ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT
Brooklawn Water Department
For the Year 2009, Results from the year 2008
PWSID # NJ(0407001)
We are pleased to present to you this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water
and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to
understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources.
We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. We have three wells, all located near the water treatment facility, on Broadway and Town
Center. Our wells draw their water from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer over 300 feet deep.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection(NJDEP) has completed and issued the Source Water Assessment Reports and Summary
for this public water system, which is available at
www.state.nj.dep/swap or by contacting NJDEP’S Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at 609-292-5550. You may also contact your public water system at 856-456-2638 to obtain information regarding our water system’s Source Water
Assessment. This water system’s source water susceptibility ratings and a list of potential contaminant sources is attached.
We are pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements. If you have any questions about this
report or concerning your water utility, please contact Donna M. Domico at 856-456-7785. We want our valued customers to be informed about
their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Borough. Council meetings are held at Borough Hall,
301 Christiana Street. Meetings are held on the third Monday at 6:30 pm.
The Brooklawn Water Department routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table
shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2008.
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:
1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural
livestock operations, and wildlife.
2. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial
or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas projection, mining, or farming.
3. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential
uses.
4. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and
petroleum production, and can, also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
5. Radioactive contaminants which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
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. Food and Drug Administration 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.
Most data in the CCR will be from 2008 , however, if the system has monitoring waivers, or for another reason monitors less than once per year,
the system must use the most recent data. If the CCR contains detection data that is not from 2008, the Table of Detected Contaminants must show
the date of monitoring and the CCR must contain a brief statement explaining that the data presented is from the most recent monitoring done in
compliance with regulations. ( note that data older than five years should not be used.) In addition, if the CCR contains detection data that is not
from 2008, the CCR must contain a brief statement explaining that the data presented is from the most recent monitoring done in compliance with
regulations. EPA provides the following sample language:
The state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per yearbecause the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one
year old.
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 microbiological
contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Lead: If present, elevated levels 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 Borough of Brooklawn is
responsible for high quality drinking water, but can not control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water
has been sitting 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 and 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 or at http:www.epa.gove/safewater/lead.
Nitrates in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can
cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall aor agricultural activity. If you are caring
for an infant, you should ask advice from your health care provider.
Children may receive a slightly higher amount of contaminant present in the water than do adults because they drink a greater amount of water per
pound of body weight than adults. For this reason, reproductive or developmental effects are used for calculating a drinking a drinking water
standard if these effects occur at lower levels than other health effects of concern. If there is inefficient toxicity information for a chemical (for
example, lack of data on reproductive or developmental effects), an extra uncertainty factor may be incorporated into the calculation of the
drinking water standard, thus making the standard more stringent, to account for additional uncertainties regarding these effects. In cases of lead
and nitrate, effects on infants and children are the health endpoints upon which the standards are based.
Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels at
your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home plumbing. If you are concerned about
elevated lead levels in your home water, you may wish to have your water tested, and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before use.
Additional information can be obtained from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline ( 1-800-426-4791).
DEFINITIONS
In the following table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these
terms we have provided the following definitions:
Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
Action Level - the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Treatment Technique (TT) - A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Maximum Contaminant Level - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is 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 -The “Goal”(MCLG) is 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.
Recommended Upper Limit - (RUL) Recommended maximum concentration of secondary contaminants. RUL’s are recommendations, not
mandates.
Secondary Contaminant - Substances that do not have an impact on health. Secondary contaminants affect aesthetic qualities such as odor, taste
or appearance. Secondary standards are recommendations, not mandates.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that
addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Goal(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 contamination.
The Safe Drinking Water Act regulations allow monitoring waivers to reduce or eliminate the monitoring requirements for asbestos, volatile
organic chemicals and synthetic organic chemicals. Our system received monitoring waivers for all of these types of contaminants.
MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would
have to drink two liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health
effect.
To ensure the continued quality of our water, we treat it in several ways. We employ an aeration system and a filtration system to lower levels of
iron and manganese, and a softener to remove hardness. We use a polyphosphate solution to protect the distribution system and household
plumbing and, as a precautionary measure, we disinfect our water using a sodium hypochlorite solution.
Quality on Tap Report As part of our water quality monitoring program, hundreds of quality tests are performed on our water each year.
We test for over eighty individual contaminants, and perform additional daily monitoring at our water treatment facility, and throughout
the water distribution system. The following table lists only contaminants which were detected in the water. All detections are at safe
levels.
We urge all residents to conserve water. Please continue to follow all water restrictions during the drought conditions. Remember to water lawns
on the odd/even basis. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
TEST RESULTS
Contaminant
tested monthly 2008
Total Coliform Bacteria
Violation
Y/N
NO
Level
Detected
0/100 ml
Units of
Measurement
MCLG
0
MCL
0
Likely Source of Contamination
Naturally present in
water
Radioactive Contaminants:
Alpha emitters tested on
1/4/07
No 1.77 pCi/1 0 15 Erosion of natural deposits
Inorganic Contaminants: All inorganics, sampled on 7/25/06
Barium No 0.0486 ppm 2 2 Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge
from metal refineries; erosion of natural
deposits
Mercury No < 0.0002 ppb 2 2 Erosion of natural deposits; discharge
from refineries and factories; runoff from
landfills and runoff from cropland.
Copper No 0.0170
No samples exceed
the action level.
ppm 1.3 AL=
1.3
Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Fluoride No <0.20 ppm 4 4 Erosion of natural deposits; water
additive which promotes strong teeth;
discharge from fertilizer and aluminum
factories
Nitrate (as Nitrogen)
TESTED ON 7/25/2008
No 1.3 ppm 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from
septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural
deposits
Volatile Organic Contaminants: Sampled on 9/26/07
Total
trihalomethanes
HAA5
Haloacetic Acids
No
No
4.0
ND
ppb
ppb
N/A
N/A
80
60
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
By product of drinking water
disinfection
Secondary Contaminants::
Level Detected units ofmeasure
ment
RUL Likely Source of Contamination
Sodium
tested on 9/01/06
42.5 ppm 50 Erosion of natural deposits
For healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important, because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet.
However, sodium levels above the secondary recommended upper limit may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet.
As you can see by the table, our system had no violations. We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State
requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that some constituents have been detected. The EPA has determined that your
water IS SAFE at these levels.
We at the Brooklawn Water Department work hard to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our
water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future. Please call 856-456-2638 with any questions.
Public Works Corner
The DEP is enforcing the Stormwater Regulations. There are many rules that must be followed, specifically illegal
dumping to all water ways. This includes but is not limited to dumping paints, solvents, trash, grass clippings, motor
oil, etc. in any street in the Borough of Brooklawn. Check out the website at
www.nj.gov/dep/stormwater.Grass season is quickly approaching
PLEASE DO NOT BLOW OR MOW GRASS CLIPPINGS INTO ANYBOROUGH STREET. THIS VIOLATES THE STORMWATER REGULATIONS SET BY NJDEP.
Please makeyour lawn personnel
aware of this rule.Don’t forget our schedule for vegetation pick-ups will change starting May to September we will be collecting
vegetative waste weekly during that time period; this will include grass clippings, unpainted wood and tree branches
tied into 4ft bundles. Metals will continue to be picked up on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.
Oil Based Paint is considered a hazardous water and should not be put in or out with trash. Water based paint
should also not be put in trash. Remove the lid and let harden and then place out for trash. Camden County has
several household waste collection days. Please call 856-858-5241 to get the dates and locations.
We are now recycling computers, monitors, printers, faxes, stereos, blenders, any items that are electronic.
Pleaseplace at curb for pick up.
Call Public Works for questions at 856-456-2638.AS IT IS GETTING WARMER, MORE WATER USAGE OCCURS. PLEASE WATER LAWNS ON AN ODD/
EVEN BASIS . IT IS BEST TO WATER VERY EARLY IN THE AM OR LATER IN EVENING. IF YOUR
HOUSE NUMBER IS ODD, YOU MAY WATER ON ODD CALENDAR DAYS, EVEN NUMBERS ON EVEN
CALENDAR DAYS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONSERVE.