2006 WATER QUALITY REPORT
WATER QUALITY TABLE - 2005 DATA
REGULATED
PARAMETERS
CONCENTRATION EPA
UNITS
EPA LIMIT
PORTSMOUTH'S
TYPICAL
MCL
CONCENTRATION
SOURCES
(YES/NO)
Normally present
No
GOAL
MCLG
VIOLATION NOTES HEALTH
EFFECTS
LEVEL
MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS
Total Coliform
--
0
Bacteria
Presences of
0%
coliform
in the
bacteria in
environment
This value
represents the
highest monthly
<5% of
percentage of
monthly
positive samples
samples
during 2005. A
minimum of 100
samples are taken
each month.
Fecal Coliform
--
0
A routine
0
Human and
No
This value
sample and a
animal fecal
represents the total
repeat
waste.
number of positive
sample are
samples taken
total coliform
during 2005.
positive and
one is also
fecal or E.
coli positive.
Turbidity
NTU
N/A
TT
0.18
Soil runoff.
No
100% of samples
taken met turbidity
limits.
RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS (2003 DATA)
Beta/Photon
emitters
PCi/L
0
50
1.8
Decay of natural
and manmade
deposits.
No
The MCL for Beta
particles is 4mrem
per year. EPA
considers 50pCi/L
to be the level of
concern for beta
particles.
Combined
PCi/L
0
5
0.4
radium (radium
Erosion of natural
No
deposits.
Some people who
drink water
226 or 228)
containing radium
226 or 228 in
excess of the MCL
over many years
may have an
increased risk of
getting cancer.
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
Barium
ppm
2
2
0.025
Discharge of
No
drilling wastes;
discharge from
metal refineries;
erosion of natural
deposits.
Beryllium
ppb
4
4
<0.5
Discharge from
metal refineries
and coal-burning
factories;
discharge from
electrical,
aerospace, and
defense
industries
Copper
ppm
1.3
AL = 1.3
0.198
Corrosion of
No
household
taken exceeded
plumbing
Action Level.
systems; erosion
Portsmouth's
of natural
concentration range
deposits;
is <0.01-.43 2005
leaching from
data.
wood
preservatives.
Flouride
ppm
4
4
1.26
Zero of 98 samples
Erosion of natural
deposits; water
No
additive that
promotes strong
teeth; discharge
from fertilizer and
aluminum
factories.
Lead
Nitrate
ppb
0
ppm
AL = 15
10
<0.005
10
Corrosion of
Zero of 98 samples
household
taken exceeded
plumbing
Action Level.
systems; erosion
Portsmouth's
0.14
(Measured as
No
of natural
concentration range
deposits.
is <1-25. 2005 data
Runoff form
No
Infants below the
fertilizer use;
Nitrogen)
age of six months
Leaching from
who drink water
septic tanks,
containing nitrate in
sewage; Erosion
excess of the MCL
of natural
could become
deposits.
seriously ill and, if
untreated, may die.
Symptoms include
shortness of breath
and blue baby
syndrome.
REGULATED CONCENTRATION EPA EPA PORTSMOUTH'S PORTSMOUTH'S
PARAMETERS
UNITS
TYPICAL VIOLATION
GOAL MRDL CONCENTRATION CONCENTRATION SOURCES
MCLG
LEVEL
RANGE
3.5
1.0 – 4.9
(YES/NO)
NOTES
HEALTH
EFFECTS
DISINFECTANT
Total Chlorine
ppm
N/A
4.0
Used as a
No
disinfectant
in drinking
water
treatment.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
TTHMs
ppb
N/A
80
56
39 - 54
By-product
of drinking
No
Some people
who drink water
water
containing
chlorination.
trihalomethanes
in excess of the
MCL over many
years may
experience
problems with
their liver,
kidneys, or
central nervous
systems, and
may have an
increased risk
of getting
cancer.
HAAs
ppb
N/A
60
32
12 - 31
By-product
No
of drinking
Some people
who drink water
water
containing
chlorination.
haloacetic acids
in excess of the
MCL over many
years may
experience an
increased risk
of cancer.
TOC
mg/l
N/A
TT
1.97 – 3.4
2.46
Normally
No
present in
the
environment.
ADDITIONAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS
NON-REGULATED
CONCENTRATION
PORTSMOUTH'S
UNITS
CONCENTRATION LEVEL
Aluminum
ppm
<0.050
Iron
ppm
<0.010
PARAMETERS
TYPICAL SOURCES
Erosion of natural deposits; leaching from pipes;
residual of drinking water treatment process.
Sodium
ppm
70.4
pH
--
7.4
Alkalinity
ppm
95
Erosion of natural deposits.
Chloride
ppm
18
Erosion of natural deposits.
Calcium Hardness
ppm
16.5
Hardness - Total
ppm
24
1
Erosion of natural deposits.
Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Agency's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, the City of Portsmouth monitored
for unregulated contaminants in 2001. Questions concerning the results of this monitoring should be directed to the Water Quality
Division at (757) 539-2201 X232.
City of Portsmouth, Virginia - All rights reserved.
last updated