The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires public water suppliers to provide consumer confidence reports (CCR) to their customers. These reports are also known as annual water quality reports. The below report summarizes information regarding the sources used (i.e. rivers, reservoirs, or aquifers), any detected contaminants, compliance and educational efforts.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some substances. The presence of these substances does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The United States Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

More information regarding contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)- 426-4791.

Newark’s High-Quality Water

The City of Newark Water Department has been committed to providing high-quality water since 1888. As a result of our regular sampling and testing program, we are proud to report

Newark meets or exceeds the water quality standards of the Delaware Division of Public Health Office of Drinking Water and the Environmental Protection Agency. The tables on pages 4-6 of this report list those substances found in our finished water during calendar year 2020.

How the Water is Treated

At the Curtis Water Treatment Plant (CWTP), water from the White Clay Creek is clarified with alum and polymer and then filtered to remove impurities. Chlorine is added to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Finally, fluoride is added to the water to protect your teeth.

The South Well Field (SWF) Iron & Manganese Removal Plant aerates well water new a newly installed (2021) shallow tray air stripper to remove any volatile compounds and raise the pH. The water is then treated with chlorine and pumped through green sand filters, which remove iron and manganese, in addition to filtering the water. Other chemicals added to the water are fluoride, sodium hydroxide to further raise the pH, and polyphosphate to reduce the corrosiveness of the water.

Managing the Distribution System

The City maintains approximately 140 miles of water main throughout the distribution system. Seven tanks store enough water to last two days.

The City’s 317 million gallon reservoir provides a reliable source of raw water which can be treated and ready for drinking in times of heavy rain or drought. In an effort to keep sediment accumulation in our water mains to a minimum, we flush the entire system yearly.

Our treated water needs to remain fresh and retain sufficient chlorine for disinfection; as such, each month, we analyze 40 distribution system water samples for bacterial content and chlorine. Regulated substances are sampled as required.

City of Newark

Department of Public Works

And Water Resources

White Clay Creek Watershed

The White Clay Creek is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, and Newark is actively involved in the White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic watershed management plan. The plan delineates a cooperative approach to resource management and watershed protection. Newark also participates in the watershed-based Christina Basin Water Quality Management Strategy, which is designed to protect and improve the quality of

the streams including the White Clay Creek. Additionally, the City is financially invested in assisting our upstream farmers to implement best management practices to better manage runoff from animal manure and minimize the risk of waterborne pathogens.

Groundwater Aquifers

Preventing pollution is the top priority in protecting our groundwater supply. In 1991, Newark developed and implemented Water Resource Protection Regulations. The regulations protect our drinking water supply from pollution that may be associated with inappropriate land uses in the areas around our wells.

Source Water Assessment

In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, creating a new program titled Source Water Assessment and Protection Program. Each state is required to identify and evaluate all sources of water that are used as a drinking water source within the state. The goal of the program is to assess the susceptibility of public water sources to contamination and to promote and facilitate the protection of these water sources. Customers should contact the City of Newark Public Works & Water Department at 302-366-7000 about how to obtain a copy of our surface and groundwater assessments. Our surface and groundwater assessments are also available online: http://delawaresourcewater.org/assessments

South Well Field Treatment Plant Upgrades

NEWARK WATER FACTS

POPULATION SERVED: ~40,000

METERED CUSTOMERS: ~10,000

The South Well Field Water Treatment Plant (“SWFWTP”) is the City’s groundwater treatment plant located in the southern portion of our distribution system near the intersection of DE Routes 72 and 4. The plant typically produces and distributes approximately 40% of the City’s water supply sourced from 4 wells.

The new air stripping system is located at grade and inside a constructed building located above a subsurface wet well replacing the 500,000-gallon lead-coated raw water storage tank. Additionally, the project included the construction of a new finished water storage tank replacing a second 500,000-gallon lead-coated finished water storage tank.

ANNUAL AVERAGE PUMPAGE: 3.4 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY

SERVICE AREA: 12 SQUARE MILES

PURCHASED WATER SUPPLY: < 1%

63%

Surface water treated at the Curtis Water Treatment Plant makes up roughly 63% of all drinkable water within the City.

37%

The remaining 37% of water for our residents is pulled from various groundwater supply wells.

Conservation Tips

The project, totaling roughly $4.5 million dollars, replaced an aging, but necessary air stripper used to remediate the contaminated groundwater pumped to the SWFWTP. The old air stripper has been in service for approximately 15 years running 24/7 and was nearing the end of its service life. The air stripper system was very difficult to maintain due to its location on top of the raw water tank. Although effective at removing the harmful contaminants in the groundwater, it was unable to adequately treat all the available source water (wells 14r and 16) resulting in the wells sitting idle.

The major work associated with the project included the following:

• Treatment process improvements including installation of the new air stripping groundwater remediation system
• Demolition of existing site building, water storage tanks, and lime silo
• Construction of a new air stripper building with subsurface intermediate raw water wet well
• Facilitation and coordination of the construction of a new 250,000-gallon finished water storage tank

Check your toilet for leaks by putting food coloring in your

tank and see if the color shows up in the toilet bowl without flushing. Leaking toilets can waste up to 600 gallons per day.

Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers.

Use dishwasher and clothes washer for full loads only.

Keep a bottle of cold water in the refrigerator.

Water your lawn only when necessary. Water in the evening or early morning to reduce evaporation.

Avoid watering on windy days. Fixing a leaking faucet can save 140 gallons of water a week.

Use a bowl of water to clean and prepare vegetables, rather than letting the faucet run.

To easily identify water saving products, look for the WaterSense label when replacing faucets, toilets, and shower heads.

For more water conservations tips, check out our website at http://cityofnewarkde.us

*Special Education Statements

++Sampling for Total Organic Carbon and Bromide were collected at a single source water influent (aka untreated raw water) for each treatment plant.

Runoff is a major issue with regard to both surface and ground water quality. Here are several things you can do to reduce the negative effects of runoff:

Control soil erosion whenever you disturb the ground. Protect disturbed ground with mulch or plants.

Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste.

Direct down spouts away from paved areas and towards vegetated areas. Establish rain gardens to allow rain water to slowly infiltrate into and recharge the ground water.

Use rain barrels to collect and store rain water for gardening use.

Reduce impervious surfaces by using porous paving blocks, filter cloth, concrete cellular mattresses, block and concrete pavers, gravel, stone, and vegetation.

Support reforestation efforts along local streams and rivers.

Minimize use of chemicals and fertilizer. The application of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers should follow recommended dosing procedures; and, applied only when rain is not in the immediate forecast.

Leave mulched grass clippings on the lawn to feed the lawn and reduce fertilizer needed later.

Don’t mow lawns less than two inches. This develops longer roots, shades out weeds, and reduces water requirements. Minimize lawn watering practices. Learn about the best time to water your lawn and the best amount of water to apply. Plant native species. They are easier to maintain and feed the local wildlife. Compost garden debris, leaves and vegetable scraps for a free soil supplement.

Don’t mow to stream banks. Leaving taller grasses in these buffer areas reduces erosion and improves water quality.

Wise water use is very important. Water is a natural resource shared by everyone.

The amount of water on the earth does not change.

Water is not always available where it is needed.

Water is used by people in many different ways.

Pollution makes water more difficult and expensive to make safe.

Wasting water wastes energy because it requires energy to treat water, and pump it.

With everyone’s help we can significantly improve and preserve the water resources that we rely upon to supply our potable water.

A portion of the information for this section was gathered from publications developed by the White Clay Creek Watershed Association.

Additional information can be found at the following web sites:

White Clay Wild and Scenic River Program www.whiteclay.org

White Clay Watershed Association Http://mercury.ccil.org/~wcwa/ City of Newark https://newarkde.gov/

Important Information about

Your Drinking Water

Information for You

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include streams, ponds, reservoirs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material and may pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

Substances that may be present in source water include:

Microbial substances include viruses and bacteria, which may be naturally occurring or from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Inorganic substances include salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Organic chemical substances include synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and can also come from gasoline stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive substances which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Lead: Recent events in Flint Michigan have highlighted the importance of proper water system management and operation as well as transparency, especially due to the public health implications that can come as a result. The City of Newark is in compliance with the lead and copper regulations. If you have immediate concerns about the potential for lead in your drinking water, please call the Public Works and Water Resources Department at 302-366-7000 and we will work with you to perform lead sampling in your house free of charge.

One unique aspect of lead and copper sampling is that due to testing requirements, we rely on volunteers from the community who are willing to participate for sample gathering. If you are interested in participating in the next round of lead and copper sampling which will take place during the summer of 2024, please contact the Public Works and Water Resources Department at 302-366-7000 for consideration. Sampling locations will then be selected in accordance with our State approved sampling plan

Cryptosporidium and Giardia: You may have seen reports about Cryptosporidium and Giardia, microscopic organisms which can enter surface waters from runoff containing animal wastes. If ingested, Cryptosporidium and Giardia can cause diarrhea, fever and other gastro-intestinal symptoms. Crypto and Giardia were not found in Newark’s finished water sample. The organisms are eliminated in our treatment process through filtration, clarification and disinfection.

Radon: Radon gas is found in soil. The gas moves through the ground into the air and may enter homes through foundations.

Drinking water from groundwater may add radon to the home air. The EPA indicates the risk is small compared to the radon entering through soil. Standards for monitoring radon in drinking water have not been set by EPA and the Delaware Office of Drinking Water.

Special Populations Some people may be more vulnerable to substances 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 elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infections by cryptosporidium and other microbial substances are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

If you have any questions concerning your water, your water service, or this report, please call or write to us at:

City of Newark PWS ID: 0000630

Department of Public Works & Water Resources c/o Tim Filasky, Ethan Robinson, Mark Neimeister or Andrea Coyle

220 South Main Street Newark, Delaware 19711

302. 366-7000 https://newarkde.gov/.

Newark City Council meets each Monday of the month. The meetings are held in the Newark City Council Chamber at the Newark Municipal Building, 220 South Main Street Newark, Delaware, starting at 7:00 pm.

Additional Information can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791

2021 WATER QUALITY REPORT

220 South Main Street Newark, Delaware 19711