Richmond Hill

Municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain small amounts of various contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more detailed information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Water sources for municipal supplies (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water moves across land surfaces or through underground layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water before treatment include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, which can occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial wastewater, oil and gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture and residential usage
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems

To ensure tap water safety, EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. We treat our water according to these standards. FDA regulations similarly set limits for bottled water contaminants to provide equivalent public health protection.

The data in this report shows all municipal water contaminants detected during the 2017 calendar year. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Unless noted otherwise, this data comes from testing conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2017. State regulations require monitoring for certain contaminants less than once yearly since concentrations typically don't vary significantly year to year. Some data, while related to water quality, may be more than one year old.

WHAT CONTAMINANTS MAY BE PRESENT IN OUR WATER?

The sources of municipal water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through ground layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can collect substances from animal presence or human activity.

Potential contaminants include:

1. Microbial Contaminants - viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife
2. Pesticides and Herbicides - from agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and residential uses
3. Inorganic Contaminants - salts and metals occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
4. Organic Chemical Contaminants - synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
5. Radioactive Contaminants - naturally-occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining activities

To ensure tap water safety, DEP and EPA establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA and state health department guidelines set similar limits for bottled water to provide equal public health protection.

Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP)

The SWAP program evaluates public water supplies' vulnerability to potential contamination by microbiological pathogens and chemicals. Our system received a "high" susceptibility rating based on data collected during assessment. Soil conditions contributed to this rating. Remember that susceptibility doesn't indicate poor water quality - actual quality is best determined through regular water testing results.

Common contamination sources include septic systems, household chemicals, heating oil storage, stormwater, fertilizers, pesticides, and automobile fluids. The complete SWAP report is available at the Water Department Office and Board of Health.

Water Conservation Tips

Outdoor water use restrictions help ensure adequate supply for essential needs like municipal water, fire protection, crop irrigation, and natural resources. Visit the Mass.Gov website for additional conservation recommendations both indoors and outdoors.