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 http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
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 (800-426-4791).
2008 PUMPING
The Water Department pumped 79,638,330 gallons of water in 2007. In 2008 we pumped 70,548,850 gallons. This is a decrease of 9,089,480 gallons. This is the least amount of water pumped on record for Fort Kent Water. Since 1976 the maximum pumped was 258,500,000 gallons, this was in 1976, and the minimum pumped was in 2008.Our total from 1976 to 2008 is about 4.336 Billion gallons. This would fill a pool one mile long by one mile wide by 21 feet deep.
EMPLOYEE CORNER
We currently have four full time employees. Greg Bernier, who has been with the Department for 14 years, holds a Class IV Water Treatment license and a Class IV Water Distribution license. Ricky Berube, who has been with the Department 10 years, holds a Class II Water Treatment license and a Class II Water Distribution license. Matthew Tremblay has been with the Department 2 months. Mark Soucy, who has been with the Department 12 years, holds a Class IV Water Treatment license and a Class IV Water Distribution license.
416 West Main Street
Fort Kent, Maine 04743
2008 Consumer Confidence Report
For the Fort Kent Water Department System
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
(Created 5/5/09)
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.
WATER SOURCE
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 193,300 gallons per day in 2008. 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.
This report shows our water quality and what it means.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Mark 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 Department routinely 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 2008 to December 31, 2008. 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.
In this table you will find many terms and abbreviations that you might not be familiar with.
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.
pos – positive samples.
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. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
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. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
1. Total Coliform Bacteria 47. Lindane
2. Fecal coliform and E.coli 48. Methoxychlor
3. Turbidity 49. Oxamyl [Vydate]
Radioactive Contaminants 50. PCBs [Polychlorinated biphenyls]
4. Beta/photon emitters 51. Pentachlorophenol
5. Alpha emitters 52. Picloram
6. Combined radium 53. Simazine
Uranium 54. Toxaphene
Radon Volatile Organic Contaminant
8. Arsenic 56. Carbon tetrachloride
9. Asbestos 57. Chlorobenzene
10. Barium 58. o-Dichlorobenzene
11. Beryllium 59. p-Dichlorobenzene
12. Cadmium 60. 1,2 - Dichloroethane
13. Chromium 61. 1,1 - Dichloroethyle
14. Copper 62. cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
15. Cyanide 63. trans - 1,2 -Dichloroethylene
16. Fluoride 64. Dichloromethane
17. Lead 65. 1,2-Dichloropropane
18. Mercury (inorganic) 66. Ethylbenzene
19. Nitrate (as Nitrogen) 66a. Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl- Ether (MTBE) (Maine MCL)
20. Nitrite (as Nitrogen)
21. Selenium 67. Styrene
22. Thallium 68. Tetrachloroethylene
Synthetic Organic Contaminants including Pesticides and
|
Disinfection ByProducts Total Trihalomethanes TTHM 9 |
8/28/07 |
9.7 |
ppb
|
80 ppb |
0 ppb |
By-product of drinking water chlorination. |
23. 2,4-D
24. 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) 69. 1,2,4 -Trichlorobenzene
25. Acrylamide 70. 1,1,1 - Trichloroethane
26. Alachlor 71. 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane
27. Atrazine 72. Trichloroethylene
28. Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH) 73. TTHM [Total trihalomethanes]
29. Carbofuran 74. Toluene
30. Chlordane 75. Vinyl Chloride
31. Dalapon 76. Xylenes
32. Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate
33. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
34. Dibromochloropropane
35. Dinoseb
36. Diquat
37. Dioxin [2,3,7,8-TCDD]
38. Endothall
39. Endrin
40. Epichlorohydrin
41. Ethylene dibromide
42. Glyphosate
43. Heptachlor
44. Heptachlor epoxide
45. Hexachlorobenzene
The following contaminants were tested for:
|
WATER TEST RESULTS |
|||||||
Contaminant |
Date |
Results |
Unit Measurement |
MCL |
MCLG |
Likely Source of Contamination |
|
INORGANICS |
|||||||
Barium |
02/26/08 |
.0049 |
ppm |
2 ppm |
2 ppm |
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Copper (8) |
07/30/08 |
0.44 90th% Value |
ppm |
AL= 1.3 ppm |
1.3 ppm |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives |
|
|
Fluoride (3) |
09/15/08 |
1.60 Highest level found. |
ppm |
4 ppm |
4 ppm |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
|
|
Lead (8) |
07/30/08 |
3.4 90th% Value |
ppb |
AL = 15 ppb |
0 ppb |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) |
2/26/08 |
1.10 |
ppm |
10 ppm |
10 ppm |
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
Radionuclides Radon Screen (5) |
2/10/03 |
19 |
PCi/l |
4000 pCi/l |
300 pCi/l |
Erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Gross Alpha Screen |
2/8/06 |
0.151 |
PCi/l |
15 pCi/l |
0 pCi/l |
Erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Microbiological Total Coliform
|
2008 |
0 |
pos |
1 pos |
0 pos |
Naturally present in the environment. |
|
|
Synthetic Organics Di (2-ehtylhexyl)PHTHALATE |
7/19/05 |
1.03 |
ppb
|
6 ppb |
0 ppb |
Discharge from rubber and chemical factories; plastics. |
|
NOTES:
Total Coliform Bacteria: Reported as the highest monthly number of positive samples, for water systems that take < 40 samples per month.
Arsenic: The U.S. EPA adopted the new MCL standard in October 2001. Water Systems must meet this new standard by January.
Fluoride: Fluoride levels must be maintained between 1-2 ppm, for those water systems that fluoridate the water.
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.
Radon: The State of Maine currently recommends follow-up action (treatment) for Radon levels in drinking water above 20,000 pCi/L. the U.S. EPA is considering setting lower standards for Radon in drinking water.
Gross Alpha: Action Level over 5 pCi/L requires testing for Radium. Action level over 15pCi/L requires testing for Radon and Uranium.
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.
Lead /Copper: Action levels are measured at consumer’s tap. 90% of the tests must be equal to or below the action level.
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.