Stow Public Water System

The City of Stow purchases its municipal water from the City of Akron. This surface water comes from the Upper Cuyahoga River through three reservoirs. Water is stored and released from two upstream reservoirs: Wendell R. LaDue and East Branch, both in Geauga County. These feed the Lake Rockwell Reservoir in Franklin Township, Portage County.

Water is drawn from Lake Rockwell, treated at the Lake Rockwell Treatment Plant, and pumped to Stow via transmission mains along North River Road. The water reaches Stow at the Marsh Road and North Main Street (Munroe Falls) Booster Pump Stations before distribution throughout the system. Stow Public Water System serves over 34,500 residents through 155+ miles of water mains and 13,000 individual service connections.

The Stow Public Water System has been licensed by the Ohio EPA since 2001. For source water assessment purposes, all surface waters are considered vulnerable to contamination. Surface waters are exposed and can be contaminated by chemicals and pathogens with relatively short travel times from source to intake.

The City of Akron's drinking water source assessment indicates vulnerability to potential contaminants including agricultural runoff, residential sewage systems, failing septic systems, municipal wastewater discharges, and other non-point sources. Additionally, the water source is vulnerable to contamination from train derailments, vehicle accidents, and spills where roads and rail lines cross the corridor or from nearby fuel storage and vehicle service areas.

It's important to note that this assessment reflects available data and may not represent current conditions in all cases. Water quality, land uses, and potential contamination sources can change over time. While Akron's source water is considered susceptible to contaminants, historically the Akron Water System has effectively treated this water to meet all drinking water quality standards.

For more information about the source water assessment program, visit www.epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/swap.asp. Copies of Akron's source water assessment report are available by contacting Jeff Shaver at jshaver@stow.oh.us or 330-689-2911.

What are the possible sources of contaminants to my water?

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves natural minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbials: viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock, and wildlife
• Inorganics: salts and metals that may be naturally occurring or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic Chemicals: synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactives: naturally occurring or from oil/gas production and mining activities

To ensure tap water safety, the EPA regulates contaminant limits in public water systems. The FDA regulates bottled water with similar public health protection standards. All water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. This doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Who needs to take special precautions?

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, including those undergoing chemotherapy, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. The EPA and CDC provide guidelines on reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

.. ...