Vermilion City

Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive substances, while also potentially collecting contaminants from human and animal activity.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, or mining
• Pesticides and herbicides: From agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants: Synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations set similar standards for bottled water. All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Special Health Considerations: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons—such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, elderly individuals, and infants—should seek advice from healthcare providers about their drinking water.

During 2016, Vermilion Water Department collected over 200 samples testing for more than 50 different contaminants, most of which were not detected. The Ohio EPA requires monitoring for some contaminants less than once yearly since their concentrations rarely change. Some data, while accurate, may be more than one year old.

2017 Monitoring & Reporting Violations: Reporting requirements weren't met for Vermilion PWS during September 2017. A source water turbidity test wasn't reported by the deadline. While this wasn't an emergency, residents should know what happened and what corrective actions were taken.

Lead Information: 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. Vermilion Water provides quality water but cannot control plumbing component materials. If water has been sitting for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

Public Participation: We encourage public participation and comments at Vermilion City Council meetings, held on the 1st and 3rd Monday monthly at 7:00 p.m. at 685 Decatur Street, Vermilion, Ohio 44089. For more information, contact Water Plant Superintendent Eugene Baker at 204-2450.

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