The Official Winslow Township, NJ Website

This report is designed to inform you about the water quality and services we provide to you, your homes and businesses every day. Our endless goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts made to continually improve the water treatment process and constantly protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water and through routine monitoring and testing, our water is safe and meets federal and state requirements.

In Winslow Township, our water source is wells. Our nine wells draw groundwater from three different aquifers or water bearing sands. Seven wells are in the Cohansey aquifer, one in the Piney Point aquifer, and one in the Mt. Laurel-Wenonah aquifer. The Bureau of Safe Drinking water has completed a current assessment for our sources of drinking water.

This pamphlet is designed to help you understand how your water is treated and tested before it is delivered to your homes and businesses. The water in Winslow Township, is treated daily by qualified Personnel who work with strict regulations and guidelines from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy.

Treatment facilities are located at each well and consist of a Lime or Caustic Soda (NaOH 25%) addition to raise the pH level above 7.0, an addition of a corrosion control inhibitor (Klenphos), and the addition of chlorine provides disinfection throughout the system. For additional protection, the newest wells have air stripping for protection against possible volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and radon contamination.

In order to ensure that the water from your tap is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. All drinking water including bottled drinking water is reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some components. It is important to remember that the presence of these components does not necessarily pose a health risk.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons 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 about drinking water from their health care providers. Environmental Protection Agency/Center for Disease Control (EPA/CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791.

Source Water Assessments: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has prepared Source Water Assessment Reports and Summaries for all public water systems. Further information on the Source Water Assessment Program can be obtained by logging onto NJDEP's source water web site at www.state.nj.us/dep/swap or by contacting NJDEP's Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at 609-292-5550. You may also contact your public water system supplier at 609-567-0700. (See Source Water Assessment Table.)

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION REGARDING CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, NURSING MOTHERS AND OTHERS AT RISK

Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning disabilities. Children may receive a slightly higher amount of a contaminant present in water than adults on a body weight basis. This may occur because children may drink a greater amount of water per pound of body weight than adults. For this reason, reproductive or developmental effects are used for calculating drinking water standard if these effects occur at lower levels than other effects of concern. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. In the cases of lead and nitrate effects on infants and children are the health endpoints upon which the standards are based.

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, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

“What Are Drinking Water Standards?” Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), EPA sets standards for approximately 90 contaminants in drinking water. For each of these contaminants, EPA sets a legal limit, called a “maximum contaminant level” (MCL), which requires a certain treatment. Water suppliers may not provide water that does not meet these standards. Water that meets EPA standards is safe to drink.

CONTAMINANTS THAT MAY BE IN SOURCE WATER INCLUDE:

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 waste water 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 occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as Alpha Radiation. Some people who drink water containing Alpha Radiation and/or Radium 226 and Radium 228 over many years have an increased risk of getting Cancer.

NITRATE: 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 for advice from your health care provider.

ARSENIC: While your drinking water meets the EPA’s standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

TRIHALOMETHANES: Some people who drink water containing Trihalomethanes in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

SODIUM: For healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important, because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the recommended upper limit may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet.

Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels at your home will be higher than other homes in the community because of materials used in your home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s water, you may have your water tested. In addition, you can flush your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water during the morning hours when tap is first used. Additional information is available at the Dept. of Municipal Utilities Office (609) 567-0700, and by calling the NJDEP “Safe Drinking Water Hotline” 1-800-426-4791.

The table that follows shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2006 for most recent results. As water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals, and radioactive substances. The table illustrated in this pamphlet shows there are no water source violations for the monitoring year 2006. Please note, the water delivered to all our water users is “lead free”. A corrosion control program is ongoing and has expanded to counteract the effects of lead- soldered pipes in some households. In these few locations, detection is only after the water has not been used at all in the house for at least six to twelve hours.

The Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations allow monitoring waivers to reduce or eliminate the monitoring requirements for asbestos, volatile organic chemicals, and synthetic organic chemicals. Our system received monitoring waivers for all of these contaminants, organic chemicals and asbestos.

Please Note: Nickel does not have a maximum contaminant level (MCL). The requirements call for monitoring only. Secondary Contaminants do not have maximum contaminant levels. These substances affect the aesthetic characteristics of the water but do not affect water quality.

The Winslow Township Department of Municipal Utilities routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The tables in the illustration show the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1^st to December 31, 2006. The state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, is more than two years old.

DEFINITIONS:

In the following table, you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms please review the following definitions:

< The results are less than the number listed

> The results are greater than or equal to the number listed

Mrem/yr – millirems per year (a measure of radiation)

pCi/L – picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)

ppb – parts per billion

ppm – parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)

N/D – non detected

RAA – Running Annual Average

Non-Detects (ND) laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

Parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter – one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Parts per trillion (ppt) or nanograms per liter (nanograms/L) – one part per trillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Action Level – the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Maximum Contaminant Level – The maximum allowed (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is 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 – The goal (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk of health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.

Again, we wish to thank you for taking the time to read our eighth annual Consumer Confidence Water Quality Report. If you have any questions concerning your water utility, or water quality, please do not hesitate to contact the Department of Municipal Utilities Office at 609-567-0700. The Governing Body of Winslow Township conducts regularly scheduled meetings on Municipal Utility issues. Please call for dates and times at 609-567-0700.

The Township of Winslow, Dept. of Municipal Utilities will continue to provide quality water to every tap. We ask that you, our water users, help us to protect our water sources which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.

In response to the State of New Jersey’s Domestic Security Preparedness Act, all water sources have had a vulnerability assessment completed. This includes enhanced security and around-the-clock surveillance. Please call our office at 609-567-0700 if you have any questions or concerns about our water system.

Township of Winslow, Department of Municipal Utilities Test Results

PWS ID# 0436007 – Sicklerville / Ivystone Test Results

CONTAMINANT:

Violation
Y/N

Level
Detected

Units of
Measurement

MCLG

MCL

LIKELY SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION:

Radioactive Contaminants:

Alpha emitters

Yes

Range = 5.4 – 46.7
Highest detect = 46.7

pCi/1

0

15
RAA

Erosion of natural deposits

Combined radium

Yes

Range = .4 -20.4
Highest detect = 20.4

pCi/1

0

5
RAA

Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganic Contaminants:

Barium

No

Range = .02 - .06
Highest detect = .06

ppm

2

2

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

Copper

No

No Sample exceeded the Action Level

ppm

1.3

AL = 1.3

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Fluoride

No

Range = .13 - .32
Highest Detect = .32

ppm

4

4

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Lead

No

No Samples exceed the Action Level

ppb

0

AL = 15

Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

Nitrate (as Nitrogen)

No

Range = 5.21
Highest Detect
= 5.21

ppm

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Sodium

Yes

Range = 5.1 - 55
Highest Detect = 55

ppm

50

50

Erosion of natural deposits; by product of pH adjustment

Volatile Organic Contaminants:

TTHM
Total Trihalomethanes

No

Range = 0 – 9.4
Highest detect = 9.4

ppb

N/A

80

By-product of drinking water disinfection

PWS ID# 0436008 - East Elmtowne Test Results

CONTAMINANT:

Violation
Y/N

Level
Detected

Units of
Measurement

MCLG

MCL

LIKELY SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION:

Radioactive Contaminants:

Alpha emitters

No

pCi/1

0

15

Erosion of natural deposits

Combined Radium

No

Range = 0.30 – 3.3
Highest Detect = 3.3

pCi/1

0

5
RAA

Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganic Contaminants:

Barium

No

0.005

ppm

2

2

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

Copper

No

No Sample Exceeded AL

ppm

1.3

AL = 13

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Fluoride

No

0.43

ppm

4

4

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Lead

No

No Sample Exceeded AL

ppb

0

AL = 15

Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

Nitrate (as Nitrogen)

No

ND

ppm

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.

TOWNSHIP OF WINSLOW

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT

The New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has completed and issued the Source Water Assessment Report and Summary for this public water system, which is available at www.state.nj.us/dep/swap/ or by contacting the NJDEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at 609-292-5550. The source water assessment performed on our eight (8) sources from Sicklerville, and on our one (1) source from East Elmtowne determined the following:

PWS ID #0436007
SICKLERVILLE/IVYSTONE

Pathogens

Nutrients

Pesticides

Volatile
Organic
Compounds

Inorganics

Radio-
nuclides

Radon

Disinfection
Byproduct
Precursors

Sources

H

M

L

H

M

L

H

M

L

H

M

L

H

M

L

H

M

L

H

M

L

H

M

L

Wells-8

3

5

6

2

5

3

3

5

6

2

6

2

7

1

3