Why Are You Getting This Report?

To comply with New York State regulations, the Johnson City Water Department will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and your awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. This report provides 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 New York State standards. A detailed summary of any analytical results is available at the Johnson City Water Department located at 44 Camden Street, Johnson City, New York. A copy of this report is available at Johnson City Municipal Services, 243 Main Street, Johnson City, New York. Additional information may also be obtained by calling the Johnson City Water department at 607-797-2523. In an effort to keep our customers informed, we will be trying to provide tools such as newsletters, annual reports and our new website that is currently under construction. We anticipate that this website will provide more user friendly and up-to-date information for our customers.

Who Are We?

The Johnson City Water Department employees are dedicated to providing you, our customers, with safe, quality water. There are a total of 11 employees, counting the Director of Services. Allow us to introduce ourselves:

Bob Bennett P.E., Director of Services

Brian Barker, Assistant Superintendent Eric Korutz, Tech II

Mary Beth DePugh, Office Manager Myron Krajnyk, Tech II

Bill Linsky, Foreman Fred Kocan Tech II

Tom Brown, Tech III Michael Slater, Tech II

Ted Connolly, Tech III Cameron Gunn, Tech I

Together we have over 140 years of experience in the water utility business. We are doing our best to provide you with safe drinking water, as well as fire protection and water for sanitary purposes. Our jobs include:

v Keeping your water safe from contaminants.

v Operating and maintaining pumps and motors to distribute the water into the system.

v Replacing, repairing and maintaining water mains to keep the distribution system operating efficiently.

v Installation, repair and reading of water meters.

v 24 hour a day on-call service for emergencies.

v Advising and assisting engineers and contractors on new construction projects.

v Customer service during business hours.

You should also be assured that all Johnson City Water Department employees are issued picture identification badges and are urged to ask our employees to show these badges before entering your property for your protection.

Where Does Your Water Come from?

In general, all drinking water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. Johnson City’s water is produced from an abundant underground aquifer using five wells located throughout the Village. These wells are located on North Broad Street, Olive Street, and at our main plant on Camden Street in Westover. The total pumping capacity of these wells is 12,000,000 gallons per day. In addition, the Village has four reservoir tanks with a holding capacity of 5,000,000 gallons and additional booster stations are used to serve three different elevation zones. The water produced by these wells supplies all of the Village of Johnson City, Airport Road in the Town of Maine, Westover and Fairmont Park in the Town of Union, and parts of the Town of Dickinson and the Village of Endicott. There are approximately 5,800 homes and businesses connected to 70 miles of water main, bringing safe drinking water to 16,890 people. We also provide water to 525 fire hydrants to help protect you and your home should the need arise.

What Are Some Potential Problems?

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 human activities. It should be noted that drinking water, including bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. A major disadvantage with groundwater supply is that that the water may be excessively hard and contain minerals such as iron and manganese due to the leaching of minerals from the soil. On a positive note, groundwater is less susceptible to microbial contamination such as Cryptosporidium.

Is Your Water Safe?

The answer to this question is a resounding YES! In order to ensure your tap water is safe to drink, New York State and the EPA put regulations in place that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. As these regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. During 2008, the Johnson City Water Department was required to take a minimum of 20 bacteriological samples from the water distribution system per month. As you can see by the Table of Detected Contaminants, we have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected. However, these contaminants were below New York State requirements and resulted in no violations. The Village of Johnson City wells are disinfected with either liquid or gas chlorination which is introduced at each well site. At our Camden Street treatment plant, Calciquest (a sequestering agent) is added to stabilize the water being pumped through air strippers. Air stripping is a process to remove any volatile contaminant that may be present in the raw water. In addition, the NYS Department of Health has completed a source water assessment for our system showing possible and actual threats to the safety of our drinking water. The ratings, as shown in the Susceptibility Table, determine how susceptible each of our wells is to certain contaminants and range from low to very high. This information is used to implement a plan for disinfection and treatment long before a problem arises.

What Does This Cost You?

Amount of Water Used Per Inside the Village Outside the Village

First 1,000 cubic feet $20.00 minimum $30.00 minimum

1,001-7,000 cu.ft. $.0168 per cu.ft. $.0227 per cu.ft.

7,001-2,000,000 cu.ft. $.0155 per cu.ft. $.0205 per cu.ft.

Over 2,000,000 cu.ft. $.0092 per cu.ft. $.0092 per cu.ft.

THIS EQUATES TO LESS THAN ONE CENT PER GALLON

How Can You Conserve Water?

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. They are:

v There is direct cost savings to you because you are using less water.

v Saving water keeps the price of water to you down by reducing the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers.

v Saving water lessens the strain on the water systems during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water restrictions that are necessary to provide the minimal requirements for drinking water and fire protection.

You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using and looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Here are some ideas:

Inside:

· 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. If the color shows up in the bowl after a few minutes, you have a leak. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you can save more than 30,000 gallons per year.

· Check your meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances. Check your meter after 15 minutes. If it moved, you have a leak.

· Replace old fixtures with water-saving devices in faucets, toilets and appliances.

· Wash only full loads of laundry.

· Run the dishwasher only when full and soak dishes before washing. Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons of water for every cycle regardless of how many dishes are loaded.

· Take shorter showers.

· Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving.

Outside:

· Repair hose and faucet leaks.

· Use water saving nozzles.

· Water the lawn and garden in the early morning or evening.

· Use mulch around plants and shrubs.

· Use water from a bucket to wash your car, and save the hose for rinsing.

Information about other water conservation ideas can be found at www.epa.gov/safewater/publicoutreach/index.html

How Can You Contact Us?

Here is a handy clip and save guide to

phone numbers you may need for issues

related to your water service:

What Improvements Are We Making?

v We are in the process of upgrading our water plant. We plan to install new VFD’s (variable frequency

drives)-a system for controlling the speed of an electrical motor) for our pump motors. This will replace a ntiquated models and be more energy efficient.

v New SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition-a system that collects data from various sensors at water plant or in other remote locations and then sends this data to a central computer which then manages and controls the data) system. This will allow us to control our pumps and equipment more efficiently

v Installing a new security system. This will include security cameras, intrusion alarms and smoke detectors. This will help us protect our community water supply.

v We have just purchased new leak detection equipment so we can start a new leak detection survey program. The new equipment will allow us to find hidden leaks in our distribution system so we can repair them, thus saving water and energy.

v We have upgraded our hydrant program. We will be replacing old hydrants throughout the village and

Installing new hydrants that will be

Thank you for allowing us to continue

to provide your family with quality

drinking water this year. We ask

that all of our customers help us

protect our water sources, which

is the heart of the community.

TABLE OF DETECTED CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant	Violation Yes/No	Sample Location	Date of Sample	Level Detected (range)	Unit Measurement	MCLG	MCL	Likely Source of Contamination
Synthetic Organic Contaminants, including pesticides & herbicides
Arochlor 1254	No	Well #6	04/09/08	0.32	mcg/l	N/A	0.50	Some people who drink water containing PCBs in excess of the MCL over many years could experience changes in their skin, problems with their thymus gland, immune deficiencies or reproductive or nervous system difficulties and may have an increased risk of getting cancer
Total as Decachlorobipenyl	No	Well #6	04/09/08	0.42	mcg/l	N/A	0.50	Some people who drink water containing PCBs in excess of the MCL over many years could experience changes in their skin, problems with their thymus gland, immune deficiencies or reproductive or nervous system difficulties and may have an increased risk of getting cancer
Inorganic Contaminants
Barium	No	Camden St. Well #6	2/20/08	0.0843 0.121	mg/l	2	2	Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits.
Lead^2	No	Distribution	09/05/07	2.6 (ND-74.2)	ug/l	0	AL=15	Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits.
Copper^2	No	Distribution	09/05/07	0.391 (0.0186-0.757)	mg/l	1.3	AL=1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.
Manganese	No	Well #6	02/23/06	0.053	mg/l	N/A	0.3	Naturally occurring; Indicative of landfill contamination.
Nitrate (as Nitrogen)	No	Well #6 Camden St.		1.37 1.75	mg/l	10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.
Sulfate	No	Well #2 Well #3 Well #6	2/23/06 5/17/06 5/23/06	46 48 66	mg/l	N/A	250	Naturally occurring.
Sodium^3	No	Distribution	12/19/08	84.9	mg/l	N/A	See Health Effects	Naturally occurring; Road salt; Water softeners; Animal waste.
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Tetrachloroethene	No	Well #6	7/29 11/5	0.6 0.5	ug/l	N/A	5.0	Discharge from factories and dry cleaners; Wastes sites; Spills.
Disinfection Byproducts
Total Trihalomethanes^4	No	Distribution	9/4	18.6-19.0	ug/l	N/A	80	Byproduct of drinking water chlorination.
Haloacetic Acids^5	No	Distribution	9.4	3.1-5.2	ug/l	N/A	60	Byproduct of drinking water chlorination.
Radiological Contaminants
Gross Alpha	No	Well #2 Well #6	7/29	0.57 0.29	pCi/L	0	15	Erosion of natural deposits.
Radium 226	No	Well #2 Well #6	2/7/07 5/11/07 8/22/07 10/15/07	(.07 - .10) (.06 - .28)	pCi/L	0	5	Erosion of natural deposits
Radium 228	No	Well #2 Well #6	2/7/07 5/11/07 8/22/07 10/15/07	0.7-2.8 ND-1.3	pCi/L	0	5	Erosion of natural deposits
Notes:
1	All four required repeat samples were negative for coliform.
2	The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the lead/copper values detected at your water systems.
3	Water containing more than 20 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.
4	This level represents the total levels of the following contaminants: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform.
5	This level represents the total levels of the following contaminants: Monochloroacetic Acid, Monobromoacetic Acid, Dichloroacetic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid, Dibromoacetic Acid.
6	The MCL for these contaminants is for the combined value.
Definitions:
	Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close 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.
	Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
	Non-Detects (ND): Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
	Milligrams per liter (mg/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million - ppm).
	Micrograms per liter (ug/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion - ppb).
	Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): A measure of the radioactivity in water.

UNDETECTED CONTAMINANTS:

Synthetic Organic Chemicals: (SOC’S)

There were three sets of samples taken during 2006 for synthetic organic chemicals, all tested ND (non detected) for these chemicals.

· EPA 531.1-Methylcarbamate Pesticides: Aldicarb,Aldicarb Sulfone, Aldicarb Sulfoxide, Carbofuran, Oxamly (vydate), Methomyl, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Carbaryl.

· SOC’s (EPA 515.1) – Chlorinated Acids: 2,4-D, Dalapon, Cicamba, Dinoseb, Pentachlorophenol, Pichloram, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex).

· SOC’s (EPA 525.2) NY: Alachlor, Atrazine, Simazine, Benzo(a)pyrene, Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Aldrin, Chlordane (Total), Heptachlor, Methoxychlor, Lindane, Heptachlor Epoxide, Butachlor, Endrin, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Propachlor, Dieldrin.

· SOC’s (EPA 504.1) – Microextrables: Ethylene dibromide (1,2-Dibromoethane, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane(DBCP).

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING RULE: (UCMR’s)

As required by the State, Johnson City water is tested for unregulated contaminants. Of the twelve parameters tested for in this group, there were none detected.

INFORMATION ON CRYPTOSPORIDIUM & GIARDIA:

New York State law requires water suppliers to notify their customers about the risks of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis. Cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are intestinal illnesses caused by microscopic parasites. Cryptosporidiosis can be very serious for people with weakened immune systems, such as chemotherapy, dialysis, or transplant patients, and people with Crohn’s or HIV infections. People with weakened immune systems should discuss with their health care providers the need to take extra precautions, such as boiling water, using certified bottled water, or a specially approved filter. Individuals who think they may have cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis should contact their health care provider immediately. Federal Law requires water suppliers to note that 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 disorders, some elderly, and infants can be at particular risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care provider. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium or other microbial contaminants are available from the SAFE DRINKING WATER HOTLINE AT 1-800-426-4791.

Johnson City Water Works

NY0301668

AWQR Source Water Assessment Summary

The NYS DOH has completed a source water assessment for this system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to this drinking water source were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the wells, called the well sensitivity. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. See section “Are there contaminants in our drinking water?” for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. While inorganic and organic contaminants were detected in our water, it should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants from natural sources. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

As mentioned before, our water is derived from four active drilled wells and one emergency well (not evaluated in this assessment). The source water assessment has rated wells #2, #3 (Camden St.) and #6 (Burns St.) as highly sensitive to both chemical and microbial contaminants. The wells rate a high sensitivity because of historic detections of chemical contaminants and because the wells are located in a very productive, unconfined aquifer where the subsurface soils allow large volumes of water to move through the aquifer. Well #7 (North Broad St.) is in an area where the aquifer is somewhat protected with a low permeability layer above and has rated a medium sensitivity to microbials but a high sensitivity to chemical contaminants, also due to historic chemical detections.

Potential contaminant sources were then evaluated and given a contaminant prevalence rating. The sensitivity and contaminant prevalence then determine the susceptibility of a particular well. The source water assessment has rated the Johnson City Water Works wells as having a low to high susceptibility to microbials, such as enteric bacteria and enteric viruses, and a medium-high to very high susceptibility to various chemical contaminants as noted in the table below. While significant sources of some types of contamination have not been identified in the assessment area, wells may have been given an elevated susceptibility rating for other chemicals because of high well sensitivities.

SUSCEPTIBILITY TABLE
CONTAMINANT	Well #2	Well #3	Well #6	Well #7
Cations/Anions (Salts)	High	High	High	High
Enteric Bacteria	High	High	Medium-High	Low
Enteric Viruses	High	High	Medium-High	Low
Halogenated Solvents	Very High	Very High	Very High	Very High
Herbicides/Pesticides	High	High	Medium-High	Medium-High
Metals	High	High	High	High
Nitrate	High	High	High	High
Other Industrial Organics	High	High	High	High
Petroleum Products	Very High	Very High	High	High
Protozoa	High	High	Medium-High	Low

While the source water assessment rates our wells as being susceptible to microbials, please note that our water is disinfected to ensure that that the finished water delivered into your home meets New York State’s drinking water standards for microbial contamination.

The Village of Johnson City currently has an active wellhead and watershed protection plan in place to ensure drinking water safety. The source water assessment is another tool that can help direct further refinements to the plan. County and state health departments will also use this information to direct future source water protection activities. These may include water quality monitoring, resource management, planning, and education programs.

WHAT DOES THIS INFORMATION MEAN?

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. It should be noted that the 90^th percentile action level for lead was not exceeded; however one same was greater than the action level. We are required to present the following information on lead in drinking water:

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, infants, and young children. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. The village of Johnson City is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS?

During 2008, our system was in compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements.