Agenda - 03-16-2010 - 8a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Manganese is an element that dissolves in water from the natural rock formations. Manganese levels above 0.05 mg/1 can turn well water black or brown and stains plumbing fixtures and clothes. The ~ 9 levels found can cause nuisance problems, but do not pose any health risk. Remedial action -Remedies for wells with high manganese levels include installing a liner in the well or installing a iron filter treatment unit. The liner repair may be an option in limited cases, depending on the well structure and water bearing aquifers. PH - Of the 11 wells sampled, four wells fell below the recommended drinking water limit of 6.5 units. . pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. With a pH below 6.5, the water is considered acidic and there could be concerns about corrosion of plumbing components and lead leaching into the water from soldered joints. Water with a low pH can also react with copper pipes to cause blue-green stains and a metallic taste. Health effects -There are no adverse health effects at the pH levels found although it can contribute to increased levels of lead and copper in severe cases. Remedial action -Low pH can be remedied by installing a neutralizing treatment system that will adjust the pH to a neutral level of 7 or higher. Lead - Of the 11 wells sampled, one well exceeded the recommended drinking water limit of 0.015 mg/1 of lead. Lead in well water usually is a result of the water being in contact with plumbing components such as lead soldered joints or valves, pumps and fixtures that contain lead in the alloys. Health effects -Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects. In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure and kidney problems. Remedial action -With elevated lead levels in water, it is recommended that children under the age of six not drink the water unless a treatment system is installed. Treatment systems are available that reduce the corrosive properties of the water and remove lead. Turbidity - Of the 11 wells sampled, 10 wells had turbidity levels higher than standards set for public water utilities of 0.3 NTUs. Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness or haziness of water. Well water commonly has higher turbidity levels than public utility water which is highly treated. The higher levels of turbidity in the survey area were attributed to high mineral content, specifically iron and manganese. Treatment or removal of the minerals with a treatment system will bring turbidity down to acceptable levels. Organic Compounds Pesticides - Of the 11 wells two of the wells had low, but detectable levels of pesticide compounds. • One well showed a measurable amount of Chlordane (0.4ugll) • One well had a measurable amount of Dieldrin (3.lug/I). Page 7 of 11