City of Long Beach

Last year, our tap water met most EPA and state health standards for municipal water quality. We're pleased to report that our system has not violated any maximum contaminant level or other water quality standard during the past year.

Special Health Considerations: Certain individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants in tap water than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly individuals, and infants may face increased health risks. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about water consumption guidelines. EPA/CDC recommendations for minimizing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water Source Information: Your municipal water comes from 10 deep water wells distributed throughout the City. Three wells draw from the Graham Ferry Formation, while the remaining wells access the Pascagoula Formation. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has conducted Source Water Assessment reports, available upon request at the Long Beach Water Department Billing Office. Of the city's 10 wells, 9 are classified as "moderate" susceptibility and 1 as "lower" susceptibility to contamination.

Understanding Water Contaminants: All water sources, including bottled water, naturally contain some level of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves minerals and can pick up substances from animal or human activities.

Types of Potential Contaminants:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals, occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential use
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set limits for bottled water to provide equal public health protection.

Community Involvement: The Long Beach Board of Aldermen meets on the first and third Tuesday monthly at 201 Jeff Davis Ave., beginning at 5:00 PM. All water system customers are welcome to attend.

Lead Information: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While Long Beach provides quality water, we cannot control plumbing component materials. After water sits unused for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned, have your water tested. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available via the Safe Water Drinking Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Water Quality Data: Our testing reports list all detected municipal water contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Unless noted otherwise, this data represents testing from the calendar year of this report. The EPA requires monitoring for certain contaminants less than once yearly as concentrations typically remain stable.

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