Mayor's Blog: Water Quality Report for Gilbertsville

Village of Gilbertsville

P.O. Box 146

Gilbertsville, NY 13776

(607) 783- 2440

E-mail: clerk@gilbertsvilleny.org

Public Water Supply # 3800149

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2020

The Village of Gilbertsville is providing you with this consumer confidence report, which is a snapshot of Gilbertsville’s drinking water quality between January and December 2020. Safe drinking water is our primary commitment.

WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS REPORT?

Congress passed the Safe Water Drinking Act in 1974 and gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the job of setting standards, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), to ensure safe drinking water throughout the United States.

In 1996, Congress passed amendments that require drinking water systems to give consumers important information about their water, including where it comes from, and how your water quality compares with federal standards.

WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY WATER?

Our Village Board meets the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Office on Lover’s Lane Road. The public is invited. You may also call Richard Gilbert, Water Superintendent at: 607 783-2440.

WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?

The Village of Gilbertsville’s Water Department supplies water to approximately 370 village residents. The Village also provides water to three homes in the Town of Butternuts on Mill Street. In 2019, the Village of Gilbertsville averaged 32,517 gallons of water per day.

The Village Water System’s primary source is the manganese treatment plant located 23 Grove Street. The two wells are approximately 236 feet deep. The well’s maximum output in a twenty-four hour period is approximately 240,000 gallons each.

WHY MUST YOU TREAT MY WATER?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain very small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily mean that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health risk can be obtained by calling EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Water is gathered and piped to our storage reservoir on Cliff Street. The water is chlorinated and filtered (manganese) in the well house on Grove Street before it is pumped up to the storage reservoir on Cliff Street.

WHAT CONTAMINANTS MIGHT BE IN THE WATER?

Contaminants that may be present in raw or source water before it is treated are microbial contaminants, inorganic contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, radioactive contaminants, and organic chemical contaminants.

*Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

*Inorganic contamination, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

*Pesticides and herbicides, may come from a variety of sources, such as agricultural and residential uses.

*Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring.

*Organic chemical contamination, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, storm runoff, and septic systems.

ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN GILBERTSVILLE’S WATER?

We are pleased to report that Gilbertsville’s water met and exceeded all federal drinking water standards in 2020.

However, even with the best water treatment, it’s not always possible to remove all contaminants. Earth and rock act as natural filters and remove many of these contaminants. The EPA sets limits on the amount of contaminants that can be in drinking water. Many tests were performed last year, including tests for turbidity and monthly tests for coliform, which can show the presence of microorganisms that could cause illness. Our water is tested by Life Science Laboratories in East Syracuse, NY.

IS OUR WATER SAFE FOR EVERYONE?

Some people may be more vulnerable to drinking water contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplant, 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 guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosparidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Laboratory Results Analysis for 2020

Table of Detected Contaminants
Contaminant	Violation	Date of Sample	Level Detected	Unit	Regulatory Limit (MCL, TT or AL)	MCLG	Likely Source of Contamination
	Yes/No		(Avg/Max)	Measure-ment
			(Range)
Coliform/Ecoli	NO	1-9-20	Negative				Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution.
Nitrate	NO	4-1-20	<0.2	mg/L	10	n/a	Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome..
Lead	NO	8/17/16	6.5	ug/L	AL = 15	0	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Copper	NO	8/17/16	0.275	mg/L	AL = 1.3	1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.
Definitions:
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): 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.
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Milligrams per liter (mg/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million - ppm).
Micrograms per liter (ug/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion - ppb).
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): A measure of the radioactivity in water. Lab results continued next page: