City of Plant City Utility

All Water Sources May Contain Contaminants. Municipal water, including bottled options, could reasonably contain at least small amounts of certain 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 Municipal Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

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

Potential Contaminants Include:

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

Vulnerable Populations: Some individuals may be more susceptible to contaminants than the general public. Immuno-compromised persons (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, elderly, and infants) should seek advice from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines for reducing infection risk by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available through the Safe Municipal Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Understanding Testing Terms:

• AL (Action Level): Contaminant concentration triggering treatment requirements
• HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids): Chemical compounds including mono-, di-, and trichloroacetic acids
• MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): Highest allowed contaminant level in municipal water
• MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): Contaminant level below which no health risk is known
• MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): Highest allowed disinfectant level
• ppb/ppm: Parts per billion/million measuring contaminant concentration

Lead in Water: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While the City's Utilities Operations Department provides quality water, they cannot control plumbing component materials. Minimize exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption. Information about testing and reducing exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids: Though some samples in 2018 exceeded MCL limits for these compounds, the system maintained annual average results below MCL thresholds at all sites. Long-term consumption of water with elevated levels of these compounds may increase cancer risk and affect liver, kidney, and central nervous system function.

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