Canton Public Water System

The Canton Water Division is proud to present our twenty-first Annual Water Quality Report. Canton is fortunate to possess a plentiful, reliable supply of high-quality municipal water. We're pleased to confirm that our water consistently meets or exceeds all federal and state EPA standards established for public health protection. We maintain a current, unconditional permit to operate our water system.

Over the past year, Canton Water has implemented several important initiatives:

• Launched the Wellhead Protection Strategy
• Expanded monitoring for additional contaminants beyond EPA requirements
• Advanced our valve assessment and replacement program
• Enhanced our leak detection system

These improvements ensure we deliver safe, dependable water flow and excellent customer service at minimal cost to our consumers.

What should you expect from your water?
Municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

What are the sources of water contamination?
Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal presence 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 various sources including agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants: By-products of industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: Naturally-occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

How do regulatory agencies ensure water safety?
The USEPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for bottled water contaminants to provide equivalent public health protection.

Who needs to take special precautions?
Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly, and infants may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate precautions against Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Where does Canton's water come from?
The Canton Water Department obtains all its water from underground wells that extend hundreds of feet into sand and gravel aquifers formed by ancient glacial activity. These natural aquifers provided Canton with 3,193,549,500 gallons of water in 2017. We maintain three separate well fields supplying our three water treatment plants: Northeast Well Field, Southwest Well Field, and Sugarcreek Well Field.

Source Water Assessment Reports have been completed for all three well fields. These reports indicate high susceptibility to contaminants due to the aquifers' physical characteristics and locations. This high susceptibility rating doesn't mean contamination will occur, only that existing conditions could potentially impact groundwater if contaminant sources aren't properly managed. We've implemented protective measures to prevent contamination. More information is available by calling the Safe Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or by reviewing the Drinking Water Source Assessment Report online.

1. What is the address for City Hall?
   465 C Street, P.O. Box 307, Biggs, CA 95917-0307.
2. What is the City Hall phone number and fax number?
   The main telephone number for City Hall is (530) 868-5493 and fax (530) 868-5239.
3. Do City of Biggs residents pay any special assessments or taxes?
   There are two special assessments collected through the Butte County property tax bill. One maintains the emergency room at Gridley/Biggs Hospital, while the other supports Schohr Pool, the public swimming facility in Biggs.
4. What is the fee for returned checks?
   $50.00
5. Where can I find information about local schools?
   Biggs K-12 schools are administered by the Biggs Unified School District.