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Water Quality: Treated, Tested, Safe
The City of Peoria Utilities Department is committed to
providing a safe, healthful, assured water supply to the
community at a reasonable cost. Since the City’s drinking water
originates from both surface water and groundwater, two
different treatment methods are used. Only the addition of
chlorine for disinfection is needed to treat groundwater.
However, surface water is treated by a complex process that
involves screening to remove large debris, filtering, using
specialized chemicals for treatment, chlorinating for
disinfection, and adding ozone to improve the water’s taste and
odor (at the Greenway Water Treatment Plant). Water is treated
and tested at groundwater wells and treatments plants and then
monitored to ensure it remains safe on the way to your tap.
Numerous chemical and biological analyses are conducted daily. A
wide variety of compounds are monitored and tested for in your
drinking water, in accordance with federal and state laws and
local water quality guidelines. The tables and notes that appear
on the following pages provide a detailed chemical analysis of
Peoria’s water supply for calendar year 2003.
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From the Environmental
Protection Agency
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
prescribes regulations that limit the amount of
certain contaminants in water provided by public
water systems. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants
in bottled water, which provide the same protection
for public health.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and
bottled 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 from human activity.
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 effects can be
obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water
Hotline: 800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to
contaminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-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 from their health care providers. EPA/CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines on
appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosproidium and other microbial contaminants
are available from the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline: 800-426-4791. |
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