El Jardin WSC

The municipal water supplied to El Jardin WSC comes from Surface Water sources (the Rio Grande, WTP 1-94 13th St, WTP 2- 1425 Robinhood Rd.) purchased directly from Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB).

Sources of municipal water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals, sometimes radioactive materials, and can collect substances from animal or human activities. All municipal water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of certain contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Possible 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, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides: from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants: synthetic and volatile organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Some populations may be more vulnerable to certain contaminants like Cryptosporidium. Infants, some elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems (such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, transplant recipients, those on steroid treatments, and people with HIV/AIDS) may face increased risk. Consult your healthcare provider about your municipal water. Guidelines for reducing Cryptosporidium infection risk are available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters water through service line materials and household plumbing components. We can't control the materials used in plumbing components. To minimize lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption if it has been sitting unused. If concerned about lead, consider water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and minimizing exposure is available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Contaminants affecting taste, color, or odor might be present but don't necessarily pose health concerns. For questions about water aesthetics, please contact our office. EPA regulations limit contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety, while FDA rules establish similar limits for bottled water.

A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for our water sources is being updated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, describing potential contaminants based on human activities and natural conditions to help us implement effective water protection strategies.

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