All flowing water, including bottled water for consumption, can reasonably be expected to contain at least minimal amounts of various contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), defined in this report's glossary, are established at very strict levels.

To understand potential health effects described for regulated constituents, an individual would need to consume two liters of water daily at the MCL level for a lifetime to face a one-in-a-million chance of experiencing the described health effect. The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set limits for bottled water contaminants.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and radioactive materials and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

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, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile compounds 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

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised individuals—cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, those with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly, and infants—can be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should seek advice about water consumption from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial infection risks are available via the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Phenix City Utilities tests source water for pathogens like Cryptosporidium and Giardia that may enter water through animal or human waste. All test results comply with federal and state standards. Immunocompromised individuals can find information developed by the EPA and CDC at www.epa.gov/safewater/crypto.HTML or through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline. This statement doesn't indicate Cryptosporidium presence in our water supply. Based on an ADEM study with EPA approval, Alabama received a statewide waiver for asbestos and dioxin monitoring, so testing for these contaminants wasn't required.

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