St Albans Water

Simply The Best… Our mission is to consistently provide you with safe, reliable water service. This overview covers the quality of water we delivered from January 1 through December 31, 2017. It includes results of any contaminants detected during the past five years that weren't tested annually.

We strive to keep you informed about the high-quality water and services we deliver daily. Our water comes from surface water sources like streams and lakes. As water flows over land or underground, it naturally dissolves minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence and human activity.

Some contaminants may be harmful, while others like iron and sulfur are merely nuisance factors. Our public water system treats the water to remove contaminants when present. People who consume water containing trihalomethanes above the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) over many years may experience liver, kidney, or central nervous system issues and potentially face increased cancer risk.

To ensure your water is safe, we conduct regular testing following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State of Vermont regulations. These regulations limit various contaminants including:

• Microbial organisms from sewage treatment, septic systems, livestock, and wildlife
• Inorganic chemicals from natural sources or urban runoff and sewage
• Synthetic organic chemicals from agriculture, runoff, and household products
• Volatile organic compounds from gas stations, runoff, and improper disposal
• Naturally occurring radioactive elements

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than others. Immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients, transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly adults, and infants should consult their physicians about drinking water safety. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risk are available at 1-800-426-4791.

All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While St. Albans Water Dept. provides quality water, we can't control plumbing materials. When water sits unused for several hours, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking to minimize lead exposure. For concerns about lead, consider having your water tested. Information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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