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For Your Information |
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From time to time issues arise that affect the quality of the Oskaloosa water or its water distribution system. Additionally, state or national news media report water quality concerns. We want you to know what's happening with the Oskaloosa water. When issues arise, use this page to find up-to-date information. |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Tests Show Coliform Bacteria in Oskaloosa
Municipal Water Dept Water
Our water system
recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do,
and what we are doing to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor
for the presence of drinking water contaminants. We took 10 samples for coliform
bacteria during September.
3 of those samples showed the presence of coliform bacteria.
The standard is that no more than 5 percent of our samples may do so.
What
should I do?
·
You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. However, if you have specific health
concerns, consult your doctor.
·
People with severely compromised
immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people
should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are
available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.
What
does this mean?
This is not an
emergency. If it had been you would have been notified immediately. Total
coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment
and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be
present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a
warning of potential problems.
Usually, coliforms are
a sign that there could be a problem with the treatment or distribution system
(pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up
testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E.
coli, are present. We did not find
any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing. If we had, we would have
notified you immediately.
What
happened? What is being done?
During routine sampling
three of our samples came back positive for Coliform and E. Coli.
To insure the safety of the water, repeat samples were taken at the
original sites and one on each side of the original site.
One was also taken from a random site in the distribution system.
This was done for each of the three sites that came back positive.
In all, 12 samples were taken as repeat samples to insure the safety of
the water. All 12 samples were
negative for Coliform and E. Coli. Chlorine
levels were also checked to insure proper disinfection levels were maintained
within the distribution system. The
water remains disinfected and safe.
For more information,
please contact Chad Coon at 641-673-8476 or
This
notice is being sent to you by OSKALOOSA MUNICIPAL WATER
DEPT.
PWSID#: 6273005.
Date distributed: September
23, 2009