City of Bartow

The City of Bartow is pleased to present our Annual Water Quality Report for 2017. We strive to keep our customers informed about the excellent water we deliver throughout the year. Our goal is to provide you with a safe, reliable supply of municipal water.

Our water treatment facility draws from four wells tapping into the Floridan Aquifer. A Source Water Assessment completed in 2016 by the Department of Environmental Protection Agency (available at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp) found our four main wells not vulnerable to outside contamination. One remaining well was determined to have moderate risk from a nearby diesel storage tank, but this well typically operates only as needed for additional fire protection in southeast Bartow.

At our main treatment facility, raw water from the Floridan Aquifer undergoes lime softening to remove excess hardness and contaminants. The water is then filtered to eliminate turbidity, disinfected with chlorine, treated with corrosion inhibitor to prevent iron bacteria growth, and supplemented with fluoride for dental health before distribution.

If you have questions about our water facilities or this report, please contact Ron Johnson weekdays between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM at (863) 534-0159. This report is also available on our website: www.cityofbartow.net.

The City of Bartow regularly monitors for contaminants according to Federal and local regulations. The Test Results Table shows monitoring results from January 1 to December 31, 2017, along with relevant prior testing data as required by law.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, urban runoff, industrial/household wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants occurring naturally or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA sets regulations limiting contaminants in public water systems to ensure drinking water safety. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water. All water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, including those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants may be particularly at risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While the City of Bartow provides high-quality water, we cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. If your water has been sitting for several hours, minimize potential lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider having your water tested. Information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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