City of St. Cloud

WATER SOURCE
The City of St. Cloud utilizes the Mississippi River as its primary source for municipal water. The water delivered to customers consistently meets or exceeds quality standards established by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). MDH has identified our source water as potentially susceptible to contamination. In response, the City of St. Cloud developed a Source Water Protection Plan to help prevent Mississippi River contamination.

To access the source water assessment, please call 1-800-818-9318 (press 5) during regular business hours or view it online at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swap/swa. Contact the Public Utilities Department or MDH with questions about water quality or to learn about opportunities for public involvement in decisions affecting water quality.

LAB ANALYSIS RESULTS
No contaminants were detected at levels that violated federal municipal water standards in our testing. Some contaminants were found at trace amounts below regulatory or legal limits. The table below shows contaminants detected in trace amounts during 2017.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection. All municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants, which 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 800-426-4791.

Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

Substances potentially present in source water include:

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Municipal Water

1. What is the source of municipal water provided by Tennessee American Water to the Chattanooga/Hamilton County area?
   The water comes from the Tennessee River, a significant surface water source. Tennessee American maintains round-the-clock attention to providing the highest quality municipal water and participates in the voluntary Partnership for Safe Water program, which exceeds standard quality requirements and achieves superior water clarity. They've earned the Directors Award for over 16 years, making them one of only nine water providers in Tennessee to receive this distinction.
2. How can customers learn about their water quality?
   Each year, all municipal water providers must publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) detailing their water quality from the previous year. Residents should read their CCR to understand their tap water, standards, and sources. The report includes information about regulated substances and allowable ranges, as well as any Notices of Violation (NOV). In 2016, 26% of Tennessee community water systems received at least one NOV, while Tennessee American Water has maintained a perfect compliance record throughout its 130-year history. Find their CCR at www.tennesseeamwater.com under the Water Quality tab.
3. Why do water providers add chemicals to municipal water?
   According to the CDC, water sources require proper treatment to eliminate disease-causing agents. Public systems employ various treatment methods to ensure safe municipal water. Even rainwater collects atmospheric particles, and as it flows over land, it dissolves and carries substances it contacts. These can include industrial solvents, metals, sediments, pesticides, plant nutrients, radioactive materials, road salts, and organic matter. Many impurities are removed during treatment at municipal water facilities. Local water teams continuously monitor safety and quality through hundreds of daily tests, using EPA and TDEC-approved chemicals based on state and federal standards, water chemistry, facility design, and system requirements.
4. What substances are used to treat municipal water?
   Common treatments include:
   • Powdered Activated Carbon for filtration, which helps eliminate odors and tastes that may occur during seasonal changes
   • Chlorine for disinfection, required by state and federal regulations to prevent disease
   • Fluoride, recommended by health authorities to prevent tooth decay (local governments decide whether to require it)
   • PACL (coagulant) based on water chemistry, which binds sediment in settling basins to remove natural dirt and minerals
   • ZOP (corrosion inhibitor) required by the state to prevent pipe materials from leaching into the water, an issue highlighted by the Flint, Michigan crisis
5. What is water filtration?
   Filtration is the treatment process where water passes through filters of sand, gravel, and charcoal to remove small particles after larger particles have been eliminated in settling basins. Tennessee American recognizes filtration's importance for water quality and safety, while some surface water providers skip this step.
6. What is the Partnership for Safe Water?
   This alliance of six prestigious water organizations works to improve water quality by optimizing system operations. One key measure is water clarity or turbidity, measured in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Turbidity above 5 NTUs is noticeable to most people. Tennessee regulations require turbidity below 0.5 NTUs at least 95% of the time, but Tennessee American achieves much clearer water at 0.1 NTUs 99.9% of the time through Partnership participation—80% better clarity than required. Tours of their Chattanooga facility can be arranged by calling (423) 771-4798.