This system was not included in federal PFAS monitoring
FYI▾
Should I be concerned?
This system serves fewer than 3,300 people and was not required to participate in EPA UCMR5 testing. Absence of data is not the same as absence of contamination.
Lead risk depends on your home, not just the water system
52% lead or unknown lines
Act soon▾
The concern isn't usually the treatment plant — it's pipes inside older homes. No level is considered safe for children under 6.
Should I be worried?
Not necessarily — but if your home was built before 1986, it's worth checking whether you have lead pipes or solder. Run cold water 30 seconds before drinking in the morning.
The combined measurement of radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements found in some groundwater, especially in the Midwest and Great Plains.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure above the MCL of 5 pCi/L increases cancer risk, particularly bone cancer. Radium is most common in deep groundwater wells.
What to do
Ion exchange water softeners can reduce radium. Reverse osmosis is also effective. If your system uses groundwater and radium is detected, a point-of-use filter adds a layer of protection.
Nitrate (as N)▸
4.82 mg/L · Aug 2025
MCLlegally enforceable
Sample history
Range: 4.12 to 4.82 mg/L across 4 samples (Aug 18, 2025).
What is it?
Comes from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. One of the most common groundwater contaminants in agricultural areas.
Why it matters
Nitrate above 10 mg/L can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) in infants under 6 months — it interferes with blood's ability to carry oxygen. Adults can tolerate higher levels.
What to do
If you have an infant on formula and your water is above 5 mg/L, consider using bottled water for formula preparation. Boiling water does NOT remove nitrate — it concentrates it.
What the research says
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found neural tube defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight at concentrations as low as 5 mg/L — 2x below the US federal limit.
Range: 0.12 to 0.4 mg/L across 5 samples (Jul 29, 2025).
What is it?
Leaches from copper household plumbing and pipes. Some copper is a normal part of drinking water infrastructure.
Why it matters
Short-term exposure above the action level of 1.3 mg/L can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage. At typical detected levels (well below the AL), copper is not a health concern.
What to do
If above the action level, run your tap for 30 seconds before drinking. Copper levels decrease as water flows through the pipes.