Consumer Confidence Report

AL

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

HA and HAL

Health Advisory (HA): Health Advisory. An estimate of acceptable drinking water levels for a chemical substance based on health effects information. Health Advisory Level (HAL): is the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, poses a health risk and may require a system to post a public notice. Health Advisories are determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

HI

Hazard Index (HI): is used to assess the potential health impacts associated with mixtures of contaminants. Hazard Index guidance for a class of contaminants or mixture of contaminants may be determined by the United States EPA or Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If a Health Index is exceeded by a system may be required to post a public notice.

Level 1 Assessment

A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine, if possible, why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.

Level 2 Assessment

A Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine, if possible, why an E. coli Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violation has occurred or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system, or both, on multiple occasions.

MCL

The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG

The Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) is 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.

MFL

Million fibers per liter

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

The Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) is 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 contaminants.

mrem/year

Millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body)

NTU

Nephelometric Turbidity Units

pCi/l

Picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)

ppm

Parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l). One part per million corresponds to one minute in 2 years, or a single penny in $10,000.

ppb

Parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l). One part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

ppt

Parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter. One part per trillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000.

ppq

Parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter. One par per quadrillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000,000 years or one penny in $10,000,000,000,000.

PHGS

Public Health Groundwater Standards are found in NR 140 Groundwater Quality. The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, poses a health risk and may require a system to post a public notice.

RPHGS

Recommended Public Health Groundwater Standards are standards proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, poses a health risk and may require a system to post public notice.

SMCL

Secondary drinking water standards, or Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance of the drinking water. The SMCLs do not represent health standards.

TCR

Total Coliform Rule

TT

A Treatment Technique (TT) is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

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 water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safe drinking water hotline at 800-426-4791.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants 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 systems 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. Environmental Protection Agency's/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA's safe drinking water hotline at 800-426-4791.

To obtain a summary of the source water assessment, please contact Jim Hessling at 608-838-7287.

The sources of drinking water, both tap water and bottled water, include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, 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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally- occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the number of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which shall provide the same protection for public health.

Detected Contaminants

Your water was tested for many contaminants last year. We are allowed to monitor for some contaminants less frequently than once a year. The following tables list only those contaminants which were detected in your water. If a contaminant was detected last year, it will appear in the following tables without a sample date. If the contaminant was not monitored last year, but was detected within the last 5 years, it will appear in the tables below along with the sample date.

Disinfection Byproducts

Inorganic Contaminants

Inorganic Contaminants - Action Levels

PFAS Contaminants with a Recommended Health Advisory Level

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. The following table lists PFAS contaminants which were detected in your water and that have a Recommended Public Health Groundwater Standard (RPHGS) or Health Advisory Level (HAL). There are no violations for detections of contaminants that exceed the RPHGS or HAL. The RPHGS are levels at which concentrations of the contaminant present a health risk and are based on guidance provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Typical Source of Contaminant

Drinking water is one way that people can be exposed to PFAS. In Wisconsin, two-thirds of people use groundwater as their drinking water source. PFAS can get in groundwater from places that make or use PFAS and release from consumer products in landfills.

Radioactive Contaminants

Synthetic Organic Contaminants including Pesticides & Herbicides

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. McFarland Waterworks 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 on the Environmental Protection Agency's "Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water" page.