Water Quality
Since the Authority operates its own distribution system, as well as being a part owner of the Forest Park Water facilities, sampling under the SDWA (Safe Drinking Water Act) is conducted independently by both utilities in accordance with appropriate requirements. This ensures that the Authority takes all distribution samples for which it is responsible and Forest Park Water takes all samples related to a surface water treatment facility. To some extent, this arrangement results in duplication of testing, but ensures an added measure of quality control.
Following is a complete listing of all contaminants monitored for by the Authority and Forest Park Water during the 2021 calendar year.
| Volatile Organic Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No |
NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Benzene (ppb); Carbon tetrachloride (ppb); Chlorobenzene (ppb); o-Dichlorobenzene (ppb); p-Dichlorobenzene (ppb); 1,2 - Dichloroethane (ppb); 1,1 - Dichloroethylene (ppb); cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb); trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb); Dichloromethane (ppb); 1,2-Dichloropropane (ppb); 1,2 - Dichlorobenzene (ppb); 1,4 - Dichlorobenzene (ppb); Ethylbenzene (ppb); Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE*) (ppb); Methyl Chloride (ppb); Styrene (ppb); Tetrachloroethylene (ppb); 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (ppb); 1,1,1 - Trichloroethane (ppb); 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane (ppb); Trichloroethylene (ppb); Toluene (ppm); Vinyl Chloride (ppb) and Total Xylenes (ppm) were monitored but not detected. Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2021 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. *MTBE is a non-regulated contaminant that is routinely monitored by the Authority. |
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| Inorganic Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Action Level | 90th Percent Value | # of Sites Above AL | MCLG | Violation Y/N |
| Copper* (ppm) (9/2019) | 1.3 | 0.387 | 0 out of 54 | 1.3 | No |
| Lead* (ppb) (9/2019) | 15 | 3.0 | 0 out of 54 | 0 | No |
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No |
NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Arsenic (ppb) | No | 0.375 | 0-1.0 | 0 | 10 |
| Barium (ppm) | No | 0.311 | 0.126-0.545 | 2 | 2 |
| Chromium (ppb) | No | 0.50 | 0-1.0 | 100 | 100 |
| Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) | No | 1.36 | 0.303-4.16 | 10 | 10 |
| Antimony (ppb); Abestos (MFL) (Million Fibers per Liter); Beryllium (ppb); Cadmium (ppb); Cyanide (ppb); Fluoride (ppb); Mercury (inorganic) (ppb); Nickel** (ppb); Nitrite (as Nitrogen) (ppm); Selenium (ppb) and Thallium (ppb) were monitored but not detected. Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2021 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. *Naturally occurring levels of lead and copper in the source water are non-detectable. This table represents the level detected in the 90th percentile of homes monitored in accordance with the US-EPA Lead and Copper Rule. None of the homes monitored exceeded the Action Level (AL). **Nickel: Nickel is a non-regulated contaminant this is routinely monitored by the Authority. Likely Source of Contamination: Arsenic: Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes; Barium: Discharge of drilling wastes, discharge from metal foundries, erosion of natural deposits; Chromium: discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits; Copper: Corrosion of household plumbing; Lead: Corrosion of household plumbing; Nitrate (as Nitrogen): Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, erosion of natural deposits. |
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| Radioactive Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No |
NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Gross Alpha (adjusted) (pCi/L) | No | 0.24 | N/A | 0 | 15 |
| Combined Uranium (ug/L) | No | 6.04 | 3.17-13.23 | 0 | 30 |
| Combined Radium (pCi/L) (226 + 228) | No | 2.67 | 2.51-2.84 | 0 | 5 |
| Data presented in the above table is from the latest monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Likely Source of Contamination: Adjusted Gross Alpha, Combined Radium and Uranium: Erosion of natural deposits. |
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| Microbiological Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No |
NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Total Coliform Bacteria | No | 0 | N/A | 0 | presence of coliform bacteria in 5% of monthly samples |
| Fecal Coliform and E. coli Bacteria | No | 0 | N/A | 0 | a routine sample and repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive |
| Turbidity (NTU) | No | 0.04 | 0.03-0.06 | N/A | TT |
| Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2021 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Coliform bacteria, disinfection residual and turbidity are monitored on a continuous basis and reported monthly. 100% of all turbidity samples were below 0.1 NTU. As a member of the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water, our goal is to maintain turbidity levels below 0.1 NTU. This was achieved throughout 2021. Raw water monitoring for Giardia and Cryptosporidium was performed quarterly throughout 2021. Giardia was detected in 1 out of 2 samples. Cryptosporidium was detected in 0 out of 2 samples. Likely Source of Contamination: Giardia and Cryptosporidium: Naturally present in the environment; Turbidity: Soil runoff. |
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| Synthetic Organic Contaminants (including Pesticides & Herbicides) | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No |
NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG Goal | MCL |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (ppb); 2,4-D (ppb); 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) (ppb); Alachlor (ppb); Atrazine (ppb); Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH) (nanograms/L); Carbofuran (ppb); Chlordane (ppb); Dalapon (ppb); Dicamba (ppb); Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (ppb); Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ppb); Dinoseb (ppb); Dioxin [2,3,7,8-TCDD] (ppb); Diquat (ppb); Endothall (ppb); Endrin (ppb); Ethylene Dibromide (ppb); Glyphosphate (ppb); Heptachlor (nanograms/L); Heptachlor epoxide (nanograms/L); Hexachlorobenzene (ppb); Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (ppb); Lindane (nanograms/L); Methoxychlor (ppb); Oxamyl [Vidate] (ppb); Pentachlorophenol (ppb); Picloram (ppb); Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (ppb); Simazine (ppb) and Toxaphene (ppb) were monitored, but not detected. Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2021 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. |
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| Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No |
NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG Goal | MCL |
| Chlorine residual (mg/L) Distribution System | No | 0.97 | 0.21-1.57 | 4* | 4** |
| Chlorine residual (mg/L) Entry Point | No | 1.29 | 0.42-2.82 | N/A | 0.40*** |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (ppb) | No | 40.78 | 7.93-76.7 | 0 | 80 |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (ppb) | No | 18.23 | 6.2-36.1 | 0 | 60 |
| Bromate (ppb) | No | 1.9 | 0.95-1.79 | 0 | 10 |
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Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2021 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. |
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| Unregulated Contaminants-Perfluorinated Compounds | ||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Level Detected | Range |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic Acid (PFBS) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluoroheptanoic Acid (PFHpA) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic Acid (PFHxS) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (ppt) | 1.90 | 0-2.5 |
| The US-EPA Health Advisory Limit (HAL) is 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for individual or combined PFOA and PFOS. Data presented in the above table is from monthly monitoring of finished drinking water performed at the Forest Park Water Treatment Plant during 2021. Environmental Sources of Contamination: Perfluorinated Compounds: Manmade chemicals used in fire-fighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, greases and lubricants, paints, polishes, adhesives, and photographic films. |
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In these tables you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms, we've provided definitions.