAA5s) in excess oft he MCL over many years may have an increased chance of getting cancer.
TTHMs: Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess oft he MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Fluoride: Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or more may cause mottling of children's teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums.
Radioactive Contaminants, Health Effects Language:
Beta/photon emitters (mrem/yr): Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation known as photons and beta radiation.
Some people who drink water containing beta particle and photon radioactivity in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Alpha emitters (pCi/L): Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation knOVl'11 as alpha radiation. Some people who dlli'1k water containing alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Combined radium (pCi/L): Some people who drink water containing ramum-226 or 228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Uranium (pCi/L): Some people who drink water containing uranium in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer and kidney toxicity.
UPPER SOlJRIS WUA-SYSTEM 1- ND5101074 Lead/Copper

90th% Samples 95th
Date # Samples AL Percentile Exceed AL Percentile Units
Copper 90th Percentile 6/30/2006 10 1.3 0.91 ppm
Lead 90th Percentile 6/30/2006 10 15 0 ppb
AL = Action Level ppm = parts per million ppb = parts per billion
Health Effects Language
Copper: 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.
Lead: Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental 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.
It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
The major source in drinking water for lead and copper come from corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.

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