Crestview Water Department

The water system continues monitoring for unregulated contaminants (UCs) as part of a study to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determine their presence in municipal water and whether future regulation is warranted. Currently, no health standards (such as maximum contaminant levels) exist for UCs. However, we must share the analytical results of our UC monitoring in our annual municipal water quality report.

For more information about the EPA's Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health concerns, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. While the City of Crestview provides high-quality municipal water, we cannot control the materials used in plumbing fixtures.

If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption or cooking. If concerned about lead in your water, testing options are available. Information regarding lead in water, testing procedures, and exposure reduction steps can be found via the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals occurring naturally or from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• 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

To ensure tap water safety, EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems. Similarly, FDA regulations establish contaminant limits for bottled water to provide equal public health protection.

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