2023 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
CITY OF NEWTON PWS ID# 0510009
REPORT COMPLETED ON APRIL 16, 2024
We’re pleased to present to you your 2023 Annual Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water.
Sources of Water
Our water source consists of 4 wells that draws from the Sparta Sand Aquifer.
Water System Information
A source water assesment has been completed for the water supply to determine the overall susceptibility of its drinking water to identify potential sources of contamination. Our water supply received a lower susceptibility ranking to contamination.
This past year we continued to purchase new radio read meters for a vast majority of customers. These new meters replaced meters that have been in the ground for 10-15+ years, and allows us to provide customers with data on how much water is being used per hour and day as well as whether a leak is detected or not. We have also began tagging all meters, shut-off valves, manholes and water lines with GPS locations. These measures save manpower and provide higher quality, efficient service for the customers. The cost of maintaining our system equates to roughly $1.2 million to maintain infrastructure, costs, etc. We maintain a 5 rating for our quality of water, which is the highest rating of water.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Gary Turner at 601-683-6181. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Newton City Hall at 5:30 P.M.
We routinely monitor for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31, 2023. As water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. It’s important to remember that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.
Explanation of Reasons for Monitoring Unregulated Contaminants
Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.
Fluoride Information
To comply with the “Regulation Governing Fluoridation of Community Water Supplies’, it is required to report certain results pertaining to fluoridation of our water system. The number of months in the previous calendar year in which the average fluoride sample results were within the optimal range of 0.6 - 1.2 ppm was 12. The percentage of fluoride samples collected in the previous calendar year that was within the optimal range of 0.6 - 1.2 ppm was 100%. The number of months samples were collected and analyzed in the previous calendar year was 12.
Additional Information for Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Our water system is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or 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 exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. The Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health Laboratory offers lead testing. Please contact 601-576-7582 if you wish to have your water tested.
Additional Information
All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man made. These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances. 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 health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.
EPA is reviewing the drinking water standard for arsenic because of special concerns that it may not be stringent enough. Arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations.
The average household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day. There are many low cost and no-cost ways to conserve water. Small changes can make a big difference - try one today and soon it will become second nature.
• Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to 50 gallons for a bath.
• Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallons a month.
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They are inexpensive , easy to install and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Water plants only when necessary.
• Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or replacing it with a new, more efficeint model can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation.
• Teach your children about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month’s water bill!
• Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.
Publish Date: May 1, 2024
