Town of Hume Water Department                  

20 N. Genesee St.

PO Box 302                                                                                

Fillmore, NY  14735-0302

585-567-8082

 

     Fed ID #0200318

 

 

 

WATER QUALITY REPORT 2006

 

            To comply with State and Federal regulations, the Town of Hume Water Department will annually issue a 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 and what it contains.

            If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact Dana Potter, Superintendent of Water and Sewer, at 585-567-8082.  We want you to be informed about your drinking water.  If you want to learn more, you might attend any regularly scheduled Town Board meeting.  The monthly meeting is at the Town of Hume Museum, 10842 Claybed Road in the hamlet of Hume, NY on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM.

 

WHAT IS OUR WATER SOURCE?

            In general, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, pond, 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 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 EPA prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  The State Health Department and FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

            Hume Water District #1 is served by a well located in the Fillmore Park. The well is 126 feet deep with a 12” casing.  It is capable of producing 240 gallons of water per minute.  The treatment of this water consists of the application of sodium hypochloride as a disinfectant to control bacteria, and phosphate to treat the iron content in the water. 

 

 

 

SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

           

            All system upgrades that effect the production and transmission of water have been completed. The improvements included new main lines, new water storage tanks, installation of meters and pressure regulators, abandonment of the old spring-fed system, installation of hydrants, upgrades to the water plant, construction of two chlorinating stations, and interconnection with the Houghton system for backup.

                       

            Part of the Project involved formation of a new Water District from the former Hume and Village Districts. Water District #1 serves approximately 700 people with 321 service accounts.  In the year 2006, we pumped about 21,286,876 gallons of water.  This makes the daily average nearly 58346 gallons.  (This includes leaks in the system.)

           

REGULAR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

            Town employees flush all hydrants within the system twice a year. Both water tanks on Mills Mills Road are cleaned annually.

 

AWQR SUMMARY

            The New York State Department of Health has completed a Source Water Assessment for this water system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to the source of drinking water for this system were evaluated. The 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 wells. 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. Please refer to the section in the Annual Water Quality Report (AWQR) entitled "Are There Contaminants In Our Drinking Water?" for a list of the contaminants for which the water has been tested and the test results. The source water assessments provide managers with additional information for protecting source waters into the future.

            The water for this system comes from one (1) drilled well. The Source Water Assessment has rated the well as having high susceptibility to contamination from enteric bacteria and nitrates. This is due primarily to the close proximity of the well to a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) permitted facility that discharges wastewater into the environment. The fact that the well draws water from an unconfined aquifer also contributes to the high susceptibility ratings.

            Please note that while the Source Water Assessment rated the well as having a high susceptibility to bacteria, the water is disinfected before it is delivered to your home to ensure the finished water meets New York State drinking water standards for bacterial contamination.

           

ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR WATER?

            New York State regulations require that we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants including total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead, copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, radiological, and synthetic organic compounds.  The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

            It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, might be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of contaminants.  The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

                       

There were no positive bacteriological results taken by the Town in 2006.

 

DEFINITIONS:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Action Level (AL).  The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

4. Treatment Technique (TT).  A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

5. Non-Detects (ND).  Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

6. Milligrams per liter (MG/L).  Corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million -- ppm).

7. Undetected (U).  Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

8. Micrograms Per Liter (UG/L). Corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid

(parts per billion – ppb).

 

Town of Hume Table of Detected Contaminants

 

Contaminant

Violation

yes/no

Date of Sample

Level Detected

Unit of Measure

MCLG

Regulatory Limit

Likely

Source of

Contamination

SODIUM

NO

12/12/06

75.8

MG/L

N/A

N/A

Natural ground deposit.

NITRATE

NO

12/12/06

U

MG/L

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer; natural deposit.

IRON

NO

12/12/06

0.404

MG/L

0.3

0.3

Natural ground deposit

Trihalo-methanes

NO

7/12/06

U

MG/L

0

80

Organic content in water and chlorine

Haloacetic Acids 5

NO

07/12/06

6.2

UG/L

0

60

Organic content in water and chlorine

Fluoride

NO

3/22/06

0.1

MG/L

N/A

2.2

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; runoff from fertilizer.

Barium

NO

3/22/06

230

MCG/L

N/A

2

Erosion of natural deposits.

 

            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 Allegany County Health Department (585-268-9250.)

 

            The Allegany County Department of Health tested the Primary Inorganic Contaminants and the Synthetic Organic Contaminants on 02/22/06. All test results were of a satisfactory sanitary quality.

     

 

IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS?

            During 2006, our system was in compliance with all applicable State drinking water requirements.

 

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 advise 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.)

            It is imperative that people on sodium restricted diets not drink this water without consulting their physician.  The detected amount of 75.8 ppm of sodium is considered a high content.

 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION FILES:

 

Ø     Billing & Account Information:  585-567-2666            

Ø     Water & Sewer Department: 585-567-8082 

Ø     Web site:  www.humetown.org                                                          

Ø     Emergency Service:      585-307-7522 or 585-307-7523

                                               or 585-567-8712 or 585-567-8793

Ø     Email:   humetown@rochester.rr.com or danapotter69@hotmail.com

Ø     The Hume Town Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the                                                                                                                                                     Town Museum, 10842 Claybed Rd., Hume, NY.  The meetings are open to the public.