City of Tamarac (West)

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT: In 2017, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) conducted a Source Water Assessment (SWA) on the City of Tamarac's system. This assessment was performed to identify potential contamination sources near the City's wells. Of the 11 potential contaminant sources identified, only 4 affected wells with a moderate susceptibility level of concern. Assessment results are available through the DEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp.

BOTTLED WATER HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS: All water, including bottled water, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

WATER SOURCES: Municipal water (both tap and bottled) comes from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and may pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

POTENTIAL CONTAMINANT SOURCES 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, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, byproducts of industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure tap water safety, EPA establishes regulations limiting certain contaminants in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equal public health protection.

SPECIAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons (such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, some elderly, and infants) may be particularly at risk. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

TERMINOLOGY GUIDE:

• Action Level (AL): Contaminant concentration triggering treatment or other requirements
• Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): Average test results from specific monitoring locations over four calendar quarters
• Parts per billion (ppb)/Micrograms per liter (ug/l): One part contaminant per billion parts water
• Parts per million (ppm)/Milligrams per liter (mg/l): One part contaminant per million parts water
• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): Highest allowable contaminant level in municipal water
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): Contaminant level below which no known health risks exist
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): Highest allowable disinfectant level in municipal water
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): Disinfectant level below which no known health risks exist
• Not Detected (ND): Not found by laboratory analysis
• Picocurie per liter (pCi/L): Measure of radioactivity in water
• Treatment Technique (TT): Required process to reduce contaminant levels

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