FORT KENT WATER DEPARTMENT
416 West Main Street
Fort Kent, Maine 04743
Phone: 834-3003 Fax: 834-3126
E-Mail-
Website:
2016
Consumer Confidence Report
For the Fort Kent Water Department System
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
(Created 3/29/17)
We’re very pleased to provide you with this year's Annual Quality Water Report. We want to keep you informed about the excellent water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. Our goal is and always has been, to provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.
SOURCE WATER INFORMATION
Our water source is derived via two wells located east of the Fort Kent business district. Well #1 was drilled in 1960 and has a depth of sixty-two feet. Well #2 was drilled in 1979 and is sixty-five feet deep. Both are made of metal casing and gravel constitutes most of the surrounding soil.
These two wells serve a population of more than eighteen hundred people and have pumped an average of 219,900 gallons per day in 2016. Chemicals that were used consisted of Sodium Hypochlorite for disinfection, Sodium Fluoride that promotes strong teeth, and aeration for a higher pH and Radon removal.
WATER QUALITY
The Maine Drinking Water Program, in cooperation with local public water suppliers (PWS), has conducted a statewide assessment of the risks to public water supply wells and intakes from human activities. All wells were rated on the current and future risk for contamination by both acute contaminants, like bacteria, and chronic contaminants, like petroleum hydrocarbons. The Fort Kent Water Department assessment is as follows, Existing Risk of Contamination Based on Well Type and Site Geology: Moderate Risk. Existing Risk of Acute Contamination: Low Risk. . Existing Risk of Chronic Contamination: Moderate Risk. Future Risk of Chronic Contamination: Moderate Risk. For more information on the Source Water Assessment Program, please call the Water Department or the Drinking Water Program at 287-2070.
A Wellhead Protection Plan was established in June 1995. A copy of this plan is available upon request.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man made. These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances. All 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 at 1-800-426-4791.
MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, 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.
Lead: If present, elevated levels of 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. Fort Kent Water is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. 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
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminates 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 lesson the risk of infection by microbiological contaminates are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
This report shows our water quality and what it means.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contactMark Soucy, Fort Kent Water Department Head, Tel: 834-3003 or 3463.We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings held on the Second and Fourth Monday of every month.
The Fort Kent Water Departmentroutinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1, 2016 to December 31,2016. As water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents. It's important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk.
YOUR WATER SYSTEM
2016 PUMPING
The Water Department pumped 80,251,170 gallons of water in 2016. In 2015 we pumped 74,572,040 gallons. This is a increase of 5,679,130 gallons. Since 1976 the maximum pumped was 258,500,000 gallons, this was in 1976, and the minimum pumped was 69,674,540 in 2011.Our total from 1976 to 2016 is about 4.942 Billion gallons. This is approximately one sixteenth the volume of Eagle Lake.
EMPLOYEE CORNER
We currently have four full time employees. Greg Bernier, has been with the Department for 21 years, holds a Class IV Water Treatment license and a Class IV Water Distribution license. Ricky Berube, has been with the Department 17 years, holds a Class II Water Treatment license and a Class II Water Distribution license. Bruce Fournier, has been with the Department 5years. Mark Soucy, has been with the Department 19 years, holds a Class IV Water Treatment license and a Class IV Water Distribution license.
Definitions:
Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
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.
Running Annual Average ( RAA ) - The average of all monthly or quarterly samples for the last year at all sample locations.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - 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 (MCL) - The MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)- The MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health.
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
runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, which may 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 runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
The following contaminants were tested for:
Microbiological Contaminants
1. Total Coliform Bacteria
2. Fecal coliform and E.coli43. Heptachlor
3. Turbidity44. Heptachlor epoxide
Radioactive Contaminants45.Hexachlorobenzene
4. Beta/photon emitters46. Hexachlorocyclo-pentadiene
5. Alpha emitters47. Lindane
6. Combined radium48. Methoxychlor
Uranium49.Oxamyl [Vydate]
Radon50. PCBs [Polychlorinatedphenyls]
Inorganic Contaminants
7. Antimony51. Pentachlorophenol
8. Arsenic52. Picloram
9. Asbestos53. Simazine
10. Barium54. Toxaphene
11. BerylliumVolatile Organic Contaminant
12. Cadmium55. Benzene
13. Chromium56. Carbon tetrachloride
14. Copper57. Chlorobenzene
15. Cyanide58. o-Dichlorobenzen
16. Fluoride59. p-Dichlorobenzen
17. Lead60. 1,2 - Dichloroethane
18. Mercury (inorganic)61. 1,1 - Dichloroethyle
19. Nitrate (as Nitrogen)62. cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
20. Nitrite (as Nitrogen) 63. trans - 1,2 Dichloroethylene
21. Selenium
22. Thallium64. Dichloromethane
Synthetic Organic Contaminants including Pesticides and Herbicides
23. 2,4-D65. 1,2-Dichloropropane
24. 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)66. Ethylbenzene
25. Acrylamide66a. Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether (MTBE) (Maine MCL)
26. Alachlor67. Styrene
27. Atrazine68. Tetrachloroethylene
28. Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH)69. 1,2,4 -Trichlorobenzene
29. Carbofuran70. 1,1,1 - Trichloroethane
30. Chlordane71. 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane
31. Dalapon72. Trichloroethylene
32. Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate73. TTHM [Total trihalomethanes]
33. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate74. Toluene
34. Dibromochloropropane75. Vinyl Chloride
35. Dinoseb76. Xylenes
36. Diquat
37. Dioxin [2,3,7,8-TCDD]
38. Endothall
39. Endrin
40. Epichlorohydrin
41. Ethylene dibromide
42. Glyphosate
WATER TEST RESULTSContaminant / Date / Results / Unit of Measurement / MCL / MCLG / Source
Microbiological
Total Coliform / 2016 / 0 / pos / 1 pos/mo or 5% / 0 pos / Naturally present in the environment.
Inorganics
BARIUM / 4/16/2014 / 0.0045 / ppm / 2 ppm / 2 ppm / Discharge of drilling wastes. Discharge from metal refineries. Erosion of natural deposits.
CHROMIUM / 4/16/2014 / 0.094 / ppb / 100 ppb / 100 ppb / Discharge from steel and pulp mills. Erosion of natural deposits.
FLUORIDE (3) / 10/18/2016 / 0.8 / ppm / 4 ppm / 4 ppm / Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
NITRATE (5) / 4/20/2016 / 1.1 / ppm / 10 ppm / 10 ppm / Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Radionuclides
RADIUM-228 / 11/14/2012 / 0.03 / pCi/L / 5 pCi/L / 0 pCi/L / Erosion of natural deposits.
Lead/Copper
Copper 90th% Value (4) / 1/1/2014 - 12/31/2016 / 0.4 / ppm / AL = 1.3 ppm / 1.3 ppm / Corrosion of household plumbing systems.
Lead 90th% Value (4) / 1/1/2014 - 12/31/2016 / 2.6 / ppb / AL = 15 ppb / 0 ppb / Corrosion of household plumbing systems.
Chlorine Residual
Chlorine Residual / RAA 2016 / RAA .20 Range .03 to .38 / ppm / MRDL = 4 ppm / MRDLG 4 ppm / By-product of drinking water chlorination.
Secondary Contaminants
ZINK / 4/16/2014 / 0.0055 / ppm
IRON / 4/16/2014 / 0.073 / ppm
CHLORIDE / 4/16/2014 / 29 / ppm
SODIUM / 4/16/2014 / 14 / ppm
MAGNESIUM / 4/16/2014 / 3.7 / ppm
NICKEL / 4/16/2014 / 0.00059 / ppm
SULFATE / 4/16/2014 / 15 / ppm
NOTES:
1)Total Coliform Bacteria: Reported as the highest monthly number of positive samples, for water systems that take < 40 samples per month.
2)Arsenic: The U.S. EPA adopted the new MCL standard of 10 ppb in October 2001.
3)Fluoride: Fluoride levels must be maintained between 1-2 ppm, for those water systems that fluoridate the water.
4)Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. 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 for advice from your health care provider.
5)Radon: The State of Maine currently recommends treatment for Radon levels in drinking water above 4,000 pCi/L. The U.S. EPA is considering setting lower standards for Radon in drinking water.
6)Gross Alpha: Action Level over 5 pCi/L requires testing for Radium. Action level over 15pCi/L requires testing for Radon and Uranium.
7)Uranium: The U.S. EPA adopted the new standard of 30 ppb, in December 2000. Water systems must meet this new standard by December 2003.
8)Lead /Copper: Action levels are measured at consumer’s tap. 90% of the tests must be equal to or below the action level.
9)TTHM/HAA5: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) are formed as a by-product of drinking water chlorination. This chemical reaction occurs when chlorine combines with naturally occurring organic matter in water.
All other regulated drinking water contaminants were below detection levels.