Water Quality
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
PERFLUOROOCTANE SULFONATE (PFOS) MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (mcl) EXCEEDANCE
Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.
Matamoras Municipal Authority EP 108 Has Levels of PFOS Above Drinking Water Standards.
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for drinking water contaminants. Testing results we received on 9-30-24 show that our system exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL), for PFOS. The MCL for PFOS is 18 parts per trillion (18 ng/L). PFOS was found at a level of 29.6 ng/L in your drinking water.
What should I do?
You do not need to use an alternative (e.g., bottled) water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
What does this mean?
This is not an immediate risk. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, exposure to PFOS over the MCL may result in adverse health effects. Drinking water containing PFOS in excess of the MCL of 18 ng/L may cause adverse health effects, including decreased immune response.
What are PFOS?
PFOS are chemicals that are part of a larger group referred to as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These are human-made chemicals and do not occur naturally in the environment. They have been used to make items that are resistant to water, grease, or stains such as cookware, carpets, and packaging. They are also used in industrial processes and in firefighting foams. Since these substances are resistant to heat, water, and oil they persist in the environment and in the human body. Due to the prevalence of PFAS in consumer products, it is likely that most people have been exposed to these substances through other sources besides drinking water.
We anticipate resolving the problem within 3 years.
For more information, please call Vinny Cordova of Matamoras Municipal at 570-491-2715.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
PWS ID#: 2520044 Date distributed: 10-4-24
PWS ID#: 2520044
Matamoras Municipal Authority
2024 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, ó hable con alguien que lo entienda.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Matamoras (The Authority) is pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the water quality and services we deliver to you every day. Our goal is to provide you with a dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Our water is pumped from four groundwater wells located within our service area. Once the water is pumped, it is treated at the pumping location and distributed to the town; the excess water is stored in two reservoirs with a total storage capacity of one million gallons.
We currently meet or exceed the standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact our Operator at the Municipal Authority office (570-491-2715) or attend any of our monthly public meetings. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month except for the months of January and July, which are held on the second Wednesday of the month at the Municipal Authority office (304 Pennsylvania Avenue in Matamoras, PA). The Authority’s notification system, a requirement by DEP, alerts our customers of emergencies and pertinent information (ex: notification of hydrant flushing or boil advisories). To guarantee notification please ensure your phone number is on file.
The chart at the bottom of this report represents the last 5 years of sampling data. The Authority has three bacteriological samples collected each month from the distribution system. The level of chlorine is monitored daily at each pumping location. The Authority also samples for many synthetic organic compounds (SOCs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inorganic compounds (IOCs) along with disinfection byproducts (TTHM and HAA5) which can be formed during the water treatment process. All sampling and testing is done by a third party laboratory to ensure the results are unbiased. All contaminates sampled were below the maximum contaminant level (MCL).
Maximum Contaminant Level: is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set at very stringent levels for health effects. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents; a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a chance of having an adverse health effect.
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.
ppm = parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination that are naturally occurring or man-made. Those constituents can be microbes, organic or inorganic chemicals, or radioactive materials. All 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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water website epa.gov/sdwa
The Total Coliform Rule requires water systems to meet a stricter limit for coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in water can be an indication of disease-causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful bacteria are present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public by newspaper, television or radio. The Authority would also contact you through our automated telephone service.
Information about Lead: 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 Authority 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 or at epa.gov/safewater/lead
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 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 microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
The Authority is required to provide public notice to customers of any violations incurred from the DEP, in the past 12 months there were several such violations. The violations were due to: failure to file CCR, CCR certification report; all violations were promptly addressed by Authority staff.
All customers should have backflow preventer devices on their water system. This device prevents anything from the home owner’s water system going back into the water supply system.
Tips on “Conserving Water”
Check for dripping faucets (including outdoor) and leaking toilets, they account for as much as 14% of all indoor water use, equivalent to 10 gallons per person of water lost per day. Toilets are the most common location of wasted water.
Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth, rinse with a glass of water.
Run the dishwasher and clothes washers only when full.
Water your garden only when needed. Water in the early morning or end of day to decrease evaporation. Incorporate rain barrels for watering gardens.
There are many other ways to conserve water. Share your ideas with your neighbors on water conservation; water is a very valuable resource.
OWNERS MUST MAKE AVAILABLE TO THEIR TENANTS THIS INFORMATION AND ANY ALERTS SENT VIA THE AUTHORITY’S AUTOMATED TELEPHONE SERVICE. The Authority does not keep records on rental properties; therefore, it is the responsibility of the landlords to get any information to their tenants. Additional copies of this report will be available at 304 Pennsylvania Avenue, the office building of the Municipal Authority.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Matamoras
Norman Dexter, Chairman
