City of Portsmouth, Virginia - Public Utilities

Water Quality Table - 2002 Data

Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	EPA Goal MCLG	EPA Limit MCL	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Typical Sources	Notes Health Effects
Microbial Contaminants
Total Coliform Bacteria	--	0	Presents of coliform bacteria in <5% of monthly samples	3%	Normally present in the environment.	This value represents the highest monthly percentage of positive samples during 2002. A minimum of 100 samples are taken each month.
Turbidity	NTU	N/A	TT	0.2	Soil runoff.	100% of samples taken met turbidity limits.
Radioactive Contaminants (1999 Data)
Beta/Photon emitters	PCi/L	0	50	3.9	Decay of natural and manmade deposits.	The MCL for Beta particles is 4 mrem per year. EPA considers 50 pCi/L to be a level of concern for beta particles. 1999 data See Note 1.
Inorganic Contaminants
Antimony	ppb	6	6	<2	Discard from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder.
Arsenic	ppb	N/A	50	<2	Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production waste.
Barium	ppm	2	2	<0. 2	Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits.
Beryllium	ppb	4	4	<2	Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories; discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries.
Cadmium	ppb	5	5	<2	Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints.
Chromium	ppb	100	100	<10	Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits.
Copper	ppm	1.3	AL = 1.3	0.21	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.	Zero of 69 samples taken exceeded Action Level. Portsmouth's concentration range is <.01 - .33 . 2000 data See Note 1.
Cyanide	ppb	200	200	<10	Discharge from steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories.
Fluoride	ppm	4	4	1.34	Erosion of natural deposits; water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Lead	ppb	0	AL = 15	<1	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.	One of 69 samples taken exceeded Action Level. Portsmouth's concentration range is <1 – 9 . 2000 data See Note 1.
Selenium	ppb	50	50	<10	Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines.
Thallium	ppb	0.5	2	<2	Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories.
Synthetic Organic Compounds
Atrazine	ppb	3	3	.1	Runoff from herbicide use on row crops.	Some people who drink water containing atrazine well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their cardiovascular system or reproductive difficulties.

Disinfectant
Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	EPA Goal MCLG	EPA Limit MCL	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Portsmouth's Concentration Range	Typical Sources	Notes Health Effects
Total Chlorine	ppm	N/A	4.0	2.86	1.0-4.0	Used as a disinfectant in drinking water treatment.
Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	EPA Goal MCLG	EPA Limit MCL	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Portsmouth's Concentration Range	Typical Sources	Notes Health Effects
Disinfection By-Products and Precursor Compounds
TTHMs	ppb	N/A	80	64	41-65	By-product of drinking water chlorination.	Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
HAAs	ppb	N/A	60	44	27-51	By-product of drinking water chlorination.	Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may experience an increased risk of cancer.
TOC (See Note 4)	mg/l	N/A	TT	1.7	1.15-2.34	Naturally present in the environment.
Information Collection Rule (ICR) Parameters (See Note 2 Below)
Giardia	Total Cysts	NGE	NLE	8	6-8	Human and animal fecal waste.	Only two occurrences above the analytical detection limit were observed in the source water prior to treatment.
THM4	ug/L	NGE	NLE	46	19-46	By-product of drinking water chlorination.
HAA5	ug/L	NGE	NLE	81	37-81	By-product of drinking water chlorination.
HAN	ug/L	NGE	NLE	7	5-7	By-product of drinking water chlorination.
HK	ug/L	NGE	NLE	7	3-7	By-product of drinking water chlorination
CP	ug/L	NGE	NLE	1	0-1	By-product of drinking water chlorination.
CH	ug/L	NGE	NLE	11	2-11	By-product of drinking water chlorination.
TOX	ug/L	NGE	NLE	284	123-284	By-product of drinking water chlorination.
Residual Chlorine	mg/L	NGE	NLE	6	2-6	By-product of drinking water chlorination.

Note 1: The Virginia Department of Health has granted reduced monitoring for these elements because of historically low levels.
Note 2: ICR Parameters represent 1998 data.
Note 3: Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Agency's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, the City of Portsmouth monitored for unregulated contaminants in 2001. Questions concerning the results of this monitoring should be directed to the Water Quality Specialist at (757) 539-2201 X240.
Note 4: Though TOC is measured in ppm (parts per million) Portsmouth's Concentration Level and Range are reported as ratios. Any number greater than 1 indicates compliance.

Non-Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Typical Sources
Additional Water Quality Parameters
Aluminum	ppb	<200
Iron	ppb	<200	Erosion of natural deposits; leaching from pipes; residual of drinking water treatment process
Manganese	ppb	<10	Erosion of natural deposits; by-product of drinking water treatment process
Sodium	ppm	72.8
pH	--	7.37
Alkalinity	ppm	114	Erosion of natural deposits
Chloride	ppm	20.4	Erosion of natural deposits
Corrosion Index	--	10.68
Calcium Hardness	ppm	17.8
Hardness – Total	ppm	21.6	Erosion of natural deposits