Paragould Light Water & Cable

We're proud to present this year's Annual Municipal Water Quality Report to our community. This document provides essential information about the quality water and services we deliver to your home daily. Our mission is to supply you with safe, reliable municipal water, and we want to share the ongoing efforts we make to enhance our water treatment processes and protect our valuable water resources.

Where Does Our Municipal Water Come From?
Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. Our specific source is a system of seven wells that draw from the Wilcox Group and Memphis Sand Aquifers.

How Safe Is Our Water Source?
The Arkansas Department of Health has conducted a Source Water Vulnerability Assessment for Paragould Light, Water & Cable. This assessment evaluates potential contamination risks to our water sources and serves as a foundation for developing water protection strategies. Based on various assessment criteria, our water sources have been classified as having medium susceptibility to contamination. You can request a summary of this assessment from our office.

What Might Be In Your Tap Water?
As water travels across land or through soil, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activities. Potential contaminants include:

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

EPA regulations limit contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Health Considerations
All municipal water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. However, certain populations may be more vulnerable to contaminants, including immunocompromised individuals (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders), some elderly individuals, and infants. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers about their municipal water consumption.

Lead and Municipal Water
If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in municipal water primarily comes from materials and components in service lines and home plumbing. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control the materials used in plumbing components. When water sits in pipes for several hours, you can minimize potential lead exposure by running your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption or cooking.

Learn More About Your Municipal Water
For questions about this report or your water utility, please contact Mark Mullins, Manager, at 870-239-7764. We value our customers and want you to be informed about your water utility. To learn more, attend our regularly scheduled meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 AM at the Paragould Light, Water & Cable Office (1901 Jones Road, Paragould).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is municipal water quality monitored?
2. What causes water hardness in Paragould?
3. How often is municipal water tested?
4. What should I do during a boil water advisory?
5. How can I pay my water and sewer bill online?
6. What causes occasional discoloration in tap water?
7. How do I report a water main break?
8. What water filtration systems work best with Paragould municipal water?
9. Is fluoride added to Paragould's municipal water?
10. How can I reduce water hardness without a softener?

For specific answers to these and other questions, please contact our customer service team or visit the resources provided on our website. Our staff is available to address concerns about water quality, billing, emergency services, and general inquiries about municipal water management.