Springfield Utility Board

Municipal water (including bottled varieties) may contain minimal levels of certain contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For additional information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Water sources 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 materials, while also potentially collecting substances from animal presence or human activities.

Approximately 75% of Springfield's municipal water comes from groundwater wells, with the remaining 25% supplied by a filtered mixture of river and well water. Potential contaminants in source water include:

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

SPECIAL NOTICE: EPA regulates contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety, while FDA establishes similar limits for bottled water. Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, infants, and some elderly persons. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR HOME'S WATER: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily comes from materials and components in service lines and household plumbing. While Springfield Utility Board provides high-quality municipal water, we cannot control materials used in plumbing components. When water sits unused for several hours, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider having your water tested. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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