City of Jamestown

We're pleased to present this year's Annual Municipal Water Quality Report to our community. This document provides essential information about the clean, safe water we deliver to your home daily.

Our ongoing mission is to provide you with reliable, high-quality tap water. We continuously work to enhance our water treatment processes and protect our valuable water resources. Our commitment to ensuring water quality remains unwavering.

Our water is sourced from wells drawing groundwater from the Jamestown Aquifer that runs beneath the James River Valley in McElroy Park. We maintain a comprehensive wellhead protection plan available at our office that provides additional information, including potential contamination sources.

This report details our water quality and explains what the data means. It follows the format and contains language required by EPA regulations. If you have questions about this report or our water services, please contact Joe Rowell, Water Plant Superintendent (Acting) at 252-5131.

We value keeping our customers informed about their municipal water utility. The Jamestown Water Department operates under the direction of the City Engineer and the Jamestown City Council. To learn more, please attend our regularly scheduled council meetings held on the 1st Monday of each month at 5 PM at Jamestown City Hall.

For non-English speaking residents needing language assistance, please contact Joe Rowell at the number provided above.

Our public water system, in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Health, has completed the delineation and contaminant/land use inventory components of the North Dakota Source Water Protection Program. Based on this information, the North Dakota Department of Health has determined that our source water is moderately susceptible to potential contaminants.

The Jamestown Water Department requests that large-volume water users post copies of this CCR in visible locations or distribute them to tenants, residents, patients, students, and employees, ensuring that people who consume our water but don't receive a water bill can access information about our water system.

1. Q: Why does my water seem milky or cloudy?
   A: The cloudy appearance typically results from air bubbles in the water, which pose no health risk. If you let the water sit, the air will dissipate and the water will clear. If cloudiness persists, please contact us for further investigation.
2. Q: What causes spots on my dishes?
   A: These spots are caused by minerals in hard water that remain after the water evaporates. A dishwasher rinse agent can effectively remove these spots.
3. Q: Should I purchase a water softener?
   A: Water hardness varies by source location. Installing a softener is an aesthetic choice, as hard water isn't harmful to health. Be aware that softeners typically increase sodium content, which may be relevant for those on low-sodium diets.
4. Q: Are home filtration units necessary?
   A: According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, home treatment systems are rarely needed for health reasons. Most are used to improve taste or appearance. If you choose to install one, follow manufacturer maintenance instructions carefully, as improperly maintained units can actually create water quality issues.
5. Q: Why does my coffee have an oily appearance?
   A: Clean your coffee maker with a vinegar and water solution as specified by the manufacturer's guidelines.
6. Q: What causes odors in hot water?
   A: The water heater is typically the source of hot water odors. If your cold water smells fine, check your water heater temperature settings and maintenance schedule. Contact us if odors persist or appear in both hot and cold water.
7. Q: What causes water discoloration?
   A: Discoloration typically stems from natural organic matter, minerals, or mineral buildup in pipes. We regularly flush our water system to remove mineral buildup and sediment. If you experience discolored water, run your taps until clear. While these materials usually don't pose health risks, please report persistent discoloration so we can investigate.
8. Q: Is bottled water better than tap water?
   A: Both tap and bottled water providers must meet identical quality standards. In fact, municipal water providers conduct more frequent testing and reporting than bottled water companies. Some consumers prefer bottled water's taste or choose it for specific health needs, but tap water costs about 1,000 times less.
9. Q: Why do utility workers open fire hydrants?
   A: Regular system flushing removes mineral buildup and sediment from pipes while ensuring proper water circulation throughout the system. Hydrants may also be opened for fire-flow capability testing.
10. Q: Why must water be disinfected?
    A: Disinfectants prevent the spread of disease-causing germs. Before water disinfection became standard practice, diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery were common. Municipal water disinfection has dramatically improved public health and water safety.
11. Q: Why does my water have a chlorine taste or smell?
    A: We disinfect water to eliminate harmful bacteria. To reduce chlorine taste or odor, try refrigerating your water before drinking.
12. Q: Why is there dirt or sand in my water?
    A: Sediment can occur naturally in groundwater or appear following water line repairs. We minimize this through regular system flushing, which improves quality by increasing water flow in pipes and removing most sediment.
13. Q: Why does water taste change seasonally?
    A: Water sources may change during different seasons based on supply availability. Surface water from rivers and lakes typically tastes slightly different from groundwater pumped from underground aquifers.