City of Petersburg

The City of Petersburg Department of Public Utilities provides residents with surface water purchased from the Appomattox River Water Authority (ARWA). ARWA draws water from Lake Chesdin, a reservoir created by the George F. Brasfield Dam in Chesterfield County.

Within the watershed, there are several animal facilities, though none contribute significant contaminants to Lake Chesdin. The Farmville Sewage Treatment Plant, located over forty miles upstream, is monitored as a potential pollution source.

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

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharge, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure safe tap water, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, elderly individuals, and infants) should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding drinking water safety. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Key Definitions:

• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): Highest allowed contaminant level in drinking water
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): Contaminant level below which no known health risk exists
• ppb: Parts per billion (micrograms per liter)
• Action Level (AL): Contaminant concentration triggering treatment requirements
• ppm: Parts per million (milligrams per liter)
• Treatment Technique (TT): Required process to reduce contaminant levels
• NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (water clarity measure)
• pCi/L: Picocuries per liter (radioactivity measure)
• MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level allowed in drinking water
• MRDLG: Disinfectant level below which no known health risk exists

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