2022 Consumer Confidence Report

2022 Water Quality Report

The management and staff of the Manatee County Utilities Department, PWS ID# 6411132 and Palmetto Public Works, PWS ID# 6410322, are committed to providing the highest quality drinking water to the residents of the City of Palmetto. This report reflects that commitment and represents a summary of the drinking water quality of both Manatee County, who provides the water, and the City of Palmetto who distributes the water to consumers, during 2022.

PROTECTING MANATEE COUNTY’S WATER SOURCES

Drinking water for the customers of Manatee County Utilities Department is a blend of purified

groundwater and purified surface water. In 2022, an average of 16.59 million gallons per day of deep ground water and 31.11 million gallons per day of surface water was used.

The groundwater is pumped from the Floridan Aquifer from seven, 1200-foot deep wells located in eastern Manatee County. This water is pumped through a 36-inch pipe approximately 13 miles to the Purification Plant. Surface water is taken from the Lake Manatee Reservoir located in central Manatee County.

In 2022 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) 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 or surface water intakes. 12 potential sources of contamination were identified with low levels of susceptibility. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program Website at: https://prodapps.dep.state.fl.us/swapp/or they can be obtained from the Manatee County Water Purification Plant at (941) 746-3020.

The County has taken stringent measures to protect these water sources. In the late 1980s Manatee County voters approved the purchase of 20,500 acres of the 82,000-acre watershed area, which drains into and includes the Reservoir and Wellfield. County and State agencies have continued to purchase additional watershed acreage, and today approximately 35,000 acres are in public ownership. This ownership ensures that activities detrimental to water quality or quantity will not occur on these public lands.

HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS

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. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

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

B. 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.

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

D. 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.

E. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas

production and mining activities.

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amounts of

certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

HOW YOUR WATER IS PURIFIED

The Manatee County Water Purification Plant, located on the shore of Lake Manatee, purifies both groundwater and surface water. The groundwater is purified by aeration, lime-softening and filtration. These processes remove odor, a portion of the hardness, and undesirable elements such as suspended matter and microbiological organisms.

The surface water is purified by carbon adsorption, biological filtration, coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration. These processes remove odor, color, and undesirable elements such as suspended matter and microbiological organisms. The filtered water from the two sources is then combined. The combined water is further enhanced before leaving the plant.

The water is disinfected to destroy microbes and provide protection against microbial regrowth in the distribution system and your plumbing. The water is also made less corrosive, thus prolonging your home plumbing and fixtures. Natural fluoride levels are slightly increased to optimal levels as a public health measure to help develop decay resistant teeth and strong bones.

The purification plant is staffed with dedicated, professionally trained, State certified operational, laboratory and maintenance personnel. This staff operates and maintains the advanced water purification facility as well as monitors and researches water quality issues.

TABLE KEY & DEFINITIONS

AL: Action Level

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal

N/A: not applicable

ND: not detected

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units

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

ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/L)

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

TT: Treatment Technique

FOOTNOTES

[A] When E. coli is detected, the utility is required by rule to report the result and collect repeat samples in the immediate area within 24 hours and analyze them for bacteria. The results of the repeat samples collected showed no presence of E. coli or total coliform bacteria, thus no MCL violation occurred.

[B] Filter turbidity must not exceed 0.3 NTU in 95% of daily samples in any month.

[C] MCL limit of Radium-226 and Radium-228 combined.

[D] The value is the highest running annual average, computed quarterly.

[E] These values represent values at individual sample sites.

[F] A public water system (PWS) is in compliance with the MRDL when the running annual average of monthly averages of samples taken in the distribution system, computed quarterly, is less than or equal to the MRDL.

[G] The value is the highest locational running annual average, computed quarterly.

[H] A PWS is in compliance with the MCL when the locational running annual average, computed quarterly, is less than or equal to the MCL.

[I] These values represent the % total organic carbon removal achieved at the treatment plant divided by the % removal required.

[J] This value is the lowest running annual average, computed quarterly, of monthly removal ratio. This value must be above 1.0 for compliance.

[K] the State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of the data, though representative, are more than one year old.

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

Filter Turbidity (NTU): 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. High turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants.

Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): The average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or 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 or 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 or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Total trihalomethanes: Disinfection by-products expressed as the sum of chloroform, dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane and tribromomethane.

Not Detected or ND: Indicates the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

LEAD & COPPER

The City of Palmetto is constantly monitoring for various contaminants in the water supply to meet all regulatory requirements. We failed to complete required sampling for tap water lead and copper on time and therefore were in violation of monitoring and reporting requirements. Because we did not take the required number of samples, we did not know whether the contaminants were present in your drinking water, and we are unable to tell you whether your health was at risk during that time. The monitoring period was Jan. 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. Sixty samples were required for each contaminant, and none were taken. Sampling is resuming in June of 2023.

If present, elevated levels of 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 Manatee County Water Purification Plant 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 at 800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

E-COLI

E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. We found E. coli bacteria, indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct assessments(s) to identify problems and to correct any problems that were found during these assessments. We were required to complete a Level 2 assessment because we found E. coli in our water system. For corrective actions, we have installed/implemented the use of automatic flushing units in areas subject to low turnover, we are also in the process of contracting with an engineering firm to conduct a hydraulic study of the Water Distribution System. The purpose of the study is to generate a Hydraulic Model to reduce and potentially eliminate the areas subject to low turnover and subsequently increase the efficiency of flushing expected completion Spring 2023. Both corrective actions are currently taking place now. Automatic flushers are being exercised constantly and the hydraulic study is ongoing and data analysis is underway.

IMMUNO-COMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS

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. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). These precautions apply to publicly supplied water, bottled water, private well water or water from home treatment devices.

ATTENTION PROPERTY MANAGERS

If you are a property owner or manager, please provide this water quality report to your tenants. This report may be photocopied or posted in a prominent location at your facility. More copies are available by calling 941-723-4580.

2022 Consumer Confidence Report

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