City of New Smyrna Beach

Municipal water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of various contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For detailed information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material (uncommon in Florida), and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria from agricultural operations and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals, either naturally occurring or resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharge, oil and gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture and residential use
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, and urban stormwater runoff
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil, gas, and mining activities

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide comparable public health protection.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than others. Immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients 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 about water consumption. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminant risks are available from the Safe Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

LEAD INFORMATION: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While the Utilities Commission provides quality water, it cannot control plumbing component materials. When water sits unused for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to one minute before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Water Hotline or at https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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