There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.

 

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 stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

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.

Contaminants may be found in drinking water that may cause taste, color, or odor problems.  These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns.  For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact the system's business office.

 

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).

 

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. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but we 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 http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.  Results of Patoka Lake Regional Water’s Lead Service Line Inventory can be found here: https://idem.120water-ptd.com/.

 

In the tables below, you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with.  To help you better understand these terms, we’ve provided the following definitions:

 

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.

 

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

LRAA: Locational Running Annual Average

mrem: millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body)

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

ppm: milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water

picocuries per liter (pCi/L): picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

na: not applicable.

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Our water system tested a minimum of 15 sample(s) per month in accordance with the Total Coliform Rule for microbiological contaminants.  With the microbiological samples collected, the water system collects disinfectant residuals to ensure control of microbial growth.

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Disinfectant:  CHLORAMINE, 2024 HIGHEST RAA 3PPM, Range: 0.8-3.8, MRDL 4, MRDLG 4, Source:  Water additive used to control microbes

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Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR)

 

Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District

Large and small public water systems (PWSs) subject to UCMR 5 (i.e., community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient non-community water systems (NTNCWSs)) are required to notify customers about their UCMR 5 results.

 

Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District (IN5219012) collected samples under the U.S. EPA Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR) for 29 PFAS Compounds and Lithium. This monitoring is conducted in compliance with reporting of the data requirements to determine what, if any additional compounds may need to be regulated in drinking water in the future. We collected samples on September 20th, 2023; December 27th, 2023; March 25th, 2024; August 6th, 2024

and did not detect any contaminants above the reporting limits of the tests required for UCMR 5 in our finished drinking water. However, these compounds are not regulated at this time.

 

If you would like to review the results, contact;    

 

Adam Scherle                                     Steve Dodd

Water Plant Superintendent                 General Manager

adamscherle@plrws.net                     steve@plrws.net

(812)-678-8314                                   (812)-678-8322

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As a Public Water System (PWS), we are required to notify our customers that the UCMR results are available (40 CFR 141.207) no later than 12 months after they are known. Results are to be delivered to all billing customers each year by July 1 (40 CFR 141.204[d]).                                                                         

For more information, please contact the public water system:

 

Adam Scherle           (812)-678-8314

 

*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*

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