Your 1998 Water Quality Report
City of Gering, 1025 P Street, P.O. Box 687,
Gering NE 69341
This report includes data collected between
January 1 and December 31, 1998 |
Why this report?
In 1996 the U.S. Congress
revised the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring public water supply systems to send annual
water quality reports to all their customers.
We’re pleased to provide
you with our first Annual Water Quality Report. We want to keep you informed about the
quality of water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. Our goal is and
always has been, to provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.
Contaminants found in drinking water
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 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 (800)
426-4791.
Water sources
The City of Gering serves 8,000 customers an
average of 2.6 million gallons of water per day. Our water source is groundwater, which is
pumped to the water system from three well fields located in north Gering and Terrytown.
The Midtown Well Field pumps water from the
North Platte River alluvial, (sand and gravel formation).
The Terrytown Well Field pumps water from
the brule formation.
The VFW Well Field pumps water from the
brule formation.
Water from all the well fields is blended in
the distribution system.
Source Water
Assessment Availability
A source water assessment has
not been completed. However, a wellhead protection area has been prepared by the Nebraska
Department of Environmental Quality. For more information, please contact the Groundwater
Section, NDEQ, at (402) 471-0096. |
Our drinking water surpasses all federal, state
requirements
Our goal is to provide our
customers with high quality, safe drinking water that meets or exceeds federal and state
requirements.
Since we do not have the
capability or resources to determine health risks of any chemical compound found in the
water, we must rely on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Nebraska Health
and Human Services to tell us what substances are a health risk – and if they are a
health risk, and what levels are safe for human consumption.
Gering’s water exceeds
all federal and state standards for safe drinking water. However, if future standards are
set with which our present water is unable to comply, we will take the necessary measures
to modify our system and bring the water into compliance. The cost of bringing the water
into EPA compliance will be paid by our customers.
Notice to
Immuno-Compromised People
Some people may be more
vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
Immuno-compromised people
– such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ
transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some older adults and
infants - can be particularly at risk from infections.
These people should seek
advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
The Environmental Protection
Agency and the Center for Disease Control 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, or the Nebraska Department of
Health and Human Services, (402) 471-2541.
The City of Gering owns and
operates the water system. For more information on the Water Quality Report or operation
of the water system, call the Gering Water Department at 436-6800. |
Treatment process
The only treatment to your
water is the addition of fluoride. Fluoride is a natural occurring element in groundwater;
Gering’s natural fluoride level is 0.33 ppm. The optimum level for fluoride in
drinking water to promote strong teeth is 1.0 ppm. The City of Gering adjusts the fluoride
level to 1.0 ppm.
The fluoride ion added to the
water is the same ion that occurs naturally in the groundwater.
How to read this report
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
Highest level of a contaminant allowed in
drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best
available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
Level of a contaminant in drinking water
below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
N/A means not applicable.
PPM (parts per million) or (milligrams
per liter) – 1 part per million corresponds to 1 minute in 2 years or one penny in 10
thousand dollars.
PPB (parts per billion) or (micrograms
per liter) – 1 part per billion corresponds to 1 minute in 200 years or one penny in
10 million dollars.
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Drinking Water Analysis
The table shows substances detected in your water from
January I to December 31, 1998.
Regulated Contaminants
Violation Detected
MCL Measurement
Likely
sources
Tested and Detected
Yes/No Level MCL
Goal
Unit
Coliform
No 0
0
0
Presence/absent Bacteria
naturally present in the
enviroment; used as an indicator
Copper (a)
No 1.06 1.3
1.3
ppm
Corrosion of household
plumbing; erosion of natural
deposits.
Fluoride
No 0.95 4
4
ppm
Water additive to promote
strong teeth. Erosion of natural
deposits. Discharge from fertilizer
and aluminum factories.
Lead (a)
No 4.0
15
0
ppb
Corrosion of household
plumbing; erosion of natural
deposits.
Nitrate-Nitrite (b)
No 5.6
10
10
ppm
Runoff from fertilizer use.
Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; erosion of natural
deposits.
(a) Action level is the
concentration of a contaminant which if exceeded, triggers treatment or another
requirement which a water system must follow.
(b) Nitrate in drinking water
at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of 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 or agricultural activity. If
you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.
The City of Gering is
required to test for the following contaminants: Coliform Bacteria, Antimony, Arsenic,
Asbestos, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper,Cyanide, Fluoride, Lead, Mercury,
Nickel, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Sodium, Thallium, Alachlor, Atrazine, Benzo(a)pyrene,
Carbofuran, Chlordane, Dalapon, Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate, Dibromochloropropane, Dinoseb,
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Diquat, 2,4-D, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylenedibromide,
Glyphosate, Heptachlor,Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene,
Lindane, Methoxychlor, Oxamyl (Vydate), Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Polychlorinated
biphenyls, Simazine, Toxaphene, Dioxin, Silvex, Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride,
o-Dichlorobenzene, Para-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene,
Cis-1,2,-Dichloroethylene, Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Dichloromethane,
1,2-Dichloropropane, Ethylbenzene, Monochlorobenzene,1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene,
1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Styrene,
Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Xylenes (total),Gross Alpha (minus Uranium & Radium
226), Radium 226 plus Radium 228, Sulfate, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane,
Chlorodibromomethane, Bromoform, Chlorobenzene, m-Dichlorobenzene, 1,1-Dichloropropene,
1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachlorethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Chloromethane,
Bromomethane, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, Chloroethane,
2,2-Dichloropropane, o-Chlorotoluene, p-Chlorotoluene, Bromobenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane,
Aldrin, Butachlor, Carbarryl, Dicamba, Dieldrin, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Methonyl,
Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Propachlor. |
| Copyright
© 2000 City of Gering Nebraska U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Revised: May 11, 2006. |
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