2002
Consumer
Confidence Report




 
In last year’s Consumer Confidence Report we told you about the project to develop the new well field.  During the fall and winter of 2001-2002, Northway Well and Pump Incorporated completed drilling a 24-inch well into the Mississippian limestone.  We were hoping to develop a well that would produce 3.5 million gallons of water per day. Instead, we developed a new well that will produce 5.7 million gallons per day or 4,000 gallons per minute.  This output far exceeded anyone’s expectations and put in place a sound future water supply for Marshalltown.  The State Geological Service told us that it is the highest producing, single-shaft, vertical well ever drilled in Iowa.  We used a very small video camera to look down inside the well and found a cavern at least eight feet high that the water is moving through, but we were unable to determine the length or width of the cavern.  The Staff is actively working on plans and specifications for the water line, electrical lines, and the well house pump and motor to get the water from this new well site into the treatment plant. The Water Works Board of Trustees designated this project as its top priority.





Over the past three years the Marshalltown Water Works has been cleaning, sand blasting, and painting all three of the overhead towers in Marshalltown.  In May of 2002 we finished the tower on the West Side of town.  These projects are done every twelve years to maintain the tower.  The cost of these projects were



High Street Tower
$ 214,848.35



18th Avenue Tower   $141,800.00
     
Austin Place Tower   $  58,500.00
     
  TOTAL COST   $415,148.35




















                    High Street Tower



For over 100 years the Marshalltown Water Works has been committed to providing the safest, highest quality, and most reliable drinking water.  This report gives you an overview of our treatment process from the source to your faucet.You will see that the contaminants detected in your drinking water are very minute compared to the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines for Drinking Water. The source of your water is nine deep wells located on the north side of the Iowa River drawing water from the Mississippian Aquifer.  The water is pumped to the treatment plant where it first goes through aeration to remove iron, radon, and hydrogen sulfide. It then travels to the softening basin for removal of the excess hardness and the remaining iron.  The water then has the pH adjusted and flows to the filters where it passes through the sand filters to remove the remaining very small particles.  Chlorine is added as a disinfectant as well as fluoride to prevent tooth decay before being stored in the underground clear well.  The water is pumped from the clear well to the distribution system for public use. The Marshalltown Laboratory and Production Staff collect samples hourly at the water plant and daily from the distribution system at various locations around the city to ensure the safety and purity of the water supplied to you.

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MARSHALLTOWN WATER WORKS 2001 DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT

 

 

SUBSTANCE

HIGHEST

LEVEL ALLOWED (MCL)

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT

LEVEL GOAL

MARSHALLTOWN’S

HIGHEST LEVEL DETECTED

 

SOURCES OF CONTAMINANT

 

MICROBIOLOGICAL

CONTAMINANTS

 

Total Coliform Bacteria

   5% Positive

         0 Positive

          0 Positive

Naturally present in the environment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPPER

Regulated at Customer Tap

 

 

Copper

   1.3 ppm*

         1.3 ppm*

           0.027 ppm

Corrosion of plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives

 

 

INORGANIC

CONTAMINANTS

 

 

Fluoride

   4.0 ppm

        4.0 ppm

           1.2 ppm

Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from fertilizer & aluminum factories

Nitrate (as Nitrogen)

   10.0 ppm

        10.0 ppm

           0.0 ppm

Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks; Sewage; Erosion of natural deposits

Sodium**

   N/A

        N/A

          16.9 ppm

Erosion of natural deposits; Added to water duirng treatment process

 

 

DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM

March 1999

 

 

 

Xylenes

   10 ppm

        10 ppm

           0.0008 ppm

Typical source: Discharges from petroleum factories; discharge from chemical factories

  NOTE: The EPA requires monitoring of over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those listed above are the only contaminants detected in your drinking water. For a complete list, contact Marshalltown Water Works.



D E F I N I T I O N S:
 
Inorganic Chemicals– Chemical substances of mineral origin, such as lead and copper.

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

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)– The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or
expected risk to health.  MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Microbiological Contaminants – Very small organisms, such as bacteria, algae, plankton, and fungi.

ppm – parts of contaminant per million parts of water.

N/A – Non-applicable

Action Level – The concentration of a contaminate which triggers treatment or other requirement which a water system
must meet.

**From Wells 6, 11, and 14 only



IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION

 

            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.  EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

 

            In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.  Any bottled water that is labeled “drinking water” has to meet EPA’s drinking water regulations.  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.

 

SAFE DRINKING

WATER HOTLINE

1-800-426-4791

www.epa.gov/OGWDW

 

 


MARSHALLTOWN WATER WORKS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS

Third Monday of each month

205 East State Street

Marshalltown, IA  50158

 

For more detailed information on water analysis call

 

Water Production Plant

753-3997

 

Customer Service

753-7913