Park Water Company - Bell Gardens

Water sources for both tap and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through ground layers, it dissolves natural minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, while also potentially collecting substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic pollutants such as salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic compounds, byproducts of industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive substances that may be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining activities

The USEPA and State Water Resources Control Board regulate contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety, while State Board regulations also set limits for bottled water contaminants. All water, including bottled varieties, can reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

For information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the USEPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or visit their website at http://water.EPA.gov/dwstandardsregulations/drinking-water-standards-and-health-advisory-tables or www.swrcb.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/NotificationLevels.HTML.

Lead & Copper Information: While Bell Gardens doesn't consider lead or copper problematic in our water systems, the State Water Resources Control Board requires this disclosure. Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in municipal water primarily comes from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. To minimize potential lead exposure after water has been sitting for several hours, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For lead concerns, consider water testing. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/lead.

Special Precautions for Vulnerable Populations: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants can face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek drinking water advice from healthcare providers.

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