Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
for 2009 Village of Camden
14 Church Street - Camden, NY 13316
(Public Water Supply ID#NY3202385)


INTRODUCTION

To comply with State and Federal regulations, the Village of Camden, will be annually issuing this report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. Last year, your tap water met all State drinking water health standards. This report provides an overview of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact Jerry Williamson, Superintendent of Public Works at 245-2590. We want you to be informed about your drinking water. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Water and Sewer Board meetings. The meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, at 7:00PM, in the Village Office - Meeting Room - 14 Church Street.


WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?

In general, 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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Our water system serves approximately 2800 people through just over 900 service connections. Our water sources are drawn from three spring systems and if needed, an open reservoir (surface water) located in the hills northeast of the Village. Each spring system has two to four well basins and a collector junction box. We are fortunate, in that our water comes from the Tug Hill Aquifer, a 47- mile long crescent shaped deposit of sand and gravel that flanks the western and southwestern Tug Hill Plateau. The water is piped to the water treatment plant where it is disinfected with chlorine. Installation of the required filtration treatment equipment to meet the Federal Surface Water Treatment Rule and New York State requirements is nearly complete. If demand exceeds the capacity of our springs, we are able to add reservoir water after it has been filtered and disinfected. Last year we delivered nearly 47 million gallons of potable water (an average of 394,840 gallons per day).

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

A Source Water Assessment has been completed for the CAMDEN VILLAGE Water System. Possible and actual threats to drinking water source(s) were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the source(s). The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. The Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) is designed to compile, organize and evaluate information to make better decisions regarding protecting sources of public drinking water. A copy of the assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted above.
The land uses around the CAMDEN VILLAGE Water System sources were rated for their potential to cause contamination to the sources. All Camden sources were considered at a low risk for all contaminants related to land use. When combined with a low risk of contamination from discrete sources and a high natural sensitivity based on soils, contaminant history, surficial geology, aquifer information and bedrock geology, this created a medium high susceptibility for the source to contamination. When used, the Emmons Brook has a medium-high susceptibility rating for protozoa and enteric bacteria and viruses as it is a surface water source. This source is used on an emergency basis only. See section “Are there contaminants in our drinking water?” for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. The source water assessments provide resource managers with additional information for protecting source waters into the future.
Based upon the SWAP Report determinations, good judgement should be used and caution should be exercised when determining placement of certain materials, actions and facilities, including septic systems, high-risk businesses or chemical storage near the source(s). We work hard to ensure that the source of water for our system is protected from contamination.


GROUNDWATER UNDER THE DIRECT INFLUENCE OF SURFACE WATER (GWUDI) INFORMATION

From 2003-2005, the Oneida County Health Department conducted a study of our water system to determine if our source was under the direct influence of surface water. Based upon the data collected (e.g. temperature, conductivity, and precipitation), geology, construction methods, and soils, the OCHD has determined that the water source for the water system demonstrates characteristics of a groundwater source that is under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI). Therefore, we are required to take action to meet the water treatment standards established by the State. We have already begun this process and are working with the Oneida County Health Department to ensure compliance with the requirements and continued safe water service to our customers.

ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER?

As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, radioactive contaminants, disinfection byproducts, volatile organic compounds, and synthetic organic compounds. The table presented below depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, may be more than one year old.

It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably 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) or the Oneida County Health Department at 315-798-5064.

TABLE OF DETECTED CONTAMINANTS:
Contaminant Violation Yes/No Date of Sample Level Detected (Avg/Max) (Range) Unit Measurement MCLG / MRDLG Regulatory Limit (MCL, MRDL, TT or AL) Likely Source of Contamination
Physical Parameters
Turbidity (Distribution) (1) No Daily / monthly 0.05 (range = 0.02 – 0.08) NTU N/A TT = <5 NTU Soil Runoff.
Radioactive Contaminants
Gross alpha activity (including radium – 226 but excluding radon and uranium) No 2008 0.52 pCi/l 0 MCL=15 Erosion of natural deposits.
Radium – 226 No 2008 0.00854 pCi/l 0 MCL=5 Erosion of natural deposits.
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper No 9/09 0.16 (2) (range = 0.055 – 0.17) mg/l 1.3 AL = 1.3 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
Lead No 9/09 1.2 (3) (range = ND – 2.4) ug/l 0 AL = 15 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
Inorganics – Nitrate and Nitrite
Nitrate No 9/09 0.43 mg/l 10 MCL = 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; Erosion of natural deposits.
Disinfectants
Chlorine Residual No Daily / Monthly 0.4 (4) (range = 0.3 – 0.5) mg/l N/A MRDL = 4 (5) Water additive used to control microbes.
Disinfection Byproducts
Haloacetic Acids (mono-, di-, and trichloroacetic acid, and mono- and dibromoacetic acid) No 8/09 1.5 ug/l N/A MCL = 60 By-product of drinking water disinfection needed to kill harmful organisms.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs – chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform) No 8/09 5 ug/l N/A MCL = 80 By-product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. TTHMs are formed when source water contains large amounts of organic matter.

Notes:
1 - Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. Turbidity is measured on a regular basis in the distribution system. All levels recorded during 2008 were within the acceptable range allowed.
2 - The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the ten (10) sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the copper values detected at your water system. In this case, the 90th percentile was the ninth highest value. The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.
3 - The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the ten (10) sites tested. The action level for lead was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.
4 - This level represents the average and range of results of monthly sampling.
5 – Value presented represents the Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) which is a level of disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer’s tap without an unacceptable possibility of adverse health effects. MRDLs are currently not regulated but in the future they will be enforceable in the same manner as MCLs.
DEFINITIONS:
ACTION LEVEL AL The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
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.
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 contamination.
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).
NEPHELOMETRIC TURBIDITY UNIT NTU A measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
NON-DETECTED ND Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
PICOCURIES PER LITER pCi/l A measure of the radioactivity in water.
TREATMENT TECHNIQUE TT A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking.

WHAT DOES THIS INFORMATION MEAN?

We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below the level allowed by the State and Federal governments.


IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS?

During 2009, our system was in general compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements.
On April 24, 2009, our chlorine injection system was turned off to ensure the adequate installation of new treatment equipment controls. However, the system was never returned to normal operating conditions. On April 25, 2009, we discovered this situation during routine daily checks of the system. Therefore, a Precautionary Boil Water Order was issued. We were able to determine through sampling, that the water quality was adequate for service and the boil water restrictions were rescinded on April 28, 2009.
The Village of Camden is currently in violation of the Surface Water Treatment Rule. Therefore, we are required to include the following statement in this report: “Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.” The Village has been approved by the New York State Department of Health to install a new filtration system in the existing treatment plant. As a part of our compliance with the treatment requirements water sampling during 2008 and 2009 indicated the raw water from our sources had very low levels of contamination from E.coli (one sample out of 26). Until the new facilities are fully installed and approved for use, we will be distributing every three months, information related to the violation. We are including the information with this report.


DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?

Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).


DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?

Some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).


WHY SAVE WATER AND HOW TO AVOID WASTING IT?

While we strive to insure an adequate supply of water through leak detection and distribution system repairs, we encourage everyone to practice sensible water conservation. Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water: . Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life; . Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and . Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential fire fighting needs are met. You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include: . Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity. . Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. . Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it up and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year. . Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank - watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.


WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

The Village of Camden continually works to maintain and upgrade water system components and equipment to ensure continued service of high quality water to our customers. We conduct an annual leak detection program to locate and isolate leaks in the water system. We have found and repaired some significant leaks in our system using this program. We are regularly replacing out-dated water meters with newer versions.
The Water Board continues to act proactively to protect our watershed. The Oneida County Health Department performs an annual inspection of the water system and has found the system is well operated and maintained.


CLOSING

Thank you for allowing us to continue to provide your family with quality drinking 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. The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure. Rate adjustments may be necessary in order to address these improvements. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community. Please call our office if you have questions.