1999 DRINKING WATER REPORT
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
JULY 2000

WATER QUALITY

In 1999, as in years past, University water met all EPA and State drinking water standards. It is tested regularly by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Detected contaminants are listed in the table. All were much lower than the MCL and none of them required action to provide high quality water.

OWNERSHIP

The University of Connecticut owns and operates the water supply system for the Main Campus and the Depot Campus (formerly the Mansfield Training School) at Storrs. It also serves a number of adjacent private residences, apartments, commercial, and governmental facilities.

SOURCES

Water pumped from two large wellfields, each containing four wells, provides water for the University and adjacent users. One wellfield is located on the east bank of the Willimantic River on Spring Manor Farm, about a mile west of the Depot Campus and about three miles west of the Main Campus. This wellfield supplies all University users. The other wellfield is located on the west bank of the Fenton River, about a mile northeast of the Main Campus. This wellfield serves all users except the Depot Campus.

TREATMENT

Water distributed to the Main Campus and most of the non-University users in Mansfield is treated with chlorine, fluoride and adjusted for pH. Water distributed to the Depot Campus and residences along Route 32 is treated with chlorine and adjusted for pH but does not have added fluoride.

To report a water problem or ask for repair: 486-3113

WATER QUALITY TABLE

CONTAMINANT MCL MCLG UCONN
WATER		 RANGE OF
DETECTIONS		 TYPICAL
SOURCE OF
CONTAMINANT
Regulated Contaminants
Antimony(ppb) 6 6 <3 na Corrosion of solder in plumbing.
Arsenic(ppb) 50 na <3 na Erosion of natural deposits.
Copper(ppm)

Main Campus(1999)
Depot Campus(1998)

 AL=1.3 AL=1.3

.044
.027		 na Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Fluoride(Fenton)(ppm) 4 4 0.6 na Erosion of natural deposits.
Lead(ppb)

Main Campus(1999)
Depot Campus(1998)

 AL=15 0

4
1		 na Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits.
Nitrate(ppm)
Nitrite(ppm)		 10
1		 10
1		 0.7
<0.05		 0.7
na		 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; erosion of natural deposits.
Selenium(ppb) 50 50 <3 na Erosion of natural deposits.
Radioactive Contaminants
Gross Alpha Emitters(pCi/L) 15 0 0.57 0.2-0.57 Erosion of natural deposits.
Unregulated Contaminants
Total Trihalomethanes(ppb) 100 na 7 5-8 By-product of drinking water chlorination.
ppb: parts per billion ppm: parts per million pCi/L: picoCuries per liter

The State requires us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Therefore, some of our data is more than one year old.

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 using the best treatment technology.

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.

GENERAL CONTAMINANT INFORMATION
The sources of drinking 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 human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in sources of drinking 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 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 run-off 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 stormwater run-off and septic systems;

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

DID YOU 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 benefits can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791).
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune 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 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 guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791).
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 regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

The source of the educational information for the above three sections is:

EPA, Preparing Your Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report,
Guidance for Water Suppliers
March 1999.

For more information or to make a public comment, contact:
Eugene Roberts
Director of Facilities Operations
University of Connecticut
25 LeDoyt Road U-38
Storrs, CT 06269-3038
Telephone: 486-3185