Select a Subject Why are there contaminants in my drinking water? What causes contamination? All Drinking Water May Contain Contaminants What are Secondary Constituents? Special Notice for Elderly Special Notice for Infants Special Notice for Cancer Patients Special Notice for HIV/AIDS or other immune problems Water Quality Table Unregulated Contaminants – NOT TESTED FOR OR NOT DECTECTED Turbidity Coliforms Description of Units DEFINITIONS Inorganic Contaminants Table Organic Contaminants Table Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Table Disinfectant Byproducts Table Unregulated Contaminants Table Lead and Copper Table Total Coliform Table Fecal Coliform Table Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated

Consumer Confidence Report

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CCR 185kb

 

Where does my water come from?

Galveston County W.C.I.D. #1 Gulf Coast Water Authority’s Thomas S. Mackey Water Treatment Plant in Texas City. The Water Authority owns 212 million gallons per day in water rights from the Brazos River. The Water Authority provides water for agriculture, industry and municipal use. All water travels through 150 miles of canals stretching from the Brazos River near Richmond, across Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston Counties to the Authority’s raw water reservoir located near Highway 146 in Texas City.
The Mackey Water Treatment Plant has a current capacity of 50 million gallons per day (mgd) serving the communities of Dickinson, Texas City, Kemah, LaMarque, Bayview, San Leon and Bacliff and has recently expanded their water treatment plant to serve the City of Galveston as well as Tiki Island, Bayou Vista, Hitchcock and Santa Fe.
Public tours of the Mackey water Treatment Plant are offered Monday through Friday. For scheduling, please call (409) 948-6415.

Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, canals, 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. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that 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 that must provide the same protection for public health.

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What causes contamination?

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water 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 agriculture, urban storm water runoff and residential uses. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, 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 can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

All Drinking Water May Contain Contaminants.

When drinking water meets federal standards, there may not be any health based benefits to purchasing bottled water or point of use devices. 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 Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 or by visiting their website www.epa.gov/safewater.

What are Secondary Constituents?

Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium or iron) which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color and odor problems. The taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not the EPA. These constituents are not causes for health concerns. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document, but they may greatly affect the appearance and taste of your water.

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Special Notice for Elderly, Infants,
Cancer Patients, or People with
HIV/AIDS or other immune problems:

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 other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Water Quality Table

The table lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the date presented in this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the Sate requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

Unregulated Contaminants – NOT TESTED FOR OR NOT DECTECTED

Turbidity

Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organism. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches.

Coliforms

Total coliform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy. While not disease-causing organisms themselves, they are often found in association with other microbes that are capable of causing disease. Coliform bacteria are hardier than many disease-causing organisms; therefore, their absence from water is a good indication that the water is microbiologically safe for human consumption. Fecal coliform bacteria and, in particular, E. coli, are members of the coliform bacteria group originating in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals and are passed into the environment through feces. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria (E.coli) in drinking water may indicate recent contamination of the drinking water with fecal material. The table indicates whether total coliform or fecal coliform bacteria were found in the monthly drinking water samples submitted for testing by your water supplier last year.

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Description of Units:

NA: MCL not applicable; not regulated. Special monitoring requirement.
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units
Ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest permissible 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.
AL: Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium, or iron) which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color, and problems. The taste and odor of constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not the EPA. these constituents are not causes for health concern. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document but they may greatly affect the appearance and taste of your water.

DEFINITIONS
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
The highest permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCL's are set as close to the MCLG's as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLG's allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)
The highest level of 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. MRDLG's do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
Treatment Technique (TT)
A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Action Level (AL)
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment of other requirements which a water system must follow.

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The following list all the federal regulated or monitored contaminants which have been found in your drinking water.  The U.S. EPA requires water systems to test up to 97 Contaminants.

Inorganic Contaminants

Organic Contaminants

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level

Disinfectant Byproducts

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Unregulated Contaminants
Bromoform, chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, and dibromochloromethane are disinfection byproduct.  There is no maximum contaminant level for these chemicals at the entry point of distribution.

Lead and Copper

Turbidity
Turbidity has no health effects.  However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth.  Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms.  These organisms include bacteria, viruses.

Total Coliform
Total coliform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy.  While not disease-causing organisms themselves, they are often found in association with other microbes that are capable of causing disease.  Coliform bacteria are more hardy than many disease-causing organisms; therefore, their absence from water is a good indication that the water is microbiologiclly safe for human consuption.

Fecal Coliform   REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO FECAL

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Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated
(No associated adverse health effects)