City of Portsmouth, Virginia - Public Utilities

2005 WATER QUALITY REPORT

Water Quality Table - 2004 Data

Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	EPA Goal MCLG	EPA Limit MCL	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Typical Sources	Violation (Yes/No)	Notes Health Effects
Microbial Contaminants
Total Coliform Bacteria	--	0	Presences of coliform bacteria in <5% of monthly samples	1%	Normally present in the environment	No	This value represents the highest monthly percentage of positive samples during 2004. A minimum of 100 samples are taken each month.
Fecal Coliform	--	0	A routine sample and a repeat sample are total coliform positive and one is also fecal or e. coli positive.	0	Human and animal fecal waste.	No	This value represents the total number of positive samples taken during 2004.
Turbidity	NTU	N/A	TT	0.80	Soil runoff.	No	100% of samples taken met turbidity limits.
Radioactive Contaminants (2003 Data)
Beta/Photon emitters	PCi/L	0	50	1.8	Decay of natural and manmade deposits.	No	The MCL for Beta particles is 4mrem per year. EPA considers 50pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.
Combined radium (radium 226 or 228)	PCi/L	0	5	0.4	Erosion of natural deposits.	No	Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Inorganic Contaminants
Barium	ppm	2	2	0.031	Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits.	No
Copper	ppm	1.3	AL = 1.3	0.16	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.	No	Zero of 96 samples taken exceeded Action Level. Portsmouth's concentration range is <.01-.43 2003 data.
Flouride	ppm	4	4	0.78	Erosion of natural deposits; water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.	No
Lead	ppb	0	AL = 15	1	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.	No	Three of 96 samples taken exceeded Action Level. Portsmouth's concentration range is <1-25. 2003 data
Nitrate	ppm	10	10	0.37	Runoff form fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.	No	Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

Disinfectant
Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	EPA Goal MCLG	EPA MRDL	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Portsmouth's Concentration Range	Typical Sources	Violation (Yes/No)	Notes Health Effects
Total Chlorine	ppm	N/A	4.0	3.2	0.3 – 4.9	Used as a disinfectant in drinking water treatment.	No
Volatile Organic Compounds
TTHMs	ppb	N/A	80	57	45 - 72	By-product of drinking water chlorination.	No	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	33	25 - 42	By-product of drinking water chlorination.	No	Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may experience an increased risk of cancer.
TOC	mg/l	N/A	TT	1.27	1.19 – 1.42	Normally present in the environment.	No

Note 1: 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 Desk at (757) 539-2201 X232.

End compliance table

Non-Regulated Parameters	Concentration Units	Portsmouth's Concentration Level	Typical Sources
Additional Water Quality Parameters
Aluminum	ppm	0.202
Iron	ppm	<0.010	Erosion of natural deposits; leaching from pipes; residual of drinking water treatment process.
Sodium	ppm	56.9
pH	--	7.7
Alkalinity	ppm	69	Erosion of natural deposits.
Chloride	ppm	23	Erosion of natural deposits.
Calcium Hardness	ppm	19.9
Hardness - Total	ppm	28	Erosion of natural deposits.