City of Rittman Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report for 2001


I. Introduction

Water suppliers, States, and EPA are all working to educate consumers 
about the sources and quality of their drinking water. In 1996, Congress 
amended the Safe Drinking Water Act. It added a provision requiring that 
all community water systems deliver to their customers a brief annual 
water quality report.

The City of Rittman has prepared a report to provide information to you, 
the consumer, regarding how to participate in decisions concerning your 
drinking water, general health information, water quality test results, and 
water system contacts. This report includes data from 
January 1- December 31, 2001.

The report is being mailed to residents and other consumers. This 
report will also be available on the City of Rittman`s web site at 
www.Rittman.com and at one of the following locations:

Rittman City Hall, 30 North Main Street

Wayne County Library (Rittman Branch), 49 West Ohio Avenue

If you have any questions regarding the report please contact 
Cary Metcalf at (330) 925-2062.

II. Required Additional Heath Information

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected 
to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. More 
information about contaminants and potential health effects can 
be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency`s 
Safe Drinking Water hotline (800-426-4791).

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. Contaminants 
that may be present in source water include:

*Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which 
may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, 
agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

*Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can 
be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, 
industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas 
production, mining or farming.

*Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety 
of sources such as agricultural, urban stormwater runoff, and 
residential uses.

*Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile 
organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes 
and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, 
urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

*Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring 
or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

III. Health Concerns

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes 
regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in 
water provided by public water systems.The Food and Drug 
Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants 
in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

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 about drinking water from their 
health care providers. More information about contaminants 
and potential health effects and EPA/CDC guidelines on 
appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium 
and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water 
Hotline(1-800-426-4791) or EPA`s web site at 
www.epa.gov/safewater/hfacts.html.

IV. Water Quality Data

The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants 
that we detected during 2000. The presence of these contaminants 
in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses 
a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in 
this table is from testing performed January 1-December 31, 2001. 
The OEPA requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less 
than once per year because the concentrations of these 
contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year.

* Terms, Abbreviations & Definitions used in Water Quality Table:

• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or (MCLG): The 
level of a contaminant in drinking water below which 
there is no known expected health risk. MCLG`s 
allow for a margin of safety.

• Maximum Contaminant Level or (MCL): The 
highest level of a contaminant that is allowed 
in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to 
MCLGs as feasible using the best available 
treatment technology.

• Action Level or (AL): The concentration of a 
contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment 
or other requirements which a water system must follow.

• Level Found: The average level detected of a 
contaminant for comparison against the acceptance 
levels for each parameter. These levels could be 
the highest single measurement, or an average 
of values depending on the contaminant.

• Range: The range for all values for samples 
tested for each contaminant.

• Treatment technique or (TT): A required 
process intended to reduce the level of a 
contaminant in drinking water.

• Not Applicable or (n/a), Not detectable at 
Testing Limit or (n/d)

• Parts per billon or Micrograms per 
Liter = (ug/l or ppb)

• Parts per Million or milligrams per 
Liter = (mg/l or ppm)

V. Additional Monitoring Information

Many times, customers have requested information 
concerning various water quality testing, due to the 
installation of home water softeners, filters, 
dishwashers, fish tanks etc. The following are 
testing results representative of our water characteristics.

Total Hardness 236.0 ppm Alkalinity 204.0 ppm 
Total Iron 0.5 ppm

Total Manganese .069 ppm pH 7.72 S.U. 
Total Sodium 70.0 ppm

If there are any other specific water quality testings 
not listed, that would be of interest to you, please 
contact Cary Metcalf at (330) 925-2062.

VI. Public Information and Participation

Rittman City Council has regular meetings at the 
Council Chambers at City Hall 30 North Main St. 
The meetings are held the second and fourth Monday 
of each month. Exceptions are June, July and August 
when Council will have at least one regular meeting per 
month. In December the regular meeting will be held 
the first Monday and another date in that month 
determined by city council. Council workshops are 
scheduled as necessary, and are posted on 
The City of Rittman`s Web Site at WWW.Rittman.com

Public participation in these meetings are encouraged. 
Call (330) 925-2045 for further specific information.