Village of Phelps

2023 VILLAGE OF PHELPS ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT Village of Phelps Water Supply Public Water Supply ID: NY3401162                 Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all State drinking water health standards.  This report is an overview of last year’s water quality.  Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards.  We are pleased to provide you with this information because informed customers are the best customers.                  State and Federal regulations now require that all community water systems regardless of population served, including municipal water systems, mobile home parks and private water supply companies, provide their customers with an Annual Water Quality Report covering calendar year 2023. This report is intended to provide customers served by the Village of Phelps’ water system information on the most common questions asked about their water system. The report also provides information on results of tests that we perform to ensure that the water supply complies with all Federal and State drinking water standards.   Additional Information For additional information or questions about this report please call Adam Lotyczewski, Water Systems Operator at 315-548-3254.  Normal daily operations are between 7:00am and 3:30pm.  Appointment for meter service or technical questions please call 315-548-3254.   Water Billing For questions concerning water billing please call 315- 548-3861, between 8:00am and 4:30pm   Water Rates Village of Phelps users: $6.00/100 cubic feet – Minimum Bill $30.00 Outside Users: $9.00/100 cubic feet – Minimum Bill $45.00   Water Conservation Measures Customers can take measures to reduce their water usage, therefore reducing their water bills.  Some reduction measures could include stopping all water leaks, installing low-water use plumbing fixtures and water-saving devices, thinking about the way water is used, and changing behaviors.   Security The Village of Phelps feels that the security of your water system is an important responsibility.  We would ask that you, the public, become involved in our security efforts.  If you see any suspicious activity in or around Village facilities, please contact the Village or any local law enforcement agency.  Suspicious activity may include unattended fire hydrants with the caps off or the water running, unauthorized cars or people loitering near water storage facilities or people taking pictures of any Village property or infrastructure.  Your help in this effort would be greatly appreciated.   After Hours Emergency Example: Water main break --- please call the Ontario County Sheriff at (315) 781-1200 or dial 911.         Public Participation Public participation in decisions that affect drinking water quality may be voiced at regularly scheduled Village of Phelps Board Meetings, which are held on the second Monday of each month at 5:00pm, 8 Banta Street in the Village Meeting Room.   Where Our Water Comes From: Description of Water System The Village of Phelps owns and operates its own water system.  Water is supplied from the Village of Newark.  The connection to Newark’s source is located at Route 96 and Route 488. The distribution system consists of 80,040 feet of water pipe, over 793 individual services serving 1851 people, approximately 85 hydrants and over 75 main line valves.  Water pressure and storage are maintained by a 1.5 million gallon above ground level tank reservoir located on Mary Street.   Water Treatment Village of Newark Source The Village of Newark, New York uses Canandaigua Lake as its source of water.  The New York State Department of Health has recently completed a Source Water Assessment of the Lake.  This assessment found a moderate susceptibility to contamination for this source of drinking water.  The amount of agricultural lands in the assessment area results in elevated potential for protozoa, phosphorous, DBP precursors, and pesticides contamination.  There is also a moderate density of sanitary wastewater discharges, but the ratings for the individual discharges do not result in elevated susceptibility ratings.  However, it appears that the total amount of wastewater discharged to surface water in this assessment area is high enough to further raise the potential for contamination, (particularly for protozoa).  There are no noteworthy contamination threats associated with other discrete contaminant sources. Canandaigua Lake is approximately 16.4 square miles in surface area and has a watershed area of about 174 square miles.  The Village of Newark is permitted to draw 4.0 million gallons of water per day to be used as a source of supply for its water treatment plant located at 1708 Freshour Road, Shortsville, New York.  Water, as it enters the intake line in Canandaigua Lake, has Sodium Hypochlorite added to control the growth of Zebra Mussels.  These mussels have been proven to clog pipelines by their rapid growth.  The water flows by gravity through a 24" line to the Filter Plant.  At the treatment plant, all water is filtered by Slow Sand Filtration, Diatomaceous Earth Pressure Filtration and/or Diatomaceous Earth Vacuum Filtration.  There are five Slow Sand filters and three D.E. Filters with an overall capacity of 3.4 million gallons per day.  After filtration, Sodium Hypochlorite is added at a rate of approximately 2.0 parts per million for disinfection.  Blended Phosphate is also added after filtration to form a protective film that helps as a corrosion control in our distribution system. It is added at a rate of .96 parts per million. Fluoride is also added to the water at a rate of 0.7 part per million.  These are recommended levels set by the New York State Department of Health.  From the Filter Plant, the water flows through a 20" pipeline to a point near the intersection of Rt. 96 and County Rd. 7 where the line divides into two 16" pipelines.  One 16" line carries water north, approximately 7 miles, to the 4 million-gallon capacity Allerton Hill Reservoir.  This flow is entirely by gravity.  The other 16" line carries water east, approximately 4.25 miles, where it connects to a 14" transmission line.  This line, which was originally used to carry water from Newark Lake, goes north, into the Village and the 1 million gallon capacity South Hill Standpipe.  The Village of Clifton Springs is served off the latter 16" pipeline.  The Village and Town of Phelps are served off the 14" pipeline approximately .5 miles south of the point where the 16" and 14" lines intersect.  Two pumps in the Rt. 96 Pump Station provide the pressure needed to supply this portion of the system. During 2023, our water system did not experience any restriction of our water source.           Our system is one of many drinking water systems in New York State that provides drinking water with a controlled, low level of fluoride for consumer dental health protection. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, fluoride is very effective in preventing cavities when present in drinking water at a properly controlled level. To ensure that the fluoride supplement in your water provides optimal dental protection, we the Village of Newark monitor fluoride levels on a daily basis to make sure fluoride is maintained at a target level of 0.7 mg/l at an optimal range from 0.7 to 1.2 mg/l, (parts per million) EPA requirement. During 2023 monitoring showed that fluoride levels in your water system were within 0.2 mg/l of the target level for 95% of the time. None of the monitoring results showed fluoride at levels that approach the 2.2 mg/l MCL for fluoride.   WATER QUALITY - How do you know your water is safe?   As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include: total coliform, turbidity, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, radiological and synthetic organic compounds.  Refer to the tables below for the list of contaminants that are tested for and the corresponding results.  The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water), include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells.  As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. It can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities.  Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants.  In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.   State Health Department and FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.  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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791). Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), sets national limits on contaminant levels to ensure safety of your drinking water.  A Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, (MCLG), is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.  MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.  A Maximum Contaminant Level, (MCL), is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCLs are set as close to the MCLG as possible.  In accordance with New York State regulations, the Village of Newark routinely monitors your drinking water for various contaminants.  Your water is tested for inorganic contaminants, nitrate, lead and copper, volatile organic contaminants, synthetic organic contaminants and total trihalomethanes.  Additionally, your water is tested for coliform bacteria a minimum of ten times a month.  The contaminants detected in your drinking water are included in the Table of Detected Contaminants.  Something every regulation has in common is a requirement to notify the public if there is a regulation violation.  If we violate a regulation, we are required to let you know.  The EPA also requires water suppliers to monitor for unregulated contaminants to provide occurrence data for future regulations. Violation Notice The Village of Phelps is required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis.  Results of regular monitoring are an indicator that your drinking water meets health standards.  During February of 2023, we did not fully monitor or test for Disinfection Byproducts, and therefore, cannot be sure the quality of your drinking water during that time.  The sample in question was taken in March and the results were well under the MCL (Maximum Contamination Level).   Some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens in drinking water than the general population.  Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections.  These people should seek advice from their health care provider about their drinking water.  EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (1-800-426-4791). In New York, the State Health Department is responsible for enforcing EPA’s regulations.  The State has the option, which it has used in several cases, to implement its own regulations if they are equivalent or more stringent than the EPA’s.  The State Health Department reviews and approves treatment plant and distribution system modifications as well as new construction.  They also review all our operating and monitoring data for compliance on a monthly basis.   The Geneva office of the New York State Department of Health has jurisdiction over the Village of Phelps Water System. They can be contacted at:            New York State Department of Health Geneva District Office 624 Pre-Emption Road Geneva, NY 14456-1334 (315) 789-3030     Turbidity   Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water.  We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.  Below is a table showing performance standards determined by the State and the results of our monitoring. Contaminant Violation Yes/No Date of Highest Sample Level Detected MCLG Regulatory Limit (MCL, TT, or AL) Turbidity (Highest Annual Test Result)   No   03/20/23   .35 NTU   N/A   TT=<5 NTU Lowest Monthly % of Samples meeting Requirements No   99.9% N/A TT=95% of samples <1.0 NTU Distribution Turbidity * No 10/05/23 .76NTU N/A MCL=5 NTU Notes:  State regulations require that turbidity must always be below 5 NTU.  The regulations also require that 95% of the turbidity samples collected have measurements below 1.0 NTU.  100% of the turbidity measurements of water leaving the Newark Filter Plant in 2023 were below 1.0 NTU.  *Distribution Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water found in the distribution system.  We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality.  High turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants.  Our highest monthly distribution turbidity measurement during the year, (.76 NTU), occurred in October 2023.  This is below the State’s maximum contaminant level (5 NTU).       Tables of Detected Contaminants   Parameter Violations Yes/No EPA/NYS Limits Units Results Samples In 2023 Likely Source of Contamination   Radioactive Contaminants               Gross Alpha (Sampled 9/19/23)        No 15 PCi/L ND 1 Erosion of natural deposits of certain minerals that are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Gross Beta (Sampled 9/19/23)   No   50 *   PCi/L   ND   1 Decay of natural and manmade deposits of certain minerals that are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as photons and beta radiation. Radium – 226*   No   5 PCi/L    ND 1 Erosion of natural deposits Radium – 228* No 5 PCi/L ND 1   Erosion of natural deposits   Uranium No 30 ug/L ND 1 Erosion of natural deposits * - Radium 226 and 228 is sampled by taking 1 grab sample per calendar quarter and analyzing the composite of those samples The State considers 50 PCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles. Tables of Detected Contaminants, (cont.) Parameters (sampled 10/10/23) EPA/NYS Limits Units Results Likely Source of Contamination Barium   2   ppm   .026   Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries. Nickel   N/A   ppm   .0017   Nickel enters groundwater and surface water by dissolution of rocks and soils, from atmospheric fallout, from biological decays and from waste disposal. Chromium   .1   ppm   ND Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits Nitrate (sampled 10/10/23)   10   ppm   .24 Run off from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits Fluoride 2.2 ppm .61 Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive that promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum refineries 1,4-Dioxane (sampled 2/08/23) 1 ppb ND Released into the environment from commercial and industrial sources and is associated with inactive and hazardous waste sites     Parameter Sampled 6/10/21-6/17/21   EPA/NYS Limits   Range of Values   90th Percentile  Value   % Homes Exceeding Action Level   Lead   AL=15 ug/l   ND – 2.1 ug/l   1.4 ug/l 0 %   Copper   AL=1.3 mg/l   .014 mg/l – .91 mg/l   .70 mg/l   0 % *No Lead and Copper samples were taken in 2023   As you can see by the table, our system had no violations.  We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below New York State requirements. We are required to present the following information on lead in drinking water: Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.  Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Village of Phelps is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home.  You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing.  You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk.  Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes.  You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water.  If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact Adam Lotyczewski (Village of Phelps Water Department) at 315-548-3254.  Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.   What should I do?   Call us at the number below to find out where to get your water tested for copper. Run your water for 15-30 seconds or until it becomes cold before using it for drinking or cooking.  This flushes any standing copper from the pipes. Don’t cook or drink water from the hot water tap: copper dissolves more easily in hot water. Do not boil your water to remove copper.  Excessive boiling makes the copper more concentrated.   What does this mean?   This is not an emergency.  If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.  Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short period of time could experience gastrointestinal distress.  Some people who drink water containing water in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage.  People with Wilson’s disease should consult their personal doctor. The addition of an orthophosphate sequestering agent to our finished water in September 2013 has worked to reduce the copper levels in your drinking water and continues to maintain acceptable water quality. The Village of Newark has worked closely with Department of Health to resolve the previous problem.  For more information, please contact Adam Lotyczewski at 315-548-3254 or the Geneva office of the Department of Health at 315-789-3030.   Disinfection By-Products - 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs – Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane and Bromoform   Violations Yes/No MCL MCLG Range Highest Annual Average Likely Source of Contamination Stage 2 No 80ug/L N/A 43-89ug/L 61.75ug/L* By-product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms.  TTHMs are formed when source water contains large amounts of organic materials HAA 5 (Dibromoacetic Acid, Dichloroacetic Acid, Monobromoacetic Acid, Monochloroacetic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid)   Violations Yes/No MCL MCLG Range Highest Annual Average Likely Source of Contamination Stage 2 No 60ug/L N/A 27-37ug/L 31.75ug/L* By-product of drinking water chlorination                 *This level represents the highest locational running average calculated from data collected   Village of Phelps Water Source Detected Contaminants The Village of Phelps is required to collect and analyze two total coliform samples per month (24 total) within our water system.  The table below summarizes total coliform testing for 2023   Microbiological Contaminants Contaminants Violation (?) MCL MCLG Sources in Drinking Water Total Samples Total Coliform Bacteria NO Any positive sample *2 0 Naturally present in the environment 24 E. Coli NO Any positive sample 0 Human and animal fecal in water 24 Total Coliforms – Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present   KEY: AL = Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant, which if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. Maximum Contaminant Level, (MCL) = The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCLs are set as close as possible to the MCLGs as feasible. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, (MCLG) = The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.  MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, (MRDL) = The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.  There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, (MRDLG) = The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected health risk.  MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. ND = Not detected, absent or present at less than testing method detection level.  All testing methods are EPA approved with detection limits much less than the MCL. NEG = Negative results. NS = No standard. NTU = turbidity unit of measurement (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). TT = Treatment Technique - a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Mg/L = Milligram per liter- corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million -ppm). Pci/L = Picocuries per liter - a measure of the radioactivity in water. Ug/L = Micrograms per liter - corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion-ppb). Ng/L = Nanograms per liter – corresponds to one part of liquid in one trillion parts of liquid (parts per trillion-ppt).   Why Save Water and How to Avoid Wasting It Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water: ¨       Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life; ¨       Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and ¨       Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential firefighting needs are met.   You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can.  It is not hard to conserve water.  Conservation tips include: ¨       Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded.  So, loading it to capacity is more efficient. ¨       Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. ¨       Check every faucet in your home for leaks.  Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day.  Fix it and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year. ¨       Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl.  It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks.  Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.  

The next regular Village Board Meeting will be held Monday, May 13, 2024 at 5 pm in the Phelps Community Center, 8 Banta Street, Village Meeting Room. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.  Thank you.

It is NOT YET Spring Cleanup Time! The Department of Public Works will be picking up leaves, grass clippings and small twigs and branches Wednesday, April 24 thru Wednesday, May 22. Please understand that the crew is busy and will try to cover the Village at least once per week, it will depend on their schedule as to when they complete the cleanup.  Please cooperate with the crew and follow these guidelines: ·       Pile bags in an OPEN AREA between the sidewalk and street, where we can get the loader. ·       DO NOT pile bags around trees, utility poles, fire hydrants, mailboxes, etc. ·       Debris should be placed in piles (ie: sticks, etc.) or bags (leaves) only. ·       We will not pick up trash or complete tree removals. Please do not place your materials curbside until the above referenced dates.  You can take your own materials to the Transfer Station on Wednesday’s noon to 7 pm and Saturday’s 8 am to 4:30 pm.  Thank you.