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We're pleased to present to you this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report
is designed to inform you about the safe clean water we deliver to you every day. 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 quality of your water. The city of Ashley
draws its potable water from an unnamed aquifer. The city of Ashley has two municipal ground
water wells.
The city of Ashley is participating in North Dakota’s Wellhead Protection Program. Information
on Ashley’s Wellhead Protection Plan can be obtained from Jolene Weisser, Ashley City
Auditor. The North Dakota Department of Health has prepared a Source Water Assessment for
the city of Ashley. Information on Ashley’s Source Water Assessment can be obtained from
Jolene Weisser, Ashley City Auditor. 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 likely susceptible" to potential contaminants. No significant sources of contamination have
been identified.
The city of Ashley is pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state
requirements.
This report shows our water quality and what it means.
If you have questions regarding this report, please call Jolene Weisser, Ashley City Auditor, at
(701) 288-3096. Questions can also be answered at our regularly scheduled monthly council
meeting held the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Ashley City Hall. If you are
aware of non-English speaking individuals who need help with the appropriate language
translation, please call Jolene Weisser at the number listed above.
The city of Ashley would appreciate it if large volume water customers would please post copies
of Annual Drinking Water Quality Report in conspicuous locations or distribute them to
tenants, residents, patients, students, and/or employees, so individuals who consume the water,
but do not receive a water bill can learn about our water system.
Ashley routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and
State laws. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to
December 31st, 2007. As authorized and approved by EPA, the state has reduced monitoring
requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations
of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of our data
[e.g., for inorganic contaminants], though representative, is more than one year old.
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 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 stormwater , industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil production, mining or
farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, which 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 can also come from gas
stations, urban stormwater 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, 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.
In the table on page 3, 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:
Not Applicable- (N/A)
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one
minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (μg/l)- one part per billion corresponds to one
minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/l) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
Action Level (AL)- The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements which a water system must follow.
Treatment Technique (TT) - A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the
level of a contaminant in drinking water.
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.
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.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) – 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.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) – 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 contaminants.
TEST RESULTS FOR THE CITY OF ASHLEY |
Contaminant |
MCLG |
MCL |
Level
Detected |
Unit
Measu
rement |
Range |
Date
(year) |
Violation
Yes/No
Other Info |
Likely Source of Contamination |
| Radioactive Contaminants |
| 1. Uranium, Combined |
|
30 |
3.32 |
ppb |
N/A |
2003 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
| Inorganic Contaminants |
| 2. Copper |
1.3 |
AL=1.3
90%
Value |
0.283 |
ppm |
N/A |
2005 |
*No |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural
deposits; leaching from wood
preservatives |
| 3. Lead |
0 |
AL=15
90%
Value |
6.84 |
ppb |
N/A |
2005 |
*No |
Corrosion of household plumbing
systems, erosion of natural
deposits |
| 4. Nitrate +Nitrite (AS N) |
10 |
10 |
0.42 |
ppm |
N/A |
2005 |
No |
Runoff from fertilizer use;
leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; erosion of natural
deposits |
| 5. Arsenic |
0 |
10 |
1.64 |
ppb |
N/A |
2007 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits;
runoff from orchards; runoff
from glass and electronics
production wastes |
| Disinfectants |
| 6. Chlorine |
MRDL
G=4 |
MRDL=4.
0 |
1.1 |
ppm |
0.8 to
1.66 |
2007 |
No |
Water additive used to control
microbes |
* No sites exceeded the lead or copper action levels in 2005.
EPA requires monitoring of over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those contaminants listed in
the table above are the only contaminants detected in your drinking water.
We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We
have learned through our monitoring and testing that some contaminants have been detected. The
EPA has determined that your water IS SAFE at these levels.
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
the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects
can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).
MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for
many regulated contaminants, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the
MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.
Thank you for allowing us to provide 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. These improvements sometimes require rate structure adjustments.
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/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 (1-800-426-4791).
Tampering with a public water system is a federal offense. Report suspicious activity to local
law enforcement immediately.
Please call Jolene Weisser, Ashley City Auditor, at 701-288-3096 if you have questions
concerning your city’s water system.
The city of Ashley works diligently to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our
customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of
life and our children’s future. |
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