Clearwater Water System

Sources of municipal water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land surfaces or through ground layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, while potentially picking up substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, farming operations
• Pesticides and Herbicides: Various agricultural sources, urban stormwater runoff, residential usage
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining activities

To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for bottled water contaminants to provide equivalent public health protection. All water sources, including bottled varieties, reasonably contain at least minimal amounts of some contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

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