Van Buren Township

The Charter Township of Van Buren is pleased to present the 2017 Water Quality Report. This document has been developed to comply with Federal regulations and provides valuable information about your municipal water. Federal and state regulations require regular testing of our water to ensure safety standards are met. We successfully completed all monitoring and reporting requirements for 2017.

As you review this report, you'll find that your water meets or exceeds all government standards for water quality and safety. This document explains your water source, details testing results from both the water treatment facility and distribution system, and contains essential information about water and health.

The report also provides guidance on protecting our water sources. If you notice any change in appearance, odor or taste of your water, please contact the Van Buren Township Department of Public Services-Water & Sewer Department at (734) 699-8925.

Water quality is vital to our community and region. The Charter Township of Van Buren and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are committed to meeting state and federal water quality standards, including the Lead and Copper Rule. With the Great Lakes as our water source and proven treatment technologies, GLWA consistently delivers safe water to our community.

Van Buren Township maintains the network of water mains that deliver this water to your service line. This year's Water Quality Report highlights the performance of both GLWA and Van Buren Township water professionals in providing some of the nation's highest quality municipal water. Together, we remain dedicated to safeguarding public health and maintaining transparent communication about your water supply.

Water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of certain contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land surfaces or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and may pick up substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants including salts and metals (naturally-occurring or from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming)
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure safe drinking water, EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems. FDA regulations similarly establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.

How do I detect a water leak by reading my water meter?

All water meters in West Springfield record water volume in cubic feet. One cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. The meter has a set of dials similar to a car odometer that rotate as water passes through, whether used or lost through leaks. Most meters are located in basements.

The Town reads meters in two ways: either directly by staff or through a radio signal sent to a computer. Currently, the Town is standardizing to radio-signal meters that can be read by a computer in a vehicle driving down the street.

To check your usage, simply shine a flashlight on the meter face (this activates the digital display) and record the reading. You can check as frequently as desired. To determine daily usage, subtract yesterday's reading from today's to find the cubic feet used.

Billing is done in hundreds of cubic feet (HCF or CCF). One unit on your bill equals 748 gallons. One revolution of the sweep hand represents one cubic foot, advancing the first digit by one. Many meters feature a small red triangle that serves as a leak indicator.

To check for leaks, turn off all water in your home. If the triangle moves, water is flowing through the meter, indicating a leak somewhere despite all faucets being off. Regular monitoring of meter readings is recommended.

To identify possible leaks, record your meter reading before bedtime or leaving home. Don't run dishwashers, laundry, sprinklers, or flush toilets during this period. Note the reading when you return or wake up, and subtract the previous reading. Any change suggests a leak, most commonly in toilets.

Toilet leaks often go undetected until homeowners hear or see water entering or exiting the bowl. Place dye or test tablets in the tank and watch for color appearing in the bowl. If it does, the flapper valve needs replacement.

According to the American Water Works Association, a leaking toilet can waste up to 27 cubic feet (0.27 CCF or 202 gallons) daily. At current rates of $2.25/HCF, this costs approximately $0.61 per day or $55 over three months.

How do I address brownish-red colored water and remove stains from laundry?

When you notice discolored water, avoid using bleach with white clothing as it will cause brownish-red staining. If staining occurs, don't dry the items. Instead, wash them with a product like "Red-b-Gone" from hardware stores, following package instructions.

This advice applies only to cold water issues. If your hot water appears rusty, contact a Registered Master Plumber as you may have a failing hot water tank.

Our system occasionally experiences brownish-red water due to interaction between minerals in the water, chlorine (used as a sanitizer), and our unlined cast iron water mains. This creates "rusty" looking water—an aesthetic issue rather than a health concern.

This typically happens when fire hydrants are used for firefighting, flushing, construction equipment (sweepers, paving units, sewer vacuum trucks), or during water main breaks. The only permanent solution is replacing unlined cast iron pipes with lined or plastic water mains. Currently, over 30% of the system has been upgraded.