Spearfish

WATER QUALITY OVERVIEW

Last year, the City of Spearfish monitored your tap water for potential contaminants. This report provides a snapshot of water quality over the past 12 months. We've included information about your water source, composition, and how it compares to EPA and state standards.

Water Source & Supply
We serve approximately 10,697 customers with an average of 1,990,000 gallons daily. Our water comes from local groundwater wells. The state has evaluated our source water and determined that the Spearfish public water supply system has a relatively low susceptibility rating.

Understanding Potential Contaminants
Municipal water sources (including both tap and bottled water) come from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and can pick up substances from various sources, including:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals (naturally-occurring or from urban runoff, wastewater discharge, oil/gas production, mining, or farming)
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water. All drinking water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

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 or other immune disorders), some elderly individuals, and infants may face higher infection risks. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding their drinking water.

Lead Awareness
Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing components. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control materials used in residential plumbing. You can minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking, especially when water has been sitting for several hours.

1. What are the primary contaminants of concern in Spearfish water?
2. How often is municipal water tested in Spearfish?
3. Where does Spearfish source its water from?
4. How can residents get their home water tested?
5. What water treatment methods does Spearfish use?