Muhlenberg Twp Municipal Authority

We are pleased to present this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This document aims to inform you about the quality of water and services we deliver daily. Our ongoing mission is to provide safe, reliable water delivery. We want you to understand our efforts to continuously enhance treatment processes and protect our vital water resources.

Water Sources: All our water comes from nine (9) deep groundwater wells throughout Muhlenberg Township. Our current system includes five (5) booster pumping stations, six (6) storage reservoirs, and approximately 112 miles of transmission and distribution pipes.

Service Area: The Authority system serves portions of Muhlenberg Township (including former Borough of Temple), parts of Laureldale Borough and Alsace Township. We provide public water to roughly 8,943 customers with an average daily demand of 3.15 million gallons.

Our Commitment: We're dedicated to ensuring water quality, and Muhlenberg Township Authority works continuously to deliver high-quality water to every tap.

Need Additional Information? For questions about this Report or your water utility, please contact Jeff Calpino, General Manager at (610) 929-4709. To learn more, attend our regularly scheduled meetings held at 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday after the first Monday of each month at the Township office.

Health Information: All drinking water sources face potential contamination from natural or human-made elements. All water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of contaminants. This doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. EPA and DEP regulations limit contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety. FDA and DEP guidelines establish similar limits for bottled water.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or visit www.epa.gov/OGWDW.

Special Health Considerations: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, some elderly, and infants) should seek advice from healthcare providers about drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Important Nitrate Information: Nitrate levels above 10 ppm pose health risks for infants under six months, potentially causing blue baby syndrome. Levels may rise quickly during rainfall or agricultural activity. Consult your healthcare provider if caring for an infant.

Lead Awareness: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While we provide high-quality water, we can't control plumbing component materials. Minimize exposure by running water 30 seconds to 2 minutes after it sits unused. For lead concerns, consider testing. Information available at the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Source Water Information: Water sources (tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals, sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Potential Contaminants Include:

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

1. How often is our municipal water tested?
2. What causes water hardness in Berks County?
3. Are home water filters necessary with municipal water?
4. How are nitrates and bacteria monitored in our water supply?
5. What steps does Muhlenberg Township take to ensure water safety?