Connersville Utilities

Understanding Your Municipal Water

The sources of tap water and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, while also potentially collecting substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in untreated water may include:

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

To ensure safe tap water, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Connersville Utilities treats water according to these standards. FDA regulations similarly protect bottled water quality.

All water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Water Hotline at (800)426-4791.

Some contaminants may affect taste, odor, or color without posing health concerns. For questions about these aesthetic issues, please contact Connersville Utilities directly.

Protecting Our Water Resources

Connersville is implementing both a Wellhead Protection Strategy and a Water Quality Management Program. Here are ways you can help protect our water:

• Minimize use of fertilizers, pesticides, and hazardous chemicals
• Recycle used oil, automotive fluids, and batteries properly
• Avoid disposing of hazardous materials in drains or on the ground
• Properly maintain septic systems
• Use commercial car washes or wash vehicles on unpaved surfaces
• Ensure swimming pools are properly dechlorinated before draining
• Report stormwater issues to (765) 825-2158

Your Water Source

Connersville's municipal water comes from groundwater in the Fayette-Union Aquifer system. We operate five wells east of Robert's Park and three wells north of the Babe Ruth baseball complex. Water treatment includes oxygenation, filtration, and disinfection at two treatment plants, serving over 6,600 customers.

Health Information

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly individuals, and infants can be particularly susceptible to infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from healthcare providers. Guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)426-4791.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While Connersville Utilities provides high-quality water, we cannot control the materials used in residential plumbing. When water has been sitting for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned, consider having your water tested. Information about lead in drinking water is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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