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Providing a State and Federally Mandated Report on Water Quality

This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made by the water system to provide safe drinking water.

2023 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 

(Union Bridge Consumer Confidence Report)

Town of Union Bridge

MD0060013

 

Annual Water Quality Report for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2023

For more information regarding this report, contact Dawn Metcalf (Clerk Treasurer) at 410-775-2711

 

This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts

made by the water system to provide safe drinking water. Public participation is encouraged at the regularly scheduled Town Hall meetings occurring on the fourth Monday of every month at the Town Hall, 104 West Locust Street.

 

Este informe contiente informacion muy importante sobre el agua que usted Bebe.

Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

 

Town of Union Bridge is ground water under the direct influence of surface water.

A source water assessment was performed by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and is available on their website,

https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/water_Supply/Source_Water_Assessment_Program/Pages/by_county.aspx

 

- 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, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

 

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

 

Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Town of Union Bridge is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, and removing Lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the Lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing Lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your tap for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce Lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water, and wish to have your water tested, contact the Town of Union Bridge. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

 

"PFAS – short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – refers to a large group of more than 4,000 human-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940's in a range of products, including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, cookware, food packaging and fire-fighting foams. These uses of PFAS have led to PFAS entering our environment, where they have been measured by several states in soil, surface water, groundwater and seafood. Some PFAS can last a long time in the environment and in the human body and can accumulate in the food chain.

 

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) conducted a PFAS monitoring program for Community Water Systems from 2020 to 2022. The results are available on MDES's website: https://mde.maryland.gov/PublicHealth/Pages/PFAS-Landing-Page.aspx.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed regulations for 6 PFAS compounds in drinking water in March 2023. The MCL's for PFOA and PFOS are proposed to be 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt). The proposal for HFPO-DA (GenX), PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS is to use a Hazard Index of 1.0 (unitless) to determine if the combined levels of these PFAS pose a risk and require action.

The 5th Unregulated Contamination Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) began testing for 29 PFAS compounds and Lithium in 2023, and testing will run through 2025. The UCMR5 should test all community water systems with populations of at least 3,300 people. Three randomly selected systems in Maryland with populations less than 3,300 people will also be tested under the UCMR5. Detections greater than the minimum reporting levels for each constituent should be reported in the CCR.

Source Water Information

SWA = Source Water Assessment

Source Water Name                                                  Type of Water             Report Status                                   Location

UNION BRIDGE TOWN HALL NO PERMIT GU                GU                               Y

WHYTE ST WELL (FIRE DEPT)                                        GU                               Y                   T OF UNION BRIDGE APPROX. 50 FT S

CL940608     GUCL940608                                                                                                          OF LOCUST ST

 

2023 Regulated Contaminants Detected

 

Lead and Copper

Definitions:

Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a                                                         margin of safety.

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

Lead and Copper   Date Sampled     MCLG     Action Level (AL)     90th Percentile     #Sites Over AL     Units     Likely Source of Contamination

Copper                     09/24/2021          1.3                 1.3                          0.42                          0                ppm      Erosion of natural deposits leaching from

                                                                                                                                                                                  wood preservatives; Corrosion of household

                                                                                                                                                                                  plumbing systems.

Lead                         09/24/2021            0                  15                           <5                            0                 ppb      Corrosion of household plumbing systems;

                                                                                                                                                                                 Erosion of natural deposits.

Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products

                                            Collection Date   Highest Level   Range of Levels      MCLG          MCL          Units     Violation     Likely Source of Contamination

                                                                           Detected            Detected

Chlorine                                      2023                   1.7                  1.6 - 1.8         MRDLG = 4  MRDL = 4     ppm           N           Water additive used to control

                                                                                                                                                                                                      microbes

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)            2023                    12               7.4 - 19.1          No goal for         60            pbb            N           By-product of drinking water 

                                                                                                                            the total                                                             disinfection

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)   2023                    50              15.2 - 60.8         No goal for         80            ppb            N           By-product of drinking water 

                                                                                                                            the total                                                             disinfection

Inorganic Contaminants

                                       Collection Date   Highest Level   Range of Levels      MCLG          MCL          Units     Violation    Likely Source of Contamination

                                                                           Detected            Detected

Barium                                     08/14/21               0.033           0.033 - 0.033             2                 2             ppm           N          Discharge of drilling wastes;                                                                                                                                                                                                            Discharge from metal refineries;                                                                                                                                                                                                      Erosion of natural deposits

Nitrate [measured as Nitrogen]       2023                      6                  5.2 - 5.68              10               10             ppm           N         Runoff from fertilizer use; Leach                                                                                                                                                                                                     from septic tanks; Erosion of                                                                                                                                                                                                           natural deposits

- 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.

Turbidity

                                                Limit (Treatment Technique)                    Level Detected                   Violation                    Likely source of contamination

Highest Single Measurement                  1 NTU                                          0.17 NTU                             N                          Soil runoff

Information Statement: Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness of the water caused by suspended particles. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality and the effectiveness of our filtration

95PT

Lowest monthly % meeting limit             0.3 NTU                                          100%                                 N                          Soil runoff

Unregulated Contaminants

PFAS

                            Collection Date   Highest Level   Range of Levels         MCLG              MCL            Units         Violation        Likely Source of Contamination

                                                           Detected            Detected

PFAS           Quarterly 2023                  27                   17.7 - 27                  NA                  NA              ppt               N                Anthropogenic activity

PFOS          Quarterly 2023                  12                    9.9 - 12                   NA                  NA              ppt               N                Anthropogenic activity

PFOA          Quarterly 2023                   3.3                  2.6 - 3.3                  NA                  NA              ppt               N                Anthropogenic activity

PFHxS        Quarterly 2023                   6.2                  1.8 - 6.2                   NA                 NA              ppt               N                Anthropogenic activity

PFBS           Quarterly 2023                  3.2                  2.3 - 3.2                   NA                 NA              ppt               N                Anthropogenic activity

Water Quality Test Results 

Definitions:

The following tables contain scientific terms and measures, some of which may require explanation.

 

Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples.

 

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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

 

Level 1 Assessment: A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system

 

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or 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

 

Level 2 Assessment: A Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our  water system on multiple occasions.

 

Maximum residual disinfectant level or 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 or 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.

 

NA: not applicable.

 

ppt: nanograms per liter or parts per trillion - or one once in 7,350,000,000 gallons of water.

 

ppb: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water.

 

ppm: milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.

 

Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

 

Total Organic Carbon

The percentage of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was measured each month and the system met all TOC removal requirements set, unless a TOC violation is noted in the violations section.

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