City of Lufkin

Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. The CITY OF LUFKIN draws its groundwater from the Corrizo Aquifer. As water travels over land surfaces or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence and human activities.

All tap water, including bottled varieties, reasonably contains small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, or mining
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that may be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set similar standards for bottled water to ensure public health protection. Some water quality issues may affect taste, color, or odor without posing health risks.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants, particularly those with compromised immune systems such as people undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals on steroid treatment, and those with HIV/AIDS. Infants and elderly persons may also face increased risk. Consult your healthcare provider about your drinking water if you have concerns.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters drinking water through service line materials and household plumbing components. While the City provides quality water, we cannot control materials used in residential plumbing. To minimize potential lead exposure, run your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For lead testing information, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The City uses Everbridge Aware for emergency notifications about severe weather, fires, floods, toxic environmental issues and other urgent situations. Communications can reach residents via multiple channels including cell phone, email, text messaging, fax, and pager. The system also notifies residents about important non-emergency activities. Residents with landlines are automatically subscribed to emergency alerts but can add additional contact methods at www.alertlufkin.com.

As a city-owned utility, water account information is considered public record under Texas law. However, residential customers may request confidentiality for personal information including address, phone number, social security number, water usage, billing amounts and payment records. Submit confidentiality requests in writing.

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