BUCKS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY …Here is a quick reference guide to help you better understand unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. 90th Percentile – Represents the highest

BUCKS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY2019 ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT | MAIN LOWER SOUTH SYSTEM www.bcwsa.net

ANNUALWATERQUALITYREPORT

2019

Public Water Supply ID# 1090079

This report reflects water quality testingconducted during 2019.

Industrial and commercial customers,should forward this report to theirEnvironmental Compliance Manager.

MAIN LOWERSOUTH SYSTEM


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BCWSA ISCOMMITTED TO

PROVIDINGCUSTOMERS WITH A

RELIABLE SUPPLYOF HIGH QUALITYDRINKING WATER

THAT MEETS ORSURPASSES STATE

AND FEDERALSTANDARDS FOR

QUALITY AND SAFETY.

Our water is tested using certified labsthat use advanced procedures. We are

pleased to share with you this annualreport on the quality of your drinking

water as required by the Safe DrinkingWater Act (SDWA).


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Question BoxHave questions or needadditional information?If you have questions regardingthis report, please contact:Erin Rapp215-343-2538 [email protected]

For more information about yourlocal drinking water quality,standards, source water protectionand other questions, please call:

EPA Safe Drinking WaterHotline 800-426-4791

If you’d like to receive a printedcopy of this report, pleasecontact our office.

1275 Almshouse RoadWarrington, PA 18976215-343-2538 or [email protected]

This report compiles water quality data based on standards set bythe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). We are happyto report that BCWSA was in compliance with all water qualitystandards in 2019.

Please take time to review this report. We hope it helps answerquestions you may have about the quality of your drinking water,and helps you better understand the care and commitment thatgoes into providing the highest quality service possible everysingle day.


Source of Your WaterBCWSA’s Main Lower South Systemis supplied by water from both NorthWales Water Authority and LowerBucks County Joint MunicipalAuthority. North Wales WaterAuthority supplies us with surfacewater from the Delaware River thathas been treated at Forest ParkWater Treatment Plant. Lower BucksCounty Joint Municipal Authoritysupplies us with a combination ofsurface water from the DelawareRiver that has been treated at theirwater treatment plant and groundwater from 5 wells.

Under Section 1453 of the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency’s1996 Safe Drinking Water Act, statesmust evaluate all drinking watersources that serve public systemsand provide a mechanism fordevelopment of local protection

programs. In accordance with thePennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Protection’s SourceWater Assessment and ProtectionProgram (SWAP), a source waterassessment has been completed andBCWSA’s water treatment plant hasbeen evaluated. The Assessmenthas found that our source ispotentially most susceptible todischarges of treated and untreatedsewage and polluted runoff fromstormwater. A summary report of theAssessment is available on theSource Water Assessment &Protection web page atwww.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/wc/Subjects/SrceProt/SourceAssessment/default.htm. Thecomplete Assessment is available forpublic review at the SoutheastRegional DEP office in Norristown,PA.

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Facts AboutBCWSA

Formed in 1962

Non-profit, municipalauthority

87,000customers

500,000people

Serve 23townships/boroughs

Over 125pumping stations

1,200 miles of waterand sanitary piping

3,000fire hydrants

10 MGD Capacity

Help Us Protect Our SourceProtection of our drinking water source is key to sustaining safe drinkingwater. There’s many things you can do to help protect our water and theenvironment.

• Recycling keeps items from making their way into a body of water.

• Dispose of pharmaceuticals, household chemicals, oils and paint properly.These can impact water ways if poured down drain. Find a local chemicalpickup or drop-off location in your area.

• Minimize use of harsh chemicals – they can devastate ecosystems if theyreach a body of water.

• Clean up after pets.

• Participate in local watershed activities.

• Report spills, illegal dumping, or suspicious activity.

BCWSA’s Main Lower South System issupplied by water from North Wales WaterAuthority and Lower Bucks County JointMunicipal Authority


Substances in Drinking WaterThe sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottledwater) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface ofthe land or through the ground, it dissolves naturallyoccurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactivematerial, and can pick up substances resulting from thepresence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source waterinclude:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria,which may come from sewage treatment plants, septicsystems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, whichcan be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwaterrunoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oiland gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a varietyof sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff,and residential uses.

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic andvolatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts ofindustrial processes and petroleum production, and canalso come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, andseptic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturallyoccurring or be the result of oil and gas production andmining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPAprescribes regulations which limit the amount of certaincontaminants in water provided by public water systems.We treat your water according to EPA’s regulations. Foodand Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limitsfor contaminants in bottled water which must provide thesame protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonablybe expected to contain at least small amounts of somecontaminants. The presence of contaminants does notnecessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. Moreinformation about contaminants and potential healtheffects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe DrinkingWater Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Special Risk PopulationsSome people may be more vulnerable to contaminants indrinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancerundergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergoneorgan transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immunesystem disorders, some elderly, and infants can beparticularly at risk from infections. These people shouldseek advice about drinking water from their health careproviders. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means tolessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and othermicrobial contaminants are available from the SafeDrinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

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Additional Water Quality InformationDelivering high-quality drinking waterto our customers is a scientific andengineering feat that requiresconsiderable effort and talent toensure the water is always there andsafe to drink. Because tap water ishighly regulated by state and federallaws, water treatment and distributionoperators must be licensed and arerequired to complete on-the-jobtraining and technical educationbefore becoming a state certifiedoperator. Our licensed wateroperators have an understanding of awide range of subjects, includingmathematics, biology, chemistry,physics, and engineering. Some ofthe tasks they complete on a regularbasis include:

• Operating and maintainingequipment to purify and clarifywater;

• Monitoring and inspectingmachinery, meters, gauges, andoperating conditions;

• Conducting tests and inspections onwater and evaluating the results;and

• Documenting and reporting testresults and system operations toregulatory agencies.

• Serving our community throughcustomer support, education, andoutreach.

So, the next time you turn on yourfaucet, think of the skilledprofessionals who stand behind everydrop.

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Water Hardness Scale

grains pergallon (gpg) mg/l or ppm Classification

0 - 1 0 – 17.1 Soft

1 – 3.5 17.1 – 60 Slightly Hard

3.5 – 7 60 – 120 Moderately Hard

7 – 10.5 120 – 180 Hard

10.5 & over 180 & over Very Hard

Common Water Quality QuestionsWhat is the hardness of my water?Water hardness is a measure of the concentration of two minerals naturallypresent in water – calcium and magnesium. Hard water may cause scalebuildup in appliances and on fixtures and cookware, and may require usingmore soap to form a lather. Your harness level can be found in the datatables in this report.

What is the pink stain or residue I am noticing?If you are seeing a pink or reddish slime or stain on fixtures, in the sink orshower, at the toilet waterline, or in pet dishes you are not alone. Thiscoloring is actually from an airborne bacteria, Serratia marcescens, that isfound naturally in soil, food, and animals. The bacteria is harmless tohumans and pets, but can be a nuisance. It thrives on moisture, so to keepthe bacteria from growing, clean and dry surfaces frequently and use achlorinated cleaner to kill them.

Why does my water look cloudy or milky?One of the most likely causes is trapped air bubbles in the water. This isintensified during cold weather because cold water holds more oxygen thanwarm water. Fill a clear glass and watch how the cloudiness clears – airbubbles will rise and you will notice the water clearing from the bottom first.


Terms and Abbreviations Used in This ReportThe water quality test results in thisreport may contain terms andabbreviations with which you are notfamiliar. Here is a quick referenceguide to help you better understandunfamiliar terms and abbreviations.

90th Percentile – Represents thehighest value found out of 90 percentof the samples taken in arepresentative group. If the 90th

percentile is greater than the actionlevel, it will trigger a treatment oradditional requirement that a watersystem must follow.

Action Level (AL) – The concentrationof a contaminant which, if exceeded,triggers treatment of otherrequirements that a water systemmust follow.

Alkalinity – A measure of the water’sability to resist changes in the pHlevel and a good indicator of overallwater quality.

E. coli (Escherichia coli) – A type ofcoliform bacteria that are associatedwith human and animal fecal waste.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) – A group offive (5) chemicals called disinfectionbyproducts, which form duringchlorination.

Level 1 Assessment – A Level 1Assessment is a study of the watersystem to identify potential problemsand determine (if possible) why totalcoliform bacteria have been found inthe water system.

Level 2 Assessment – A Level 2Assessment is a very detailed studyof the water system to identifypotential problems and determine (ifpossible) why an E. coli MCL violationhas occurred and/or why totalcoliform bacteria have been found inour water system on multipleoccasions.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)– The highest level of a contaminantthat is allowed in drinking water.MCLs are set as close to the MCLGsas feasible using the best availabletreatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal(MCLG) – The level of a contaminantin drinking water below which there isno known or expected risk to health.MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level(MRDL) – Highest level of disinfectantallowed in drinking water. There isconvincing evidence that additionaldisinfectant is necessary for control ofmicrobial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant LevelGoal (MRDLG) – The level of adrinking water disinfectant belowwhich there is no known or expectedrisk to health. MRDLGs do not reflectthe benefits of the use of disinfectantsto control microbial contamination.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) –A measure of water clarity.

Not Applicable (NA) – Results are notapplicable.

Not Detectable (ND) – Results arebelow the detection level of theinstrumentation.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) – Ameasure of radioactivity.

Parts per billion or micrograms perliter (ppb or μg/L) – One part perbillion equals about 1 ounce in7,500,000 gallons of water.

Parts per million or milligrams per liter(ppm or mg/L) – One part per millionequals about 1 ounce in 7,500gallons of water.

Parts per quadrillion or picrogramsper liter (ppt or ng/L) – One part perquadrillion equals about 1 ounce in7,500,000,000,000 gallons of water.

Parts per trillion or nanograms perliter (ppt or ng/L) – One part pertrillion equals about 1 ounce in7,500,000,000 gallons of water.

Total coliform – Coliforms arebacteria that are naturally present inthe environment and are used as anindicator that other potentially harmfulbacteria may be present.

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) – Ameasure of the carbon content oforganic matter. The measureprovides an indication of how muchorganic material in the water couldpotentially react with chlorine to formHAAs and THMs.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) – Agroup of chemicals called disinfectionbyproducts, which form duringchlorination. TTHMs form whennatural organic matter decomposeand combine chemically with thechlorine added for disinfection.These levels vary seasonally.

Turbidity – A measure of the clarity ofwater related to its particle content.Turbidity serves as an indicator forthe effectiveness of the watertreatment process.

Treatment Technique (TT) – Arequired process intended to reducethe level of contaminant in drinkingwater.

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How to Read and Understand the Data TablesIn order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPAand PA DEP prescribe regulations that limit the amount ofcertain contaminants in water provided by public watersuppliers. The tables that follow list all of the drinkingwater contaminants that were detected during the 2019calendar year. The presence of contaminants in the waterdoes not necessarily indicate that the water poses a healthrisk. Unless otherwise noted, the data is from testing doneJanuary 1 – December 31, 2019. The state requires us tomonitor for certain contaminants less than once per yearbecause the concentrations of these contaminants do notchange frequently.

In general, drinking water standards are regulated by amaximum contaminant level (MCL) or a treatmenttechnique (TT). For parameters with an MCL, we mustsample at the required frequency and results must bebelow the MCL. Depending on the parameter, the MCLmay apply to individual results, an average of all results in

a calendar year, or an average of all results in a calendaryear for a specific site. For parameters with a TT, we mustsample at the required frequency and are required to takeaction (such as a change in treatment) if specifiedconditions are not met. Specified conditions vary perregulation.

Beginning with the Contaminant column, read across.MCLG is the goal level for that contaminant (goal may beset lower than MCL). MCL shows the highest level ofcontaminant allowed. Level Detected represents themeasured amount in your water. Range will give you thelowest and highest amounts measured. The Sample Datewill be the year the samples were collected. TheViolation column will tell you whether the result metgovernment requirements. Typical Source tells wherethe substance usually originates.

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List of Contaminants Not DetectedBelow is a list of compounds that were tested for but not detected:

Volatile Organic Chemicals1,1,1-Trichloroethane1,1,2-Trichloroethane1,1-Dichloroethene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene1,2-Dichlorobenzene1,2-Dichloroethane1,2-Dichloropropane1,4-DichlorobenzeneBenzeneCarbon tetrachlorideChlorobenzenecis-1,2-DichloroetheneEthyl benzeneMethylene chloride (Dichloromethane)StyreneTetrachloroethene (PCE)Toluenetrans-1,2-DichloretheneTrichloroethylene (TCE)Vinyl chlorideXylenes, Total

Radioactive ContaminantsAlpha EmittersUraniumCombined Radium

Inorganic ChemicalsAntimonyArsenicBerylliumCadmiumChromiumCyanide, freeMercuryNickelNitriteSeleniumThallium

Microbiological ContaminantsColiform, totalE. coli

Synthetic Organic Chemicals1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)2,3,7,8-TCDD (dioxin)2,4,5-TP Silvex2,4-DAlachlorAtrazineBenzo(a)pyreneCarbofuran

ChlordaneDalapondi(2-Ethylhexyl) adipatedi(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalateDinosebDiquatEndothallEndrinEthylene dibromide (EDB)GlyphosateHeptachlorHeptachlor epoxideHexachlorobenzeneHexachlorocyclopentadieneLindaneMethoxychlorOxamyl (vydate)PCBsPentachlorophenolPicloremSimazineToxaphene


Chemical Contaminants

ContaminantsMCLG

orMRDLG

MCL, TT,or MRDL

LevelDetecte

d

RangeSample

Date Violation Typical SourceLow High

Chlorine (ppm) 4 4 0.79 0.58 0.79 2019 No Water additive used to controlmicrobes

Barium (ppm) 2 2 0.019 0.014 0.019 2019 No

Discharge of drilling wastes;discharge from metalrefineries; erosion of naturaldeposits

Fluoride (ppm) 2 2 0.56 0.22 0.96 2019 No

Erosion of natural deposits;water additive which promotesstrong teeth; discharge fromfertilizer and aluminumfactories

Nitrate (ppm) 10 10 1.18 ND 1.6 2019 No

Runoff from fertilizer use;leaching from septic tanks,sewage; erosion of naturaldeposits

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Disinfection Byproducts

ContaminantsMCLG

orMRDLG

MCL, TT,or MRDL

LevelDetected

RangeSample

Date Violation Typical SourceLow High

Haloacetic Acids(HAA5) (ppb) NA 60 36.1 7.14 46.8 2019 No By-product of drinking

water chlorination

TotalTrihalomethanes

(TTHMs) (ppb)NA 80 71.3 9.90 86.5 2019 No By-product of drinking

water disinfection

Bromate (ppb) 0 10 2.8 2.0 3.6 2019 No By-product of drinkingwater disinfection


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Lead and Copper — Samples are collected from consumers taps, 90th percentile reported

Contaminants MCLG AL LevelDetected Sample Date # Samples

Exceeding ALExceeds

AL Typical Source

Lead – AL atconsumertaps (ppb)

0 15 ND 2019 0 out of 63 No

Corrosion of householdplumbing systems;erosion of natural

deposits

Copper – ALat consumertaps (ppm)

1.3 1.3 0.182 2019 0 out of 63 No

Corrosion of householdplumbing systems;erosion of natural

deposits

Additional Information for LeadIf present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and youngchildren. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and homeplumbing. BCWSA is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materialsused in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential forlead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you areconcerned 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 at800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Turbidity

Contaminant MCLG MCL LevelDetected

SampleDate Violation Typical

Source

Turbidity (NTU) 0

TT = 1 NTU for a singlemeasurement 0.08

2019

No

Soil runoffTT = at least 95% of monthly

samples ≤0.3 NTU 100% No


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FourthUnregulatedContaminantMonitoring

Rule(UCMR4)

EPA uses theUCMR program

to collectnationally

representativedata for

contaminantssuspected tobe present in

drinking water.These

contaminantsdo not haveregulatorystandards.

BCWSA wasrequired to

perform testingunder UCMR4

in the MainLower SouthWater System

for 30additional

contaminants.Results of thistesting can befound in the

tables on thispage.

Entry Point Testing

Contaminants LevelDetected

RangeSample Date

Low High

1-Butanol (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

2-Methoxyethanol (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

2-Propen-1-ol (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Germanium (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Manganese (ppb) 3.51 1.86 5.68 2019

a-Hexachlorocyclohexane (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Butylated hydroxyanisole (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Chlorpyrifos (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Dimethipin (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Ethoprop (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

o-Toluidine (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Oxyfluorfen (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Profenofos (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Quinoline (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Tebuconazole (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Total Permethrin (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Tribufos (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Anatoxin-a (ppb) ND ND ND 2018

Cylindrospermopsin (ppb) ND ND ND 2018Total Microcystins & Nodularins(ppb) ND ND ND 2018

Distribution Testing

Contaminants LevelDetected

RangeSample Date

Low High

Bromoacetic acid (ppb) 0.086 ND 0.342 2019

Bromochloroacetic acid (ppb) 2.67 0.403 3.75 2019

Bromodichloroacetic acid (ppb) 5.65 1.17 9.99 2019

Chloroacetic acid (ppb) 0.653 ND 2.61 2019

Chlorodibromoacetic acid (ppb) 0.829 ND 1.09 2019

Dibromoacetic acid (ppb) 0.335 ND 0.676 2019

Dichloroacetic acid (ppb) 15.2 2.98 22.8 2019

Tribromoacetic acid (ppb) ND ND ND 2019

Trichloroacetic acid (ppb) 25.6 2.30 37.5 2019


Additional MonitoringSecondary Drinking Water StandardsThese are recommended limits on compounds that might pose a nuisance to the customer. These compounds affectaesthetic quality (appearance, taste and odor) but do not pose a health risk.

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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used in many consumer products, including food wrappers, fabrics, andcarpets, to make them resistant to water, oil, grease, stains, and heat. Certain types of firefighting foam may containPFAS. The EPA has developed a health advisory level (HAL) of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum ofperfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) combined, but has not yet establishedregulatory limits for compliance by public water suppliers. Because of concerns about PFAS contamination in theregion, BCWSA tested each of its entry points for PFAS in 2019. Results from that testing are in the table below.Additional information can be found on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/pfas.

Entry Point PFOS (ppt) PFOA (ppt) PFOS + PFOA (ppt)

EP102 2.7 3.6 6.3

EP103 2.5 3.8 6.3

EP105 2.6 3.5 6.1

Contaminants Recommended Limitsor Range Level Detected

Total Alkalinity 50 ppm

Aluminum 0.05 to 0.2 ppm < 0.02 ppm

Calcium 15 ppm

Chloride 250 ppm 34 ppm

Color 15 Color Units < 5 Color Units

Corrosivity -1 to +1 Langelier Index -1.32 Langelier Index

Foaming Agents (MBAS) 0.5 ppm < 0.050 ppm

Hardness 50 to 250 ppm 64.4 ppm

Iron 0.3 ppm < 0.02 ppm

Magnesium 6.5 ppm

Manganese 0.05 ppm <0.005 ppm

Odor 3 TON 2 TON

pH 6.5 to 8.5 7.09

Sulfate 250 ppm 18 ppm

Total Dissolved Solids 500 ppm 128 ppm

Zinc 5 ppm 0.009 ppm


• Take short showers – a 5 minute shower uses4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallonsfor a bath.

• Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washingyour hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallonsa month.

• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They’reinexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to750 gallons a month.

• Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers areinexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace.To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops offood coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into thetoilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing itor replacing it with a new, more efficient model cansave 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 andduring the cooler parts of the day to reduceevaporation.

• Teach your kids about water conservation to ensurea future generation that uses water wisely. Make it afamily effort to reduce next month’s water bill!

• Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.

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Customer Participation

Residents can help ensure the safety of our water supply by reporting any suspicious activities near any water tank,reservoir, or hydrants to our office at 215-343-3946, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Board of Directors of BCWSA meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30am and the fourth Mondayof each month at 7:00pm in the public meeting room at the Authority office located at 1275 Almshouse Road inWarrington, PA. Please feel free to attend and participate in these meetings.

Important Contact Information

Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day or 100 gallons perperson per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to conserve water. Small changes can makea big difference – try one today and soon it will become second nature.

Water Conservation Tips

BCWSA Customer Service800-222-2068 www.bcwsa.net

EPA Safe Drinking WaterHotline800-426-4791

American Water WorksAssociationwww.awwa.org

United States Centers forDisease Control and Prevention888-CDC-INFO www.cdc.gov

Pennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Protectionwww.dep.pa.gov

United States EnvironmentalProtection Agencywww.epa.gov

Documents

BUCKS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY …Here is a quick reference guide to help you better understand unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. 90th Percentile – Represents the highest