City of Taylor

Quality First: We are pleased to present our annual water quality report. As in previous years, we remain dedicated to delivering the highest quality water possible. We continue to focus on meeting new regulations, protecting source water, conserving resources, and educating our community, all while meeting the needs of our customers.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you and your family. We welcome your thoughts on the information presented in this report. Well-informed customers are truly our best allies.

Delivering high-quality water involves much more than just moving water through pipes. Water treatment is a complex, time-consuming process. Because tap water is highly regulated, our treatment plant operators must be certified through extensive, ongoing professional training.

Our certified water professionals have expertise in various disciplines including mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Their daily responsibilities include:

• Operating and maintaining purification equipment
• Monitoring meters, gauges, and operating conditions
• Conducting water tests and analyzing results
• Maintaining optimal water chemistry
• Applying data to determine treatment requirements
• Documenting and reporting to regulatory agencies
• Providing customer service and community education

Important Health Information: Some individuals may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, including Cryptosporidium. Infants, elderly persons, those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, those on steroid treatment, and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders may face increased risk. Please consult your healthcare provider about your drinking water. Guidelines for reducing infection risk are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Water Treatment Process: Our treatment involves several steps. Raw water is first drawn from the source and sent to an oxygenation tank to address high iron levels. Then it moves to a mixing tank where poly aluminum chloride and soda ash are added to create "floc" particles that settle out impurities. Chlorine is added for disinfection, followed by filtration through coal and silicate sand layers to remove suspended particles. Additional chlorine is carefully measured to ensure safety without affecting taste. Finally, the treated water is pumped to sanitized storage facilities before distribution.

Substances That Could Be in Water: To ensure safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminants in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water. All water sources (tap and bottled) may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it can pick up natural minerals, sometimes radioactive material, and substances from animal or human activity.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment, septic systems, livestock, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or from urban runoff, wastewater discharge, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides/Herbicides: From agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, or septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Taste, color, or odor issues in water aren't necessarily health concerns. For more information about water aesthetics or potential health effects of contaminants, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Water Main Flushing: Distribution mains carry water to homes, businesses, and hydrants in your community. While the water entering these mains is high quality, it can degrade over time in certain areas. Flushing involves sending rapid water flow through mains to clean their interior surfaces.

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