Lower Valley Water District

Water sources for both tap and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activities.

All 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, call the EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Source water may contain various contaminant types:

• Microbial contaminants - viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants - naturally-occurring salts and metals or those resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides - agricultural sources, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants - industrial processes byproducts, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants - naturally-occurring or from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safe municipal water. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection. Water quality issues affecting taste, color, or odor aren't necessarily health concerns. Contact the system office for questions about these aesthetic properties.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to specific microbes like Cryptosporidium. Infants, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems (cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people taking steroids, and those with HIV/AIDS) face heightened infection risks. Consult your healthcare provider about municipal water safety. Guidelines for reducing Cryptosporidium infection risk are available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Elevated lead levels pose serious health risks, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from service line materials and household plumbing components. While we provide quality municipal water, we cannot control plumbing material varieties. After water sits for several hours, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption to minimize potential lead exposure.

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