Bexley City PWS Water Company

The City of Bexley is pleased to present this water quality report to our residents. This document outlines the quality of your municipal water from January 1 through December 31, 2017. We're proud to note that Bexley City PWS has consistently met or exceeded the strict regulations set by both Ohio state authorities and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which requires all municipal water suppliers to prepare annual reports like this one.

Bexley relies on pre-treated water purchased from the City of Columbus. This water enters our system through two master meters. Columbus maintains three water sources, with Bexley primarily utilizing water from the Hap Cremean Water Plant (HCWP), which draws surface water from Hoover Reservoir on Big Walnut Creek. Your water undergoes disinfection and filtration processes to remove or reduce harmful contaminants potentially present in source water. Currently, the City of Bexley maintains an unconditioned license to operate our water system.

The Columbus water system's Hap Cremean Water Plant uses surface water from Big Walnut Creek. This source has relatively high vulnerability to contamination from spills or chemical releases because surface water is more accessible and less protected than groundwater sources. Potential contamination sources include industrial activities, stormwater runoff from developed areas, and the heavily traveled transportation networks adjacent to waterways. Agricultural runoff is also a concern in the Big Walnut Creek watershed.

While Columbus treats water to meet quality standards, no single treatment protocol can address all potential contaminants. The city continues to be proactive in implementing measures to further protect source waters. For more detailed information, Columbus' Drinking Water Source Assessment Report is available by calling their Watershed Manager at (614-645-1721).

For more information about your municipal water, please contact the Bexley Water Department at (614)559-4270 or write to: 2242 East Main Street, Bexley, OH 43209. You're also welcome to attend City Council Meetings. Additional information is available online at http://www.bexley.org/water.

City Leadership:

• Mayor: Ben Kessler
• Water Department Manager: Jeremy Mercurio
• Service Director: William Dorman

The U.S. EPA wants you to know: To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection. All municipal water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Water Source Information: Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides: From agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining activities

1. Where does Bexley City PWS water come from?
   Bexley City PWS supplies purchased surface water to Bexley, Ohio.
2. Does Bexley City PWS test its tap water?
   Yes. Like every public water system, Bexley City PWS must test its water under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and publish an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report). Ask the utility for the latest report or look for it on its website.
3. How do I contact Bexley City PWS?
   Call 614-559-4270 or visit 2242 East Main Street, Bexley, OH 43209, or use the contact options on the utility’s website.
4. Does Bexley City PWS water contain lead?
   Water usually leaves the treatment plant without lead. Lead can enter tap water from older service lines, solder and brass fixtures inside homes, especially when water sits in the pipes. Run the tap before drinking if water has been sitting, and ask the utility about lead testing and service line records.
5. Is Bexley City PWS water hard?
   Hardness depends on the source and changes over time. The annual water quality report lists hardness, or you can test it at home. If it is above about 7 grains per gallon, a water softener sized to your measured hardness will stop scale and spotting.