Camden District

The Camden-Wyoming Sewer and Water Authority (CWS&WA) is proud to present its Annual Water Quality/Consumer Confidence Statement covering January 1 to December 31, 2017. This report provides vital information about your tap water and our ongoing efforts to deliver safe, reliable service to our community.

Our primary goal is ensuring residents have access to clean, dependable water. Throughout the year, we implement systematic improvements to water quality, service reliability, source water protection, and infrastructure maintenance.

Water Source Information: CWS&WA utilizes groundwater from wells that draw from the Piney Point and Cheswold aquifers. The Piney Point Formation contains fine to moderate grained sand with glauconitic deposits, while the Cheswold aquifer forms the lower portion of the Chesapeake Group, consisting of green to gray silts, shells, and fine to medium-fine sand.

The Delaware Division of Public Health and Department of Natural Resources have completed a Source Water Assessment for our water system as required by Safe Drinking Water Act amendments. This assessment evaluated potential contamination vulnerabilities and protection measures.

Key Assessment Findings:

• Our wells draw from confined aquifers with naturally low vulnerability
• One potential contamination source (underground storage tank) exists within the wellhead protection area
• The dominant land use surrounding our wells is residential
• Overall system vulnerability is low to extremely low for most contaminants

We're pleased to report that our water meets or exceeds all Federal and State standards. While monitoring has detected some contaminants, the EPA has determined these levels are safe for consumption. To understand potential health effects from regulated substances, a person would need to consume 2 liters of water daily at the maximum contaminant level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of experiencing adverse health effects.

Source Water Information: All water sources (including bottled water) contain some naturally occurring substances. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves minerals and can pick up substances from human activities or animal presence. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment, septic systems, livestock, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals from natural sources or urban runoff
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture and residential use
• Organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and stormwater
• Radioactive elements that can occur naturally or from mining and energy production

The EPA regulates public water systems to ensure tap water safety, while the FDA establishes similar protections for bottled water. Some individuals may be particularly vulnerable to contaminants, including the elderly, infants, and those with compromised immune systems. These individuals should seek specific guidance from healthcare providers.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health concerns, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from service lines and home plumbing materials. To minimize potential exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking if it has been sitting unused. Testing is available if you have concerns about lead content.

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