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Water testing by area localities

Date published: 12/2/2006

By Rusty Dennen

Spotsylvania

Spotsylvania's 2005 Consumer Confidence Report is typical of the brochures that go out across the state. Along with the water-sampling results are health tips and general information.

For example, one section cautions those with compromised immune systems about cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Other sections deal with lead in drinking water--over 15 parts per billion is potentially harmful--and potential contaminants such as viruses and bacteria, salts and metals, pesticides and herbicides, byproducts of industry, and radioactive materials.

"I can assure you, we do look at trends," says Bruce Boyer, the county's water resources engineer. "There is daily and monthly monitoring so we can see what we are delivering to customers."

Although localities test for substances such as nitrates, fluoride and disinfectant byproducts every year, testing for metals such as copper and lead, and radioactive materials such as radium, is done less frequently.

All the samples are taken from treated water.

Spotsylvania's water comes from four sources: Ni Reservoir, Motts Reservoir, the Rappahannock River, and the county's newest reservoir, Hunting Run.

Twelve contaminants were identified in last year's report:

Alpha and beta/photon emitters and radium, radioactive materials that release charged particles that can damage tissue if inhaled or absorbed over many years; chloramines, water additives used to control microbes; fluoride, a water additive used to fight tooth decay; haloacetic acids, a byproduct of drinking-water disinfection; nitrates, from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and sewage, and natural deposits; organic carbon, present in environment.

Also, trihalomethanes, byproduct of drinking water disinfection; turbidity, soil runoff; copper, from corrosion of household plumbing systems, natural deposits, and leaching from wood preservatives; lead--from corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits.

In each case, levels were below amounts that would trigger a violation.

But six of the 12 contaminants were in the high range for their category--alpha and beta/photon emitters, radium, chloramines, nitrates and turbidity. Three of 30 homes tested for lead and copper had elevated lead levels because of suspected plumbing contamination.

Overall test results were similar in the 2003 and 2004 reports. Again in 2005, all test results were within acceptable limits.

Are consumers reading the reports?

Tim Slaydon, Spotsylvania's director of utilities, is not too sure.

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Date published: 12/2/2006