Med Group releases 2009 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

  • Published
  • By 17th Medical Operations Squadron
  • Bioenvironmental Engineering Office
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A recent consumer confidence report regarding the quality of Goodfellow's drinking water, which is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, shows issues that prevent our water from meeting all of the Federal Drinking Water Standards requirements. Base officials are working closely with TCEQ to achieve solutions for each issue is listed in the report.

Tap and bottled water come from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. Our drinking water comes from South Concho River, O.C. Fisher Lake, O.H. Ivie Lake and Lake E V Spence. As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, and in some cases radioactive material, and can pick up remnants of animal or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in water before treatment include: microbes, inorganic contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, radioactive contaminants and organic chemical contaminants.

A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for Goodfellow's drinking water sources is currently being updated by the TCEQ and will be available later this year. The report will describe the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with our drinking water source. The information contained in the assessment will allow base and source water officials to focus on water protection strategies. Water assessment information will become available later this year at Texas Drinking Water Watch, http://dww.tceq.state.tx.us/DWW/.

When drinking water meets federal standards there may not be any health-based benefits to purchasing bottled water or point of use devices. Drinking water, including bottled water, may contain small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Special notice for elderly, infants, cancer patients, people with HIV, AIDS or other immune problems.

Elderly, infants, cancer patients and people with HIV, AIDS or other immune problems may be more vulnerable to certain microbial contaminants in drinking water such as Cryptosporidium than the general population. Infants, some elderly or immunocompromised persons - those undergoing chemotherapy, have had an organ transplant or are undergoing steroid treatment, and people with HIV, AIDS or other immune system disorders - can be particularly at risk for infections. Those who fall under one of these categories should seek advice about drinking water from a physician or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

Secondary constituents include calcium, sodium or iron. These elements are often found in drinking water and can cause taste, color and odor problems. These constituents are regulated by the State of Texas and not the EPA. They are not causes for health concern and are not required to be reported; however, they may greatly affect the appearance and taste of water.

Public participation opportunities
This Consumer Confidence Report was prepared by the Bioenvironmental Engineering Element. For more information on source water assessments, protection efforts or the water quality at Goodfellow, call the BEE office at 325-654-3126 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

For more information about the San Angelo Water Department, water quality, treatment processes or the decision-making process, call the San Angelo Department of Water Utilities at 325-657-4209, or write to: San Angelo Department of Water Utilities, City of San Angelo City Hall 2nd Floor, San Angelo, TX 76902.

Consumers may participate in city council meetings the first and third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the McNease Convention Center, 500 Rio Concho Dr., or they can view the meetings on the Government Access Channel 17 at 10:30 a.m. Sundays-Tuesdays, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, or at 6:30 p.m. for two weeks starting on the Thursday after each meeting.

The information that follows lists all of the federally regulated or monitored contaminants which have been found in Goodfellow's drinking water. The U.S. EPA requires water systems to test for up to 97 contaminants.

DEFINITIONS
Maximum contaminant level - The highest permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the maximum contaminant level goals as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum contaminant level goal - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum residual disinfectant level - The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal - The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.

Treatment technique - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Action level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.