Seaboard Utilities

Understanding Your Water Before Treatment

Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water flows across land surfaces and through soil, it dissolves minerals, potentially radioactive substances, and can collect materials from animal activity or human development.

During rainfall or excessive irrigation, pollutants like trash, debris, sediments, metals, pesticides, and other contaminants can flow untreated into storm drains, waterways, and ultimately our water sources. By understanding these issues, you can help maintain cleaner water resources.

Common Source Water Contaminants Include:

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

Special Health Considerations

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and infants could face higher infection risks. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about their water consumption.

The EPA establishes guidelines limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while the FDA regulates bottled water. All water sources naturally contain some contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate health risks.

Important Information About Lead

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically enters water through service line materials and home plumbing components. While Seaboard Utilities provides high-quality water, we cannot control materials used in household plumbing. To reduce potential lead exposure, run your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking, especially after periods of non-use.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia Information

These microscopic organisms can enter surface waters through animal waste runoff and may cause gastrointestinal symptoms if ingested. Seaboard Utilities regularly tests both raw and treated water for these organisms. While 17 percent of raw water samples contained these organisms in 2017, they have never been detected in finished water during 24 years of testing.

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