consumer confidence report Water supplied by the Liberty Public Works Department

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1 2 0 WATER QUALITY 0 4 consumer confidence report Water supplied by the Liberty Public Works Department Fresh, Cool & Clear T he water supplied to you through the City s system met or surpassed all federal and state drinking water regulations. Last year we conducted tests for drinking water contaminants and only detected seven contaminants in your water. This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water we provided last year. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. For more information about your water call and ask for Sheryl Schrock. Staying clear about safe drinking water in Liberty To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. We treat our water according to EPA s regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Special Population Advisory 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 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/Center for Disease Control guidelines on how to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline Did You Know? Liberty has some terrific public participation opportunities. The City Council generally meets weekly at the City Hall. For more information, contact City Hall, tune into Liberty Cable Channel 2, or go to the web at

2 What s in it? 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 EPA s Safe Drinking Water Hotline What is the source of my water? The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and groundwater 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 before we treat it 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 storm water runoff and residential uses. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production and can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Natural Resources prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department of Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Water Quality Data The table in this report lists all the drinking water contaminants detected during the 2003 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 through December 31, The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to Did You Know? Your water comes from groundwater wells located near the Missouri River. Source water assessment information may be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources Services Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO year. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old. The City of Liberty is committed to providing its residents with a safe and reliable source of high quality water. We test our water using sophisticated equipment and advanced procedures. The Department of Natural Resources conducted an assessment of our source water to determine its susceptibility to contamination. The assessment indicates that the City s wells are susceptible to contamination due to geologic conditions or contamination sources. Appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of the City s water system. The assessment is a three-step process of identifying an area around our wellhead(s), inventorying potential sources of contaminants within that area [a one-half mile radius around the wellhead(s)] and a look at the adequacy of well construction. The assessment can be used to develop a wellhead protection program to protect this valuable resource. If you want to know more about the assessment or wish to participate on a watershed protection team to protect this valuable resource, please call

3 Substance MCL MCLG Our Range of Violation Water Detection (Y or N) Typical Source of Contamination Inorganic Contaminants (Regulated) Barium, dissolved (ppm)* N Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Fluoride (ppm) N Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Nitrate + Nitrite as N (ppm) N Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. Volatile Organic Contaminants (Regulated) HAA5 [Total Haloacetic Acids] (ppb) nd 16.5 N By-product of drinking water disinfection. TTHM [Total trihalomethanes] (ppb) 80 N/A N By-product of drinking water chlorination. Collection Action 90th Sites Substance Period Level Percentile Exceeding AL Typical Source of Contamination Copper (ppm) 1/1/ /31/2004 AL= Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives. Substance MCL MCLG Combined Radium Detected Combined Radium Level (pci /L) RA226 & RA228 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Our water system participated in the Unregulated Contaminant monitoring required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This special monitoring helps EPA decide if new contaminants of concern are found in drinking water at levels that need to be controlled. We did not detect any of these unregulated contaminants in our water. If you want to review the individual results of the monitoring, please contact us at the phone number listed under How might I become actively involved. T e r m s & A b b r e v i a t i o n s AL: Action Level the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Level Found: is the average of all test results for a particular contaminant. MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal 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. MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. N/A: not applicable nd: not detectable at testing limit NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units, used to measure cloudiness in drinking water pci/l: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter. ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter. Range of Detection: shows the lowest and highest levels found during a testing period, if only one sample was taken, then this number equals the Level Found. TT: Treatment Technique A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. 90th Percentile: for lead and copper testing. 10% of test results are above this level and 90% are below this level. The state has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Records marked with *, though representative, are more than one year old.

4 PSRST STD US Postage PAID Liberty, MO Permit #127 City of Liberty 101 East Kansas Liberty, Missouri Is our water system meeting other rules that govern our operations? The Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulates our water system and requires us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. Our system has been assigned the identification number MO for the purposes of tracking our test results. Last year, we tested for a variety of contaminants. The detectable results of these tests are on the previous pages of this report. How might I become actively involved? If you would like to observe the decision-making process that affects drinking water quality or if you have any further questions about your drinking water report, please call us at (816) or check the website at This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made to provide safe drinking water. Attencion! Este informe contiene informacion muy impórtante. Tradúscalo o prequntele a alguien que lo entienda bien.

5 2 0 WATER QUALITY 0 4 consumer confidence report Water supplied by the Kansas City Water Services Department (Kansas City, MO) Fresh, Cool & Clear T he water supplied to you through the Kansas City, Missouri system met or surpassed all federal and state drinking water regulations. Last year Kansas City conducted tests for drinking water contaminants. As a result of this testing, only 22 contaminants were detected. This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water provided to you last year. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. For more information about your water call and ask for Sheryl Schrock. Staying clear about safe drinking water in Liberty To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. We treat our water according to EPA s regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Special Population Advisory 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 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/Center for Disease Control guidelines on how to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline Did You Know? Liberty has some terrific public participation opportunities. The City Council generally meets weekly at the City Hall. For more information, contact City Hall, tune into Liberty Cable Channel 2, or go to the web at

6 What s in it? 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 EPA s Safe Drinking Water Hotline What is the source of my water? The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and groundwater 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 before we treat it 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. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production and can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Natural Resources prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department of Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Water Quality Data The table in this report lists all the drinking water contaminants detected during the 2004 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 through December 31, The state requires monitoring for certain contaminants less than once per year Did You Know? Your water comes from the Kansas City Water Plant, which treats water from the Missouri River. Source water assessment information may be obtained from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environmental Services Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old. The City of Liberty is committed to providing its residents with a safe and reliable source of high quality water. We test our water using sophisticated equipment and advanced procedures. Attencion! Este informe contiene información muy importante. Tradúscalo o prequntele a alguien que lo entienda bien.

7 Parameter Date Violation Units MCL MCLG KCMO KCMO Tested Average Range General Chemistry And Microbiological Chlorine (as chloramine) 2004 No ppm MRDL=4 MRDLG= Cyanide 2004 No ppb Fluoride 2004 No ppm Nitrate 2004 No ppm Synthetic Organic Contaminants Alachlor 2004 No ppb 2 0 ND ND Atrazine 2004 No ppb 3 3 BQL Methylene Chloride 2004 No ppb 5 0 ND ND Metals Antimony 2004 No ppb 6 6 BQL Barium Selenium No No ppb ppb ND 3-25 ND Radiological Radium No pci/l 5 0 BQL ND - BQL Unregulated Contaminants Acetochlor 2004 NA ppb ND ND Alkalinity 2004 NA ppm Ammonia 2004 NA ppm Cryptosporidia 2004 NA /100L ND ND Giardia 2004 NA /100L ND ND Hardness, total 2004 NA ppm Perchlorate 2004 NA ppm ND ND PH 2004 NA s.u Radon NA pci/l ND ND Sodium 2004 NA ppm Sulfate 2004 NA ppm Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. Information on all the contaminants that were monitored for, whether regulated or unregulated, can be obtained from this water system or the Department of Natural Resources. Radon is a naturally occurring gas present in soil and most ground waters in Missouri. Radon in home indoor air comes mainly from infiltration from soil in contact with foundations, slabs, and basement walls. EPA recommends that indoor air levels not exceed 4 pci/l (picocuries per liter). EPA uses a conversion factor of 10,000 to 1 to determine indoor air contribution from water, which is for our water. Radon poses a risk for lung cancer (estimated at 160 deaths/year nationally from drinking water, 85% of these in smokers), and stomach cancer (5 deaths annually). However, experts are not sure exactly what the cancer risk is from a given level of radon in drinking water. If you are concerned about radon in your home, tests are available to determine the exact levels. Call your local health department for details. Distribution System Testing Household testing for Lead & Copper Rule: Lead 2004 No ppb AL=15 5 (90th Percentile) Copper 2004 No ppb AL= (90th Percentile) Total Coliform Rule Testing: Turbidity: Highest Single Turbidity (3/04) 2004 No ntu Lowest Monthly % (<0.3) 2004 No % >95% 99.5% 99.50% Total Coliform: Highest Monthly % Positive (10/04) 2004 No % <5% Disinfection By-Products Testing: Total Trihalomethanes - TTHM 2004 No ppb 80 n/a Total Haloacetic Acids - THAA No ppb 60 n/a T e r m s & A b b r e v i a t i o n s AL: Action Level the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Level Found: is the average of all test results for a particular contaminant. MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal 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. MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. N/A: not applicable ND: not detectable at testing limit NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units, used to measure cloudiness in drinking water pci/l: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter. ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter. Range of Detection: shows the lowest and highest levels found during a testing period, if only one sample was taken, then this number equals the Level Found. TT: Treatment Technique A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. 90th Percentile: for lead and copper testing. 10% of test results are above this level and 90% are below this level.

8 PSRST STD US Postage PAID Liberty, MO Permit #127 City of Liberty 101 East Kansas Liberty, Missouri How might I become actively involved? If you would like to observe the decision-making process that affects drinking water quality or if you have any further questions about your drinking water report, please call us at or check the website at This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made to provide safe drinking water.