West Baton Rouge Water Works District 2

We are pleased to present our Annual Water Quality Report covering the year 2017. This document helps inform you about your water quality and the services we provide daily (Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con Alguien que lo entienda been).

Our primary goal is providing safe, reliable municipal water. We continuously strive to improve treatment processes and protect our water sources for the community's benefit.

Water Sources and Potential Contaminants:

Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Possible contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: From agriculture, urban runoff, and residential usage
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Our Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) is available at our office. This plan evaluates the area around our water sources through which contaminants could migrate. Our system received a 'MEDIUM' susceptibility rating. Contact us to review the complete assessment.

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminants in public water systems to ensure safety. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for bottled water. All drinking water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Important Health Information:

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly individuals, and infants could face increased risks. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers about their drinking water.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While we're responsible for providing quality water, we can't control the materials in plumbing components. To minimize potential lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

Thank you for allowing us to provide your family with clean, quality water. We work around the clock to deliver top-quality municipal water to every tap. Please help us protect our water resources—they're the heart of our community and essential for our children's future.

Questions? Please call our office at 225-336-2406.

The CDC provides guidance on municipal water safety and health-related concerns. Their resources include information about waterborne illnesses, proper testing procedures, and recommendations for special populations who may need additional water treatment at home.