The following information was obtained from an Annual Water Quality Report from a south Florida water utility.

Where Does Our Water Come From?

.......obtains its water from the surficial aquifer via thirty-five wells.  These wells are located in four separate wellfields.  In 2004 the Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system.  The assessment was conducted to provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells.  There are eleven potential sources of contamination identified for this system with a moderate to high susceptibility level.

Sources of Drinking Water.

The sources of drinking water, (both tap water and bottled), include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells.  As water travels over teh 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 human activity.

Contaminant's That May Be Present in Source Water:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

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 production, mining or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff and residential uses.

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally ocurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.