Water is filled with minerals and other naturally occurring substances. Ground water in a natural environment has “a lot of things in it,” he said. “That’s OK, that’s natural.”

Is the drinking water safe? Yes, according to recent water quality testing results compiled in a Consumer Confidence Report 2006, which was issued this June. The report has been mailed to United Water customers in Newtown. The local service area is clustered along Route 25 from Sand Hill Plaza to Bethel, and covers stretches of Church Hill Road and Route 302.

Mr Moran said, “Happily, Newtown’s water is good.” The town’s water is “well-balanced water,” he explained. “No bacteria, no dangerous chemicals, we provide [water] just as it comes out of the ground.” Mr Moran continued, “The Consumer Confidence Report shows how we measure up to state and federal standards for safe drinking water last year.”

According to the consumer report, “We tested for more than 90 substances in the water and detected those indicated on the Water Quality Table. As the table indicates, the amounts we detected were less than the amounts allowed by the [Environmental Protection Agency].”

Public health is a priority. The report begins, “Our goal is to provide you with water that meets or surpasses all the standards for safe drinking water. These health and safety standards are set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CTDPH)…We regularly test water samples to be sure that your water meets safety standards.”

 

Preventative Measures

The report’s introduction states, “As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals…the water can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity…salts, metals, viruses, bacteria, or pesticides.” Mr Moran said, “We want to make sure things are safe and in reasonable amounts.”

Health is not the only reason water’s contents are measured. “Water is a universal solvent,” Mr Moran said. “With enough time water can dissolve anything.” Water is treated to protect the pipes — from company wells to household plumbing.

“If we didn’t, people would start to have leaks as it eats away at the copper,” he said. United Water Connecticut aims to prevent corrosion and maintain pH balance. Mr Moran explained, “We adjust the quality to make sure it is noncorrosive…it’s the only characteristic we need to adjust for our wells in Newtown.” Other adjustments raise the pH level. “It helps prevent the build-up of corrosion on the pipes,” he said.

The consumer report states, “Water treated at our facilities contains a small amount of chlorine to ensure the safety of your water. Our water also contains small amounts of a food-grade phosphate product and a pH adjustor to minimize the naturally corrosive nature of the water.”

Adding chlorine also prevents bacteria from entering the water supply. “The water from the ground is bacteria free, but there is always a chance of a break. Bacteria could get in.” Ground water is continually tested.

Filtering household water is not necessary in Newtown, he said. “The system is free of any particles in the water.” Occasional water discoloration does occur, however. United Water takes steps to prevent rust accumulation. Mr Moran said, “Annually we flush the mains.”

If a problem does arise, measures are in place to notify residents. “We follow protocol,” Mr Moran said. Some problems may require a legal notice through the local media. The health department would also receive notice.

“If the health department elevates [a problem] to a health risk our customers would know right away about potential dangers,” he said. The water company regularly monitors its well water and the water coming from the distribution system.

The Details

The confidence report includes information from the state’s Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Division, which conducted a water supply assessment recently. As the report explains, the state’s assessment determined, “This public drinking water source has a moderate susceptibility to potential sources of contamination.” Translating the ominous statement is Public Health Services Manager Darrell Smith with the Department of Public Health Drinking Water Section.

The statement is not saying that the source water is the problem, he confirmed. Turning his attention above ground he said, “The key point is if those businesses [over the aquifer] do not properly manage their waste it could have an impact on the well field.” Also referring to his section’s source water assessment report that evaluated the susceptibility of public drinking water sources to potential contamination, he noted several paragraphs.

The information states, “It should be noted that this rating does not necessarily imply poor water quality or ongoing violations of the Connecticut Public Health Code. The assessment of this and other comparable well fields throughout Connecticut generally finds that adopting recommendations …could reduce the susceptibility of most groundwater sources to potential sources of contamination.”

He said, “There is nothing wrong with the drinking water.” With a word of advise he continued, “The potential risk factors are moderate; if all the businesses don’t take care of trash, it’s like having a gas station on the corner and they take the waste oil out back and pour it on the ground.” He stressed, “If any of these businesses do not use management practices and proper handling, the byproducts are released into the ground and get into the [water company] well.”

Visit unitedwater.com/uwct/pdfs/w_g07CT_newtown.pdf to see the Consumer Confidence report. To see the state health department’s Drinking Water Section report, visit www.dph.state.ct.us, select health topics, A–Z, choose water from the menu, choose source water protection, select Connecticut’s SWAP Assessment Reports and Findings, select Community Public Water Systems List, and scroll to United Water, Newtown.