Lima City

The Lima Water Treatment Plant has prepared this comprehensive report to provide residents with vital information about our local water quality. Within this document, you'll find essential health information, detailed water quality test results, guidance on participating in decisions about your municipal water, and important utility contacts.

Our facility currently maintains an unconditional permit to operate the municipal water system. Lima's public water system draws surface water from the Ottawa and Auglaize Rivers. According to Ohio regulations, surface waters are generally considered vulnerable to contamination. Surface water sources are naturally exposed and can be quickly affected by pollutants with minimal warning time for preparation.

Lima's water source protection area contains several potential contamination sources including:

• Agricultural operations
• Industrial stormwater runoff
• Residential developments
• Metal fabrication facilities
• Landfills and waste disposal sites
• Septic systems
• Sewage treatment facilities
• Transportation infrastructure (roads and railways)

Our municipal system treats water to meet quality standards, but no single treatment method can address all potential contaminants. The risk of water quality impacts can be reduced by implementing protective measures for the Ottawa and Auglaize Rivers. For more detailed information, review Lima's Drinking Water Source Assessment report by contacting Michael Caprella at 419-221-5294.

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

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants: Salts and metals that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides: Various agricultural, urban stormwater, and residential sources
• Organic chemical contaminants: Industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: Natural sources or oil/gas production and mining activities

High lead levels can cause serious health concerns, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters drinking water through materials in service lines and home plumbing. While Lima's municipal system provides high-quality water, we cannot control plumbing materials in homes. 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 drinking or cooking. For lead testing information, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit http:/www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set limits for bottled water. These standards provide the same public health protections. Improperly treated water may contain disease-causing organisms that can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and headaches.

All water sources naturally contain small amounts of some contaminants, but this doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Ohio Administrative Code requires public water suppliers to protect systems from cross-connections and prevent backflow. Water customers are ultimately responsible for properly maintaining their plumbing systems and ensuring backflow preventers are tested annually.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants, including those with compromised immune systems (cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS), elderly individuals, and infants. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding water consumption.

On February 14, 2018, Lima received an EPA violation notice for failing to promptly report that chlorine residual had fallen below 0.2 mg/l on February 2, 2018. This occurred due to improper backwashing of a granular activated carbon filter, which allowed excess carbon media to reduce chlorine levels in finished water. The issue was resolved and chlorine levels restored within two hours.

The Lima Water Treatment Plant conducts regular testing for bacteria, inorganic, synthetic organic, and volatile organic contaminants. Most substances tested for were not detected in our water supply. Some testing occurs less frequently as contaminant concentrations rarely change, so some data may be more than one year old while remaining accurate.

1. Who do I contact if there's a leak at my water meter? Please call the Water Division at (617) 993-2700 during business hours (8:00AM to 4:00PM) or after hours, weekends and holidays at (617) 484-3977. A Water Division technician will diagnose the leak source and take appropriate action.
2. Why are water meters being replaced? Meters require replacement due to age and functionality concerns. Water meters typically have a 12-15 year useful lifespan, after which accuracy may decline.
3. Is there a charge for meter replacement? Standard residential meter replacements are provided at no cost. However, if you request a larger meter, additional fees may apply.
4. Does the Water Division offer separate meters for apartments or outdoor usage? Yes, please contact the DPW Water Division at (617) 993-2700 for detailed information.
5. I occasionally notice rusty-colored water with small rust specks. What causes this and what should I do? This "red water" occurs when flow patterns change due to main breaks, hydrant use, or flow direction changes, which dislodge rust particles from pipes. This temporary condition typically resolves within hours. If possible, avoid using water for laundry, dishes, cooking, and drinking until it clears.
6. Sometimes our kitchen tap water appears cloudy but clears from bottom to top when left standing. Is this safe? This "white water" or cloudiness results from air bubbles in the water supply, common during cold weather. It's completely harmless. Simply let it stand until the bubbles naturally disappear.
7. What is the pH of our municipal water? Lima receives water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which treats water to maintain approximately 9.3 pH, slightly alkaline. This level helps prevent metal leaching from household plumbing. Untreated water in MWRA's Quabbin Reservoir has a natural pH of about 6.8, near neutral. The pH scale ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline), with 7 being neutral.
8. Is our water considered "soft" or "hard"? Lima's water is classified as soft, with hardness measuring approximately 15-20 mg/l (milligrams per liter) or about 1 grain/gallon. For comparison, hard water typically exceeds 75 mg/l hardness.
9. Is fluoride added to our municipal water? Yes, Lima's water contains fluoride, added after disinfection. The MWRA fluoride dose is 1.0 mg/l with a target range of 0.8 to 1.2 mg/l. Lima water maintains a fluoride residual of 0.9 to 1.0 mg/l.