Indian Hill City PWS

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 our water come from?

   The District's water supply is groundwater. We operate fourteen wells - six in Westwood and eight in Dedham. We also maintain emergency connections with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Boston, Norwood, and Needham. Additionally, we can purchase up to 73 million gallons annually from MWRA as needed.

2. How is our water treated?

   Our two water treatment plants filter water from all regularly pumped wells. We add chlorine for disinfection, fluoride for dental health protection, and remove naturally occurring iron and manganese (common in New England groundwater). We adjust pH and alkalinity to neutralize the slightly acidic groundwater, reducing pipe corrosion. Testing occurs continuously for pH and treatment performance, with other parameters analyzed daily, weekly, quarterly or annually per regulations.

3. What should I do about an unusually high water bill?

   First, request a meter reading to verify billing accuracy, or check the meter yourself. If the reading is correct and household usage hasn't changed, you likely have a leak. Toilets are common culprits due to faulty seals that cause intermittent, silent leaks. Homeowners can often fix these by replacing rubber seals, though some cases require a plumber. Leak detection tablets are available at our office. Note that Water District policies don't permit abatements for leaks.

4. Why do we have water restrictions?

   Massachusetts enforces strict regulations on water withdrawals by public suppliers and large users like farms and golf courses. Newer water sources can only be utilized when river flows exceed certain thresholds. This sometimes means that during peak demand periods, less water is available. We're also required to implement comprehensive conservation programs to help customers reduce usage and minimize system leakage. While our system can pump and treat about seven million gallons daily (well above the 4.25 million average daily use), summer demand occasionally approaches capacity limits. Maintaining adequate storage tank levels is also essential for health and fire safety.

5. How is the Water District planning for the future?

   Though a consultant's assessment indicates sufficient supply through 2023, we continuously reevaluate usage trends. The Commonwealth reviews water withdrawal permits every five years, and if benchmarks aren't met, our withdrawal allowances could be reduced. For example, if average residential customers exceed 65 gallons daily or if underground pipe leakage surpasses 10%, our permit could face restrictions. Through public education and seasonal usage limitations, we work to maintain compliance or risk substantial penalties. The District has joined the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to access supplemental water when needed, though this source costs significantly more than locally pumped and treated water.

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.