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"... WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY
UTILITY COMMISSION DRINKING WATER
EXCEEDS ALL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ..
i^^he WS/FC Utility Commission operates two water treatment facilities
I drawing water from both the Yadkin River and Salem Lake. For 1998, as in
1 previous years, these treatment facilities have met or exceeded all state and
federal (EPA) standards for drinking water quality. This accomplishment reflects the
quality and dedication of the employees who work year round to provide adequate
supplies of safe drinking water.
This City Page includes details about where our drinking water comes from,
what it contains, and exactly how it compares to state and federal standards. The Utility
Pnmmiccmn ic nrnviHinn Hiic :
information to you because it
is committed to delivering a
quality product for its j
customers. This report will be
mailed out annually and will be
updated on a regular basis. -
Forsyth
County's
Water Source
Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County's water system serves
more than 225,000 people with
an average daily demand of 43
million gallons. Generally,
water sources include rivers,
lakes, streams, ponds,
reservoirs, springs and wells.
As water travels over the
land's surface or through the
ground, it dissolves naturally
occurring minerals and, in
some cases, radioactive
material, and can be polluted ~
by animals or human activity.
Contaminants that may
be expected in untreated water J1
muuue. oiuiogicai contaminants, sucn as viruses
and bacteria; inorganic contaminants, such as
salts and metals; pesticides and herbicides from
a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban
storm water runoff and residential uses; organic
chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial
processes and petroleum production and ^
distribution; and radioactive contaminants, which
can be naturally-occurring or man-made. ?
In order todnsure that tap water is safe to
drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the
amount of certain contaminants in water provided
by public water systems. FDA regulations
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water
which must provide the same protection for public
health.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may
- reasonably be expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants. The presence of
contaminants does not 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's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800-426-4791).
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County water
system is operated under the guidance of the Utility
Commission This board meets the second Monday of
each month at 2 p.m. in City Hall, Room 215,101 N. >
Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. For questions
aoout tne quality or our annking water or this report, call Utilities Administration at 727-8418.
Special Concerns
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons - such as persons with cancer undergoing
chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other
immune system disorders, some elderty, and infants - can be particularly at risk from infections.
These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers
Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate
means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Physical & Mineral Characteristics
For Calendar Year 1998
Constituent Annual Average ^ These constituents detected in our water are
Alkalinity, ppm 22 the physical and mineral make-up of the water
Aluminum, ppm 0.14 delivered to your tap.
Calcium, pprr 94 Cryptosporidium
Chloride, ppm ?>?>
Conductivity, micromhos/cm 117.4 Cryptosporidium is a microscopic organism that.
Hardness, ppm 33 when ingested, can result in diarrhea, fever and other
Phosphorus, ppm 023 - ? gastrointestinal symptoms. The organism occurs
Sodium ppm * 3 59 naturally in surface waters (lakes and rivers) and comes
, , . from animal wastes Crypto is eliminated by an effective
u ,pfm treatment combination of filtration, sedimentation and
Temperature, decrees C 16.1 disinfection. Winston-Salem has tested for Crypto monthly
Zinc, ppm 0.26 since 1994 in both of our sources and the treated
ph. standard units 74 drinking water. Cryptosporidium has never been
detected In our treated drinking water (See Tmatad
Water Quality tables) "
Definitions:
Maximum Contaminant Laval (MCL) - The highest levators
contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
Maximum Contaminant Laval Goal (MCLG) - The level of a
contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected
risk to health.
ppm - One part per million.
ppb - One part per billion. *.
Treatment Technique - A required process intended to reduce the
level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Action Laval - The concentration of a contaminant that triggers
treatment or other requirement that a water system must follow. Action
levels are reported at the 90th percentile for homes at greatest risk.
PCi/L - Picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
A picocurie is 10 curies and is the quantity of radioactive material
producing 2.22 nuclear transformations, per minute.
A , ....
Average ~ the last four quarterly samples collected at,the
extremeties of the system. *
Copies of these results can be viewed at the
City/County Utilities Administration Office, 102 W. Third
Street, Suite 460, Winston-Salem, NC 27102.
This document can also be viewed via internet at
http://www.ci.winston-salem.nc.us/utilities/index.htm
*
The Top 5 Frequently Asked
Questions
1. Is our water hard? No. The water
supplied by the Utilities Division in 1998
averaged 33 parts per million (ppm) or 1.9
grains per gallon (gpg) of calcium carbonate.
Water hardness is a measure of its mineral
content, specifically calcium and magnesium.
Water is considered hard if it contains more
than 125 ppm or 7.5 gpg.
2. Is fluoride added to our water? Yes
Fluoride is added to our water to help prevent
dental problems. The Utilities Division has
been fluoridating the water since the 1950's
at a level of 1 ppm, which is equivalent to <
one drop in ten gallons of water. The fluoride
level in your drinking water is monitored by
the Forsyth County Health Department and
the NC Department of Environment and
Natural Resources.
3. Why do we see pink or black residue
form in places where water stands? This
slimy residue is caused by mold spores
which are present in the air. When the
spores land in places containing water they
start to grow. So when you notice the cokx
you are actually seeing mold. Applying a
bleach solution to these areas should prevent
the mold from reappearing for an extended
period of time.
4 is tne cniorine in our water harmtui7 vo. unionne is aaaea 10 water to kiii microorganisms
that have the potential of causing disease and illness. The addition of chlorine does produce
byproducts when it reacts with naturally occurring matter in water. These by-products, like
trihalomethanes. are considered potential cancer-causing compounds and are regulated.
Quarterly monitoring for these compounds is conducted and levels detected are below the limit.
5 Is there lead in our water? Lead has not been detected in the water supplied by the Utilities
Division. However, lead has been detected in the water drawn from a few homes. The source of
lead is leaching from household plumbing and fixtures. This only occurs after the water stands in
the plumbing for long periods of time A remedy for this would be to allow the water to run for 30 -
60 seconds before you draw your water. This practice will significantly reduce any potential
exposure to lead or any other metal that would leach from plumbing.
ENESPAftOL
Si desea recibir una copia de este reporte en Espaflol o si tiene preguntas con respecto a la
calidad del agua que consume, por favor comuniquese con el departamento the serviaos publicos
durante las horas de trabajo, el tetefono es 727-8418.
Treated Water Quality
The k*w*ig subelenoes were detected In Ihe WInslon-SaleiiVFdrsylh County puofcc watof supply during the 1896 calendar year
Regulated at the Treatment Plant s
5?b-tanee Hl^ieatLarfAlmod Highest Lewd ftrcertof Ideal Goale
Sulretance * (EfA'6 MCL') Detected Highoat tgvel Allowed [EBMia MCUG)' 5ourcg
Barium, ppm" 2 Offf 3.50% 2 Nnnd,iiiauiaiigijpmi>mmt4ui?i?|ii??m
Fluoride, ppm 4 1.22 30.50% /' * Nawdaairei *adn?
Nitrate, ppm 10 0.73 7.30% 10 Kunolffnom farfaar use; taacteee from eepuc aystowte
TurHHty Treatment Technic a6e ^ n/e Mnn?.a*k*.
_ Regulated in the Distribution System,
TotalTrihelometheno* p|*" 100 annigi* T5*awo?|e 54.00% 0 Mraewtettoi
TotaCoSform Lose than 9% poeM* O N/a 0 Nre?^rpa?anminm>await
Alpha Emitter*, pGA." 15 1 5.67% 0
flatsEmitterspCH \ go g 6.60% 0
Regulated at the Consumers' Tap
UaApph ?(action lower) 5 33.33% | 0 kSwroeion of housebote pturte*n$eroe?* of nature* depi*lta|
^VF^PI* 1300 (flCSfcXI tacT) 70 53&% 1300 CenueiUH of hm?te!**'<*? a usmi ofnmte thpcmt
?i Unregulated Substances
Bremoflchlaronwthan* pf* Not Rogutatad 10 Not Reguiated 'lot Regulated Corigonmniniwtniamwiii?
Qtortie.ppm 4 proposed ' 2 50.00% A iwunnwwrtarefcrta*
Chtatetaomomathaneipi* Not Regulated , . ; Not Regulated lot Regulated Careaumda.aaia.-Mam.
OSnvtdiw, Pffc ? 1 - " CUWWIH ?W? mauiwUMW.
Total Hataacetlc Arid* ppb 60 ?. 46 50 O hr^<*4??m???rd?w??toi
CHorel ENdreta. Ppb Not Repeated 9 Not Regulated lot Regulated tyguagtiaawae a. curei*.
Total Qgarlc Ma*de*>ppP Not Regulated 167 Not Regulated let Ragulatod hpwtodautiiMurre4u.il
The above contaminents were detected in Winston-Salem's drinking water during 1998. AH
ire beiow allowed levels. In addition, as required by the EPA, there are other contaminants for which
ve tested but e?ro not detected.
s ? "V / Where Forsyth CodNys *
^ I water comes from... ?