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2020 Consumer Confidence Report
If you live in the City of Palmetto and have any questions regarding this report or your drinking water, please call (941) 723-4580. Assistance in Spanish is available Monday thru Friday,
7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The
City of Palmetto purchases its water from Manatee County and distributes it
through our distribution system to the residents of Palmetto. The City of Palmetto Public Works Department
is committed to maintaining our distribution system, water service, and high
water quality on a 24-hour basis. Your
comments or questions are always welcome.
The Palmetto City Commissioners or Public Works Department may be
accessed at http://www.palmettofl.org
You
may also reach Palmetto City Hall by phone at (941) 723-4570, or Palmetto
Public Works at (941) 723-4580.
2020
WATER QUALITY REPORT
Manatee
County
Utilities Department
makes a commitment daily to provide the highest quality drinking water to the residents
of Manatee County, Sarasota
County and cities
served. This
report reflects on that commitment and represents a summary of the drinking water quality during 2020.
PROTECTING MANATEE COUNTY’S WATER SOURCES
Drinking water for the customers of Manatee County
Utilities Department is a blend of purified
groundwater and purified
surface water. In 2020, an
average of 15.18 million gallons per day of deep ground water and 30.05 million
gallons per day of surface
water was used.
The groundwater is
pumped from the Floridan Aquifer from seven, 1200-foot deep wells located in
eastern Manatee County. This water is pumped through
a 36-inch pipe approximately 13 miles to the Purification Plant. Surface water
is taken from the
Lake Manatee Reservoir located
in central Manatee County.
In 2019 the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) performed a Source Water
Assessment on our system. The assessment was conducted to provide
information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells or surface water
intakes. There are thirteen potential
sources of contamination identified for the Manatee County Water Purification Plant with susceptibility levels of low and high. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program
website www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp or they can be obtained
from the Manatee County
Water Purification Plant at (941) 746-3020.
The County has taken
stringent measures to protect these water sources. In the late 1980s Manatee
County voters approved the purchase
of 20,500 acres of the 82,000-acre watershed area, which drains into and
includes the Reservoir and
Wellfield. County and State agencies have continued to purchase additional
watershed acreage, and today approximately 35,000
acres are in public ownership. This ownership ensures
that activities detrimental to water quality
or quantity will not
occur on these public lands.
HEALTH
AND SAFETY STANDARDS
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:
A. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
B. 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.
C. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
D. 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.
E. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
To ensure that tap
water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amounts of
certain contaminants in water
provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
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 the water poses a
health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health
effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
HOW YOUR WATER IS PURIFIED
The Manatee County
Water Purification Plant, located on the shore of Lake Manatee, purifies both
groundwater and surface water. The
groundwater is purified by aeration, lime-softening and filtration. These
processes remove odor, a portion of the
hardness, and undesirable elements such as suspended matter
and microbiological organisms.
The surface water is
purified by carbon adsorption, biological filtration, coagulation,
sedimentation and filtration. These processes remove
odor, color, and undesirable elements
such as suspended matter and microbiological organisms. The filtered
water from the two sources
is then combined.
The combined water is further enhanced before
leaving the plant.
The water is
disinfected to destroy microbes and provide protection against microbial
regrowth in the distribution system and
your plumbing. The water is also made less corrosive, thus prolonging your home
plumbing and fixtures. Natural fluoride levels are slightly
increased to optimal
levels as a public
health measure to help develop
decay resistant teeth and strong
bones.
The purification plant
is staffed with dedicated, professionally trained, State certified operational,
laboratory and maintenance personnel. This staff operates
and maintains the advanced water purification facility
as well as monitors and researches water quality issues.
2020 WATER QUALITY SUMMARY
MICROBIOLOGICAL
Contaminant and Unit of Measurement |
Dates of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Highest
Single Measurement |
Lowest
Monthly Percentage of Samples Meeting Regulatory Limits |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Filter turbidity (NTU) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
0.95 |
99.4%A |
N/A |
TTA |
Soil runoff |
INORGANIC
Contaminant and
Unit of Measurement |
Dates
of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Max. Level
Detected |
Range
of Results |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Barium (ppb) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
21 |
12– 21 |
2000 |
2000 |
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
Chromium (ppb) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
2 |
ND – 2 |
100 |
100 |
Discharge from steel and
pulp mills; erosion of
natural deposits |
Fluoride (ppm) |
01/20- 12/20 |
No |
0.70 |
0.64 – 0.70 |
4 |
4 |
Water additive which promotes strong teeth |
Contaminant and
Unit of Measurement |
Dates
of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Max. Level
Detected |
Range
of Results |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
0.26 |
0.09 – 0.26 |
10 |
10 |
Runoff
from fertilizer use; leaching
from septic tanks, sewage;
erosion of natural deposits |
Sodium (ppm) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
15.7 |
13.1 – 15.7 |
N/A |
160 |
Salt
water intrusion, leaching from soil |
VOLATILE
ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant
and Unit of Measurement |
Dates
of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Max. Level
Detected |
Range
of Results |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Toluene (ppb) |
01/20–12/20 |
No |
0.5 |
ND – 0.5 |
1000 |
1000 |
Discharge from petroleum factories |
SYNTHETIC ORGANICS CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant
and Unit of Measurement |
Dates
of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Max. Level
Detected |
Range
of Results |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Atrazine (ppm) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
0.49 |
ND – 0.49 |
3 |
3 |
Runoff from herbicide used
on row crops |
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (ppb) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
0.03 |
ND – 0.03 |
50 |
50 |
Discharge from chemical factories |
RADIOLOGICAL
CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant and Unit
of Measurement |
Dates of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Max. Level
Detected |
Range
of Results |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Gross Alpha (pCi/L) |
01/20–12/20 |
No |
3.76 |
ND –3.76 |
0 |
15 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Radium 226 (pCi/L) |
01/20–12/20 |
No |
1.27 |
0.43 –1.27 |
0 |
5B |
Erosion of natural deposits |
STAGE 2 DISINFECTANT AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS (D/DBP) PARAMETERS
Disinfectant
or Contaminant and Unit
of Measurement |
Dates
of Sampling |
MCL
or TT Violation Y/N |
Level Detected |
Range
of Results |
MCLG or MRDLG |
MCL
or MRDL |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Chloramines (ppm) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
3.6C |
ND –
6.5D |
MRDLG
= 4 |
MRDL =
4E |
Water
additive used to control microbes |
Haloacetic acids (ppb) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
41.9F |
14.7 – 79.7D |
N/A |
MCL =
60G |
By-product
of drinking water disinfection |
Total
trihalomethanes (ppb) |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
48.6F |
13.0 – 88.2D |
N/A |
MCL =
80G |
By-product
of drinking water disinfection |
Total
organic carbon (ratio) H |
01/20– 12/20 |
No |
1.38I |
1.17 – 1.57 |
N/A |
TT |
Naturally present in the
environment |
LEAD AND COPPER (TAP WATER)
Contaminant and Unit of Measurement |
Dates
of Sampling |
AL Violation Y/N |
90th Percentile Result |
No.
of Sampling Sites Exceeding the AL |
MCLG |
AL (Action Level) |
Likely
Source of Contamination |
Lead (ppb) |
2019J |
No |
0.81 |
1 |
0 |
15 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits |
Copper (ppm) |
2019J |
No |
0.13 |
0 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood
preservatives |
City of Palmetto 2020 Water Quality Summary
MICROBIOLOGICAL |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contaminant and Unit of measure |
Dates of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Highest # of Monthly samples |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely Source of Contamination |
|||||||||||||||||||
Total Coliform Bacteria |
01/20-12/20 |
No |
0 |
0 |
1 positive monthly sample K |
Naturally present in the environment |
|||||||||||||||||||
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disinfectant or Contaminant and Unit of Measurement |
Dates of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Level Detected |
Range of Results |
MCLG or MRDLG |
MCL or MRDL |
Likely Source of Contamination |
||||||||||||||||||
Total Chlorine |
01/20-12/20 |
No |
2.01 |
ND-5.14 |
MRDLG=4 |
MRDL-4.0 |
Water additive used to control microbes |
||||||||||||||||||
STAGE 2 DISINFECTANT AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS
(D/DBP) PARAMETERS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contaminant and Unit of measure |
Dates of Sampling |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Level Detected |
Range of results |
MCLG or MRDL |
MCL or MRDL |
Likely Source of Contamination |
||||||||||||||||||
Haloacetic acids (ppb) |
01/20-12/20 |
No |
33.9 |
0.5 - 43.9 |
N/A |
MCL = 60 H |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
||||||||||||||||||
Total trihalomethanes (ppb) |
01/20-12/20 |
No |
50.2 |
29.8 - 66.1 |
N/A |
MCL = 80 H |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
||||||||||||||||||
Lead and Copper
(TAP WATER) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contaminant and Unit of Measurement |
Dates of Sampling |
AL Violation Y/N |
90th Percentile Result |
No. of Sampling Sites Exceeding the AL |
MCLG |
AL-(Action Level) |
Likely Source of Contamination |
||||||||||||||||||
Lead (ppb) |
2019 |
No |
1 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits |
||||||||||||||||||
Copper (ppm) |
2019 |
No |
0.32 |
0 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives |
||||||||||||||||||
Asbestos |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asbestos |
Dates of Sampling |
Traditional MCL in mg/L |
MCL Violation Y/N |
Max. Level Detected |
Likely Source of Contamination |
||||||||||||||||||||
Asbestos (MFL) |
12/28/2020 |
7 |
No |
0.50 |
Decay of asbestos cement water
mains; Erosion of natural deposits |
||||||||||||||||||||
TABLE KEY & DEFINITIONS
AL: Action Level
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level
Goal N/A: not applicable
ND: not detected
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units
pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) ppb:
parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/L) ppm: parts per
million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L) TT: Treatment Technique
FOOTNOTES
[A] filter turbidity must not exceed 0.3 NTU in 95% of daily samples in any month.
[B] MCL limit of Radium-226 and Radium-228 combined.
[C] the value is the highest running annual average, computed quarterly.
[D] these values represent values at individual sample sites.
[E] a public water system (PWS) is in compliance with the MRDL when the running annual average of monthly averages of samples taken in the distribution system, computed quarterly, is less than or equal to the MRDL.
[F] the value is the highest locational running annual average, computed quarterly.
[G] a PWS is in compliance with the MCL when the locational running annual average, computed quarterly, is less than or equal to the MCL.
[H] these values represent the % total organic carbon removal achieved at the treatment plant divided by the % removal required.
[I] this value is the lowest running annual average, computed quarterly, of monthly removal ratio. This value must be above 1.0 for compliance.
[J] the State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of the data, though representative, are more than one year old.
[K] a system that collects fewer than 40 samples/month (i.e., a system serving ≤ 33,000 people), if no more than one sample collected during a month is positive, the system is in compliance with the MCL for total coliforms
Action Level or AL: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Filter Turbidity (NTU): Turbidity is a measure
of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. High turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants.
Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): The average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.
Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: 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.
Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: 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.
Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: 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.
Total trihalomethanes: Disinfection by-products expressed as
the sum of chloroform, dibromochloromethane,
bromodichloromethane and tribromomethane.
Not Detected or ND: Indicates the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.
Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
LEAD
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. The Manatee County
Water Purification Plant 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 from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
TOTAL TRIHALOMETHANES (TTHM)
In
2020, TTHM Locational Running Annual Averages
(LRAA) at all testing sites remained below
the MCL throughout the year. However,
three individual samples
had TTHM results
which exceeded 80 ppb, ranging
from 81.8 to 88.2 ppb.
Some people who drink water
containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems
with their livers,
kidneys, or central
nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting
cancer.
IMMUNO-COMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS
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/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 (800-426-4791). These precautions apply to publicly
supplied water, bottled water, private well water or water from home treatment
devices.
FIND
OUT THE FACTS
Concerns about drinking
water quality have caused many residents to use bottled water or to install
home treatment devices. Be sure to
learn about the quality of the alternate water or the expected water quality
from home treatment devices. If you need help in understanding water quality issues or have questions
about this report
or have a water quality
concern, please give us a call at
941-746-3020.
Additional information
can be found on the Manatee County website at www.mymanatee.org/water. Just click on the “Water
Quality Report” link.
GET INVOLVED
Please get involved
with discussions regarding drinking water quality. The Manatee County Board of
County Commissioners welcomes
written comments or public input at regularly
scheduled Board Meetings
concerning issues related to drinking water. Agenda
information can be obtained on the Manatee County website or by calling
941-745- 3724.
ATTENTION
PROPERTY MANAGERS
If you are a property owner or manager,
please provide this water quality
report to your tenants. This report may be photocopied or posted in a prominent location at your facility. More copies are available by calling 941-746-3020.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Last year, as in years past, Manatee County
met all EPA and State drinking water health standards. The Manatee County
Water Purification Plant uses what is known as the multiple barrier
approach to ensure the safety of the water. This approach includes source protection, optimized particle removal at the purification plant and appropriate disinfection.
If you need help in understanding water quality issues,
have questions about this report,
or have a water quality
concern, please call us at 941-723-4580