Indian Hill City PWS Water Company

OUR COMMITMENT - Indian Hill Water Works (IHWW) is dedicated to providing safe, reliable municipal water to residents 24/7, year-round. Our team works diligently to ensure water delivered from our facilities meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements. This report offers an overview of water quality provided to customers in 2016, including information about water sources, composition, and compliance with Ohio EPA standards.

SOURCE OF OUR WATER - Our water comes from nine groundwater wells located along the Little Miami River between Milford and Camp Dennison in Hamilton and Clermont Counties. Protecting our water source from contamination is a shared responsibility among all residents and businesses. Please dispose of hazardous chemicals and medications properly and report polluters to appropriate authorities. Only through collective effort can we ensure safe water flow for future generations.

The Water Treatment Plant is located adjacent to the wellfield at 7100 Glendale Milford Road (State Route 126). The groundwater undergoes softening to reduce hardness, chlorination for disinfection, fluoridation for dental health, and orthophosphate treatment for corrosion control. In 2016, the facility produced over 761 million gallons of water. Indian Hill Water Works maintains emergency connections with Greater Cincinnati Water Works.

POTENTIAL CONTAMINANT SOURCES - According to Ohio EPA, "Water sources, both tap and bottled, include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, while potentially picking up substances from animal presence or human activity."

Possible contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, urban runoff, industrial waste, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants occurring naturally or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

EPA regulations limit contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA establishes limits for bottled water. All drinking water may contain small amounts of some contaminants, but this doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

SUSCEPTIBILITY ASSESSMENT - In 2011, Ohio EPA completed Indian Hill Water Works' Source Water Assessment and Protection Plan. This study concluded that our aquifer has high susceptibility to contamination due to: 1) absence of protective clay/shale layers over the aquifer; 2) shallow depth (less than 15-30 feet below surface); and 3) presence of manmade contaminants in treated water. Nitrates were detected at levels below the federal/state standard of 10 ppm in 2016, indicating some impact from land use. Future contamination risks can be minimized through protection measures outlined in the assessment plan.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS - Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general public. Immunocompromised individuals, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, and those with immune system disorders require special precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where does Indian Hill City PWS water come from?
   Indian Hill City PWS supplies groundwater to Hamilton County, Ohio.
2. Does Indian Hill City PWS test its tap water?
   Yes. Like every public water system, Indian Hill City PWS must test its water under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and publish an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report). Ask the utility for the latest report or look for it on its website.
3. How do I contact Indian Hill City PWS?
   Call 513-831-3885 or visit 7100 Glendale Milford Rd, Milford, OH 45150, or use the contact options on the utility’s website.
4. Does Indian Hill City PWS water contain lead?
   Water usually leaves the treatment plant without lead. Lead can enter tap water from older service lines, solder and brass fixtures inside homes, especially when water sits in the pipes. Run the tap before drinking if water has been sitting, and ask the utility about lead testing and service line records.
5. Is Indian Hill City PWS water hard?
   Hardness depends on the source and changes over time. The annual water quality report lists hardness, or you can test it at home. If it is above about 7 grains per gallon, a water softener sized to your measured hardness will stop scale and spotting.

For service line leaks, remember that the Water District is only responsible for main lines in streets and connections from mains to property boundaries. Homeowners must maintain and repair plumbing from the property line to and throughout their buildings.