Paris Water Works

We're pleased to present this year's Annual Municipal Water Quality Report. This document provides information about the quality of water and services we deliver to you daily. Our mission is to supply you with safe, reliable municipal water, and we encourage you to understand our ongoing efforts to improve water treatment processes and protect our valuable water resources.

The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments require that beginning in 1999, all community water systems provide customers with an annual report on water quality. The City of Paris uses Stoner Creek as its primary surface water source. The creek begins in Clark County, as does Strodes Creek, a major tributary. Both are part of the Licking River basin.

Our water supply is relatively good compared to others, with minimal industrial pollution. However, agricultural runoff can cause fertilizer-rich water to enter our system, leading to algae blooms that create treatment challenges. We maintain four dams on our water source with a total storage capacity of 378 million gallons. Since raising our dams in the 1950s, we haven't experienced significant drought issues.

Yes, our municipal water is safe. To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. We monitor our water daily at the treatment plant and throughout the distribution system. We also send samples to certified laboratories to test for over 100 potential contaminants. Those detected are listed with their results in this report.

All municipal water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. To ensure safety, EPA sets guidelines limiting contaminant levels in public water supplies. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants including salts and metals, either naturally occurring or resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharge, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Organic contaminants including synthetic and volatile chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining activities

FAQ LIST PrintFeedbackShare & BookmarkPress Enter to reveal all options, press Tab go to next option font Size:+- Expand/Contract Questions and Answers Recycle Dates __Animal Disposal Test FAQ Question Recycle Dates __Animal Disposal Test FAQ Question.