Crittenden-Livingston County Water District

Pinckneyville area residents should be aware that a thorough assessment of the Crittenden-Livingston County Water District infrastructure indicates generally high susceptibility to potential contamination sources. This susceptibility analysis evaluates risks to our water supply from various environmental factors.

Within the protection zone for the Crittenden-Livingston County Water District supply, twenty different potential contamination sources have been identified. These include bridges, large septic systems, underground storage tanks, coast guard stations, landfills, chemical storage facilities, quarries, mines, auto repair shops, wastewater treatment plants, barge traffic, asphalt plants, and highways. Risk levels range from moderate to high due to possible chemical spills.

This represents just a brief overview of the source water protection program. The complete detailed report is available for public review at the Crittenden-Livingston County Water District office.

All municipal water, including bottled varieties, naturally contains at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate any health risk. For additional information about contaminants and potential health impacts, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage facilities, septic systems, livestock, or wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals occurring naturally or from runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, or agriculture
• Pesticides and herbicides from stormwater runoff, agricultural or residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, or septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants occurring naturally or from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than others. Immuno-compromised individuals, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants can face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers about their drinking water. Guidelines for reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminant risks are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in municipal water typically comes from service line materials and household plumbing components. While your water utility provides quality water, they cannot control the materials used in plumbing fixtures. To minimize lead exposure when water has been sitting for hours, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider water testing. Information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.