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2009 Water Quality Data Table
Unless otherwise noted, this report is based upon tests conducted in the year 2009 by the Lowell Regional Water Utility’s certified Laboratory Director, Treatment Plant Operators, and by certified water testing laboratories. Terms used in the Water-Quality Table and in other parts of this report are defined here.
- An Explanation of the Water-Quality Data Table
- Unless otherwise noted, this report is based upon tests conducted in the year 2009 by the Lowell Regional Water Utility’s certified Laboratory Director, Treatment Plant Operators, and also by certified water testing laboratories. Terms used in the Water-Quality Table and in other parts of this report are defined here.
- Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
- The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
- Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
- The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
- Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)
- The highest level of a disinfectant (chlorine) 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 (MRDLG)
- The level of a drinking water disinfectant (chlorine) below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
- Action Level (AL)
- The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers a treatment or other requirement which a water system must follow.
- Treatment Technique (TT)
- A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
| Key to table: | One part per million is equal to: |
|---|---|
| ppm = parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l) ppb = parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/l) pCi/l = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) |
~ One ounce in 82,000 pounds ~ |
| MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
~ One minute in two years ~ |
| NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units TT = Treatment Technique |
~ One penny in $10,000.00 ~ |
| AL = Action Level N/A = not applicable |
~ One inch in 16 miles ~ |
| MRDL = Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level | |
| MRDLG = Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal | |
Water Quality Data Table
| Contaminant Detected | Unit | MCL | MCLG | Level Detected | Range of Detection | Major Sources | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Regulated Contaminants |
|||||||
| Nitrate | ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.28 | N/A | Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion from natural deposits. | NO |
| Flouride *(see below) | 1.20 | 0.81 to 1.20 | Erosion of natural deposits, water additive that promotes strong teeth. Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. | NO | |||
| * State (MCL) | ppm | 2 | none | ||||
| * EPA (MCL) | ppm | 4 | none | ||||
| Sodium | ppm | none | none | 38.7 | N/A | Erosion of natural deposits; road salt, and water treatment chemicals. | NO |
| Chlorite | ppm | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.57 | 0.05 to 0.57 | By-product of drinking water disinfection. | NO |
| Turbity (see note) | NTU | 1.0 |
TT=99.9% | 0.60 | 0.03 to 0.60 | Soil runoff. | NO |
| TT= Lowest percentage of monthly samples <0.3 NTU Note: Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. |
|||||||
| Disinfectant residual | ppm | (MRDL) 4 | (MRDLG) 4 | 1.41 | 0.31 to 1.41 | By-product of drinking water disinfection. | NO |
|
Volatile Organic Contaminants |
|||||||
| (TTHM) | ppb | 80 | 0 | (48.0) | 0.65 to 48.0 | By-product of drinking water chlorination. | NO |
| [Total Trihalomethanes] | (Highest Runing Annual Average) | ||||||
|
Disinfection By-Product Contaminants |
|||||||
| (HAA) | ppb | 60 | 0 | (18.6) | 0 to 18.6 | By-product of drinking water chlorination. | NO |
| [Halo-acetic Acids] | (Highest Runing Annual Average) | ||||||
|
Unregulated Contaminants |
|||||||
| MTBE | ppb | none | none | N/D | N/D<0.05 | Gasoline Additive. | NO |
| Chloroform | ppb | none | none | 17.9 | 2.1 to 17.6 | By-product of drinking water chlorination. | NO |
| Bromodichloromethane | ppb | none | none | 6.4 | 1.3 to 6.4 |
By-product of drinking water chlorination. | NO |
| Chlorodibromomethane | ppb | none | none | 1.6 | N/D<1.6 | By-product of drinking water chlorination. | NO |
| Sulfate | ppm | none | none | 7.4 | 7.4 | Mineral and nutrient | NO |
| Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of un-regulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining their occurrence in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. | |||||||
|
Radionuclides |
|||||||
| Gross Alpha | pCi/l | 15 | 0 | 0.5 (+-1.1) | N/A | Erosion of natural deposits | NO |
| Radium 228 | pCi/l | 5 | 0 | 0.1 (+-0.6) | N/A | Erosion of natural deposits | NO |
| Contaminant | Unit | AL | MCLG | 90th % Value | # of Samples Above AL | Major Sources | Violation |
| Lead | ppb | 15 | 0 | .042 | 1 of 50 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems. Erosion of natural deposits; | NO |
| Copper | ppm | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.05 | 0 of 50 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems. Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives. | NO |
