Okaloosa County Bluewater Bay-Raintree

The Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Program continuously monitors your water quality in accordance with Federal and State regulations. This report presents findings from January 1 through December 31, 2018. State regulations allow reduced monitoring frequencies for certain contaminants that show consistent concentration levels. Some data, while representative, may be over one year old.

All municipal water, including bottled varieties, contains trace amounts of some contaminants. These small quantities typically don't present health risks. In 2018, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducted a Source Water Assessment (SWA) on our systems to identify potential contamination sources near our wells.

The main system (PWS 1460506) showed 16 potential contamination sources with low to moderate susceptibility levels. The Bluewater/Raintree system (PWS 1460775) revealed no potential contamination sources, and the Mid-County system (PWS 1464044) also showed no potential sources. Assessment results are available through the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection website or by contacting OCWS at 651-7133.

Water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) which can occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that can occur naturally or result from resource extraction activities

Understanding water quality measurements: Parts per million (ppm) equals one part contaminant per million parts water; parts per billion (ppb) equals one part per billion parts water; Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) measures radioactivity; Action Level (AL) is the concentration that triggers treatment requirements; Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is the highest permitted contaminant level, set as close as possible to the MCLG; Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) is the level below which no known health risk exists.

In 2018, we tested for unregulated contaminants (UCs) in our Main System as part of an EPA study. Currently, these contaminants have no established health standards but require monitoring. Results are available by contacting Tom Sampson. The Bluewater/Raintree System will undergo similar testing in 2019-2020.

If you're concerned about lead exposure, you can minimize risk by running water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes after it has sat for several hours. Lead primarily comes from service lines and home plumbing materials, not the water supply itself. Information about lead testing is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Our team works around the clock to deliver safe, clean water. Individuals with compromised immune systems (cancer patients, transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, some elderly, and infants) should consult healthcare providers about their drinking water as they may be more vulnerable to certain contaminants.

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