Monroe County

WaterMonroeAuthority County

Water Authority

2 0 1 0 A n n u a l

2020WatAnnualer

Water Quality Report

Qualit y

Repor t

MCWA Water Quality Summary Table

2020 Calendar Year Results -

Turbidity - Turbidity is a measure of cloudiness of the water. Turbidity has no health effects. MCWA monitors turbidity because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration systems and water quality. State regulations require that turbidity must always be below 1 NTU in the combined filter effluent. The regulations also require that 95% of samples collected from the entry point have measurements below 0.3 NTU and the highest monthly average for distribution system samples be below 5 NTU. Averages, annual ranges and lowest monthly percentages are listed.

Source Water Microbial Pathogens - The highest positive month and number of samples is listed. In our treatment processes, Cryptosporidium is removed / inactivated through a combination of filtration and disinfection or by disinfection alone.

Disinfectant and Disinfectant By-products (DBPs) - Chlorine has a MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) and MRDLG (MRDL Goal) rather than an MCL and MCLG (Averages and ranges are listed). For the DBPs (Total Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids) the annual system average, range for all locations, and highest locational running annual average for all locations are listed.

Key Terms Used In Water Quality Table

MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level, the highest level of a

contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible.

MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, the level of a

contaminant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MRDL = Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MRDLG = 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.

LRAA = Locational Running Annual Average - The annual average contaminant concentration at a monitoring site.

pCi/L = picoCuries per liter

46. = Treatment Technique, a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

AL = Action Level, the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

ND = Not Detected, absent or present at less than testing method detection level. All testing methods are EPA approved with detection limits much less than the MCL.

NA = Not applicable NR = Not Required NS = No standard

mg/L = milligram (1/1,000 of a gram) per liter = ppm = parts per million

µg/L = microgram (1/1,000,000 of a gram) per liter = ppb = parts per billion

ng/L = nanogram (1/1,000,000,000 of a gram) per liter = ppt = parts per trillion

NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, a measure of water clarity.

CWTP = Corfu Water Treatement Plant. SWTP = Shoremnt Water Treatement Plant. WWTP = Webster Water Treatment Plant. MCWA = Monroe County Water Authority Rochester = City of Rochester

ECWA = Erie County Water Authority

Monroe County Water Authority 475 Norris Drive Rochester, New York 14610

2020 Annual Water Quality Report

The Monroe County Water Authority

is pleased to provide you this report on the quality of your drinking

water which describes its sources, treatment and test results.

* There is no MCL set for sodium in water. However, EPA recommends that water containing more than 20 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring (UCMR4) - Every few years the USEPA issues a new list of up to 30 unregulated contaminants for which public water systems must monitor. This provides baseline occurrence data that the EPA combines with toxicological research to make decisions about future drinking water regulations. MCWA monitor for the fourth list from 2018 - 2020. For more information on this process go to https://drinktap.org/Water-Info/Whats-in-My-Water/Unregulated-Contaminant-Monitoring-Rule-UCMR.

Compounds Tested For But Not Detected

For more information on MCWA’s monitoring program call Customer Service at 585-442-7200.

M O N R O E C O U N T Y W A T E R A U T H O R I T Y

M C WA S TAT I S T I C S

When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead

Abundant. Inexpensive. Pure.

The Monroe County Water Authority is the third largest water supplier in New York State, producing and delivering an average of 20 billion gallons of drinking water every year. As a public

Public Authorities Law, our sole purpose is to provide you with

Many communities have been unable or unwilling to make the investments necessary to maintain their water systems. That’s not the case with the Monroe County Water Authority. In 2020 we invested $20.82 million in infrastructure improvements. Our

are below the national average and the lowest 25% for northeast U.S. suppliers. It costs an average Authority residential customer about $27 a month for all the water they need.

The Monroe County Water Authority’s 215 employees are dedicated to providing you all the clean, safe drinking water you need, whenever you need it.

This annual water quality report is being provided to all of our customers in

compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and New York State Department of Health regulations. For more information check our website at www.MCWA.com.

Source and Treatment

Our primary water source is Lake Ontario which is treated at our Shoremont Plant in Greece and our Webster Plant in Webster. We also operate the Corfu Plant, a small well supply in the Village of Corfu, and purchase water from the City of Rochester and the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA). The Service Area Map in this report shows the typical service area for each of the treatment plants. The boundaries between the service areas change day to day as we manage the sources to optimize water delivery to our customers.

The New York State Health Department has evaluated the susceptibility of water supplies statewide to potential contamination under the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP). In general, the Great Lakes sources used by Shoremont and ECWA are not very susceptible because of the size and quality of the Great Lakes. Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, used by the Hemlock Plant, are also not very susceptible because of their size and controlled

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ture of the aquifer provides protection against the few nearby potential contaminant sources. Because storm and waste water contamination are potential threats to any source water, the water provided to our customers undergoes rigorous treatment and testing prior to its delivery.

The Shoremont Plant and the purchased water producers all use a similar treatment

water and to provide the residual disinfectant that preserves the sanitary quality of the water as it travels from each plant to your home. Fluoride is also added to help prevent tooth decay.

with chlorine.

These water treatment plants are in full compliance with all New York State and USEPA operational and monitoring requirements.

For more information on the State’s Source Water Assessment plan and how you can help protect the source of your drinking water, contact MCWA Customer Service at (585) 442-7200 or visit our website at www.MCWA.com.

Water Quality

Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all State drinking water health standards. MCWA is proud to report that our system did not violate a maximum contaminate level or any other water quality standard. This report is an overview of last year’s water quality.

Drinking water sources (both tap and bottled water) include lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams, springs and wells. As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up substances resulting from animal or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in untreated water include inorganic and organic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, and radioactive and microbiological contaminants. In order to ensure that your tap water is safe to drink, the State and the USEPA established regulations that set limits on contaminant levels in water provided by public water systems. These limits are known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). The regulations also specify testing, reporting, and toring program substantially exceeds USEPA and State Health Department requirements. Departments of health also review our operating and monitoring data for compliance and independently monitors our distribution system.

Some constituents we tested for were detected, but at levels well below the allowable MCL. It’s important to remember all 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 the water poses a

obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Some people may be more vulnerable to disease-causing microorganisms or

pathogens in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients, 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 from their health care providers about drinking water. EPA/CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by

Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 or the Monroe County Department of Public Health, 111 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620, (585) 753-5057.

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen present in varying concentrations in many

In 2020, the MCWA analyzed a total of 16 source water samples for Cryptosporidium taken from Lake Ontario at our Shoremont and Webster water treatment plants. Cryptosporidium was detected in one raw water sample collected in March at the Webster water treatment plant. In our treatment processes at this plant Cryptosporidium is removed / inactivated by a combination of

MCWA encourages individuals with weakened immune systems to consult their health care provider regarding appropriate precautions to avoid infection. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an intestinal illness, and may spread through means other than drinking water. Person to person transmission may also occur in day care centers or other settings where handwashing practices are poor. For more information on cryptosporidiosis, please contact your local health department.

Lead in Drinking Water

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, infants, and young children. There is no detectable lead in the water we deliver to your home. Lead in drinking water is primarily from lead-bearing materials and components associ- ated with service lines and home plumbing. Although our testing indicates this is not a problem for our customers, it is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. The Monroe County Water Authority is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.

cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize ex- posure is available at www.mcwa.com/MyWater/LeadInDrinkingWater.aspx or from the USEPA’s Safedrinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) and website (www.epa.gov/safewater/lead)..

Fluoride

MCWA is one of the many New York water utilities providing drinking water with a controlled,

water at an optimal level of 0.7 mg/L. To ensure optimal dental protection, the State Depart-

levels in your water were within 0.2 mg/L of the CDC’s recommended optimal level 99.5% of

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you have questions about this report, your bill, or Monroe County Water Authority operations, call Customer Service at (585) 442-7200. To view the MCWA Board of Directors meeting schedule, visit us online at www.MCWA.com.

Taste and Odor

We are required to maintain a chlorine residual in the distribution system to prevent the growth of bacteria. To eliminate or reduce the taste of chlorine in your water, simply store tap

for this also.

Home Treatment Units

There are businesses that sell home treatment units by telling you water supplied by the Monroe County Water Authority is not safe. Save your money. The water we provide is consistently better than the drinking water regulations require and we can prove it.

Conservation

Lake Ontario provides an abundance of water to the communities we serve, and our custom-

treat and move the water to your houses. Therefore, conserving energy is helpful to providing clean, safe water to you.

Although our water rates are below the national average, no one wants to pay for

toilets promptly, replace washers when garden hoses start to drip, and water your lawn in the early morning. After 10 a.m. the sun’s heat draws water from the lawn through evapora- tion. When you water early, you can water less because more of the water is absorbed into

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