Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) -The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in the drinking water. MCL's are set as close to the MCLG's as feasibly possible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Containment Level Goal (MCLG) - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLG's allow for a margin of safety.

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

Parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L) - One part of contaminant per million parts of water.

Parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (ug/L) - One part of a contaminant per billion parts of water.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - A measure of the clarity of water. A Turbidity of 5.0 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - A measure of the radioactivity in water.

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

Microbiological Contaminants

‡ This test last performed in 1995

JWW routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1^st to December 31^st, 2002. (Some of our data may be more than one year old because the state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less often than once per year.)

There are seventy-six regulated contaminants that community water systems are required to test for including microbiological, radioactive, inorganic, synthetic organic including pesticides and herbicides, and volatile organic contaminants. We are exempt from testing for synthetic organic contaminants based upon a vulnerability assessment conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. The table above shows only those contaminants that were detected.

Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause 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

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 that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’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.

We have a source water protection plan available from our office that provides more information such as potential sources of contamination.

Lake Eucha scored 53 points out of a possible 100 for susceptibility, 45 of the points were automatic for any surface water and 8 were for nonpoint source land use such as agriculture 

Contaminants that may be present in source water before we treat it 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 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 and residential uses.

*Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring.

*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 stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Jay Utilities Authority Board

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