Since the Authority operates its own distribution system, as well as being a part owner of the Forest Park Water facilities, sampling under the SDWA (Safe Drinking Water Act) is conducted independently by both utilities in accordance with appropriate requirements. This ensures that the Authority takes all distribution samples for which it is responsible and Forest Park Water takes all samples related to a surface water treatment facility. To some extent, this arrangement results in duplication of testing, but ensures an added measure of quality control.
Following is a complete listing of all contaminants monitored for by the Authority and Forest Park Water during the 2022 calendar year.
| Volatile Organic Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No | NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Benzene (ppb); Carbon tetrachloride (ppb); Chlorobenzene (ppb); o-Dichlorobenzene (ppb); p-Dichlorobenzene (ppb); 1,2 – Dichloroethane (ppb); 1,1 – Dichloroethylene (ppb); cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb); trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb); Dichloromethane (ppb); 1,2-Dichloropropane (ppb); 1,2 – Dichlorobenzene (ppb); 1,4 – Dichlorobenzene (ppb); Ethylbenzene (ppb); Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE*) (ppb); Methyl Chloride (ppb); Styrene (ppb); Tetrachloroethylene (ppb); 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (ppb); 1,1,1 – Trichloroethane (ppb); 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane (ppb); Trichloroethylene (ppb); Toluene (ppm); Vinyl Chloride (ppb) and Total Xylenes (ppm) were monitored but not detected. Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2022 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. *MTBE is a non-regulated contaminant that is routinely monitored at Forest Park and the North Wales Water Authority. |
| Inorganic Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Action Level | 90th Percent Value | # of Sites Above AL | MCLG | Violation Y/N |
| Copper (ppm) (9/2022) | 1.3 | 0.242 | 0 out of 35 | 1.3 | No |
| Lead* (ppb) (9/2019) | 15 | 3.0 | 0 out of 35 | 0 | No |
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No | NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Barium (ppm) | No | 0.018 | N/A | 2 | 2 |
| Cyanide (ppb) | No | 3.5 | 0-7 | 200 | 200 |
| Flouride (ppm) | No | 0.102 | N/A | 2 | 2 |
| Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) | No | 1.28 | 0.308-3.91 | 10 | 10 |
| Antimony (ppb); Arsenic (ppb); Asbestos (MFL) (Million Fibers per Liter)(12/2021); Beryllium (ppb); Cadmium (ppb); Chromium (ppb); Mercury (inorganic) (ppb); Nickel (ppb); Nitrite (as Nitrogen) (ppm); Selenium (ppb) and Thallium (ppb) were monitored but not detected. Unless otherwise noted, data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2022 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Likely Source of Contamination: Barium: Discharge of drilling wastes, discharge from metal foundries, erosion of natural deposits; Copper: Corrosion of household plumbing; Cyanide: Discharge from steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories; Fluoride: Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories; Lead: Corrosion of household plumbing; Nitrate (as Nitrogen): Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, erosion of natural deposits. |
| Radioactive Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No | NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Alpha Emitters (pCi/L) | No | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Uranium (ug/L) | No | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Combined Radium (pCi/L) (226 + 228) | No | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Data presented in the above table is from the latest monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. |
| Microbiological Contaminants | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No | NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG | MCL |
| Total Coliform Bacteria (Finished Water) | No | 0 | N/A | 0 | presence of coliform bacteria in 5% of monthly samples |
| Fecal Coliform and E. coli Bacteria (Finished Water) | No | 0 | N/A | 0 | a routine sample and repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive |
| Turbidity (NTU) (Finished Water) | No | 0.04 | 0.03-0.06 | N/A | TT = 1 NTU for a single measurement |
| Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2022 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Coliform bacteria, disinfection residual and turbidity are monitored on a continuous basis and reported monthly. 100% of all turbidity samples were below 0.1 NTU. As a member of the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water, our goal is to maintain turbidity levels below 0.1 NTU. This was achieved throughout 2022. Raw water monitoring for Giardia and Cryptosporidium was performed quarterly throughout 2022. Giardia was detected in 1 out of 4 samples. Cryptosporidium was detected in 2 out of 4 samples. Likely Source of Contamination: Giardia and Cryptosporidium: Naturally present in the environment; Turbidity: Soil runoff. |
| Synthetic Organic Contaminants (including Pesticides & Herbicides) | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No | NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG Goal | MCL |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (ppb); 2,4-D (ppb); 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) (ppb); Alachlor (ppb); Atrazine (ppb); Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH) (nanograms/L); Carbofuran (ppb); Chlordane (ppb); Dalapon (ppb); Dicamba (ppb); Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (ppb); Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ppb); Dinoseb (ppb); Dioxin [2,3,7,8-TCDD] (ppb); Diquat (ppb); Endothall (ppb); Endrin (ppb); Ethylene Dibromide (ppb); Glyphosphate (ppb); Heptachlor (nanograms/L); Heptachlor epoxide (nanograms/L); Hexachlorobenzene (ppb); Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (ppb); Lindane (nanograms/L); Methoxychlor (ppb); Oxamyl [Vidate] (ppb); Pentachlorophenol (ppb); Picloram (ppb); Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (ppb); Simazine (ppb) and Toxaphene (ppb) were monitored, but not detected. Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2022 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. |
| Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products | |||||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Violation Yes/No | NWWA Level Detected | Range | MCLG Goal | MCL |
| Chlorine residual (mg/L) Entry Points | No | 1.36 | 0.42-2.67 | 4 | 4 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (ppb) | No | 34.42 | 13.70-53.90 | 0 | 80 |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (ppb) | No | 17.86 | 9.63-34.80 | 0 | 60 |
| Bromate (ppb) | No | 2.0 | 1.1-2.8 | 0 | 10 |
| Data presented in the above table is from calendar year 2022 monitoring performed in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Likely Source of Contamination: Chlorine: Water additive used for disinfection; Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM): By-products of drinking water disinfection; Haloacetic acids (HAA5): By-products of drinking water disinfection; Bromate: By-product of drinking water disinfection. |
| Unregulated Contaminants-Perfluorinated Compounds | ||
| Contaminant (Unit of Measurement) | Level Detected | Range |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic Acid (PFBS) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluoroheptanoic Acid (PFHpA) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic Acid (PFHxS) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) (ppt) | N/D | N/A |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) (ppt) | 0.50* | 0-2.1 |
| Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (ppt) | 2.50 | 0-3.20 |
| The US-EPA Health Advisory Limit (HAL) is 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for individual or combined PFOA and PFOS. Data presented in the above table is from monthly monitoring of finished drinking water performed at the Forest Park Water Treatment Plant during 2022. *Less than reporting limit. Environmental Sources of Contamination: Perfluorinated Compounds: Manmade chemicals used in fire-fighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, greases and lubricants, paints, polishes, adhesives, and photographic films. |
In these tables you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms, we’ve provided definitions.