Health Information About Your Water: What You Should Know
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.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as person with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons 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 providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
The sources of all drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. City of Lacey tap water is pumped from underground wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolved naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
For these reasons, the City of Lacey continually monitors our drinking water before it is delivered to your tap. The City also treats your drinking water with chlorine to help ensure that you are receiving the highest quality possible.
Contaminants that may be present in all source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants, such as, salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater 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 stormwater runoff and residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
- Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring, or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulation establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
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 or by visiting the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline Page online at www.epa.gov/safewater.