Stonegate MD

Most tap water, including bottled varieties, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects is available through the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than others. Immunocompromised individuals—including cancer patients undergoing treatment, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants—can be particularly susceptible to infections. These individuals should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers.

For additional information about contamination and health effects, or to obtain guidelines from the EPA and CDC on reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through ground layers, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities. Contaminants potentially present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals (naturally-occurring or from urban runoff, industrial discharge, oil/gas production, mining, or farming)
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Radioactive contaminants, either naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems

To ensure tap water safety, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water to provide equal public health protection.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water typically comes from materials in home plumbing. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize potential lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. Information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has provided a Source Water Assessment Survey for our water system. For general information or to obtain a copy of the report, visit http://wqcdcompliance.com/car. Find "Source Water Assessment Reports" then "Assessment Report by County", select Douglas County and 118076; Stonegate MD, or contact the District Administrator at 303-858-9909.

Potential contamination sources in our water area include land use types such as commercial/industrial zones, residential areas, recreational spaces, agricultural land, and roadways. This assessment provides a screening analysis of potential contaminants but doesn't indicate actual or likely contamination. We use this information to evaluate our treatment processes and prepare for future water quality challenges.

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