Midland County Water District No. 1

WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?

Water District #1 has purchased water from the City of Midland since our system's establishment in 1970. Midland has sourced its water from Lake Huron since 1948. The water pumping facility is jointly owned and operated by Midland and Saginaw cities as the Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Corporation (SMMWSC). Lake Huron water enters the system through two intake structures positioned one and two miles offshore at Whitestone Point near Au Gres.

UNDERSTANDING CONTAMINANTS

All tap water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of certain contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

POTENTIAL CONTAMINANTS IN SOURCE WATER:

• Microbial contaminants: viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, 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: from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants: byproducts of industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: naturally-occurring or from oil/gas production and mining activities

To ensure safety, EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems, while FDA regulations establish limits for bottled water to provide similar public health protection.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT

In June 2003, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality released a Source Water Assessment Report for our community's raw water supply. Our water comes from Lake Huron intakes located off Whitestone Point, approximately 8 miles north of AuGres. The report includes a susceptibility assessment measuring potential contamination risks. It concluded our intakes have a moderately low susceptibility rating, which is positive for a surface water source. The report is available at Midland City Hall's Water Office. For questions, call the Water Plant at 837-3515.

COPPER INFORMATION

Copper is essential for nutrition, but consuming water with copper above action levels over short periods may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Long-term exposure to elevated copper may damage liver or kidneys. People with Wilson's Disease should consult their doctor. If concerned about copper levels, flush taps for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before use or test your home's water. Contact the Water District Office at 687-2709 for more information.

LEAD INFORMATION

Elevated lead levels can seriously affect pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. Water District #1 provides quality water but cannot control plumbing component materials. To minimize lead exposure when water has been sitting, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. If concerned, consider water testing. Information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or http://www.epa.gov/drink/information/lead.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised individuals (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, some elderly, and infants) may be particularly at risk. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contamination risk are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

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