Ventnor City Water & Sewer Utility

This report contains vital information about your tap water. Please review it carefully or discuss with someone who can translate it if needed.

We're pleased to inform you that Ventnor Water & Sewer Utility delivers safe municipal water that meets all federal and state requirements. For questions about this report or your water service, please contact Ernest Gratz, Superintendent at (609) 823-7935.

The City Commission holds public meetings twice monthly on the second and fourth Thursdays at 5:30 PM in the Commission Chamber at City Hall, 6201 Ocean Avenue. We encourage residents to attend and stay informed.

Our water supply comes from six wells drilled approximately 800 feet deep into the confined Kirkwood aquifer. The main plant at Cornwall & Winchester Strategies operates four wells feeding a 500,000-gallon underground storage tank. Additionally, we maintain two 500,000-gallon capacity water towers, each with its own well. We add gaseous chlorine as a disinfectant to ensure water safety.

We regularly test for contaminants following Federal and State regulations. Some contaminants require less frequent monitoring as their concentrations typically remain stable year to year. The New Jersey DEP has granted us a testing waiver for Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs) since 1995.

All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Our groundwater comes from 800-foot deep sand-filtered aquifers on Absecon Island. Potential contaminant sources include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals, occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial discharge, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential use
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and stormwater runoff
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set limits for bottled water, providing equivalent public health protection.

Health Notes: Nitrate levels above 10 ppm pose risks to infants under six months, potentially causing blue baby syndrome (Methemoglobinemia). If caring for an infant, consult your healthcare provider.

Lead: Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead in water. Your home may have higher lead levels due to plumbing materials. If concerned, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before use and consider testing your water. The Ventnor Water System passed 2017 lead and copper standards and will be monitored again in 2020. Results are available by calling (609)823-7935.

Our water system is considered to have three entry points, each monitored separately for certain contaminants. System #1 is the Main Plant, System #2 is the Ventnor Heights well/tower, and System #3 is the well/tower near Lafayette Avenue School. All required monitoring was completed in 2017.

.. ...