The City of Marysville has issued its 2018 Water Quality Report and officials are urging anyone with questions to contact the water department.
“We have been good for the 2018 year and there have been no problems with the water,” said Marysville Water Superintendent Scott Sheppeard.
In an effort to make sure tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Sheppeard said the Water Quality Report, which he also called a Consumer Confidence Report, is mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). Sheppeard said the Water Quality Report is “a summary” of all the reports the city is required to produce each year for the state and federal governments.
The superintendent said much of the wording in the report is mandated by the OEPA. He said the report and the wording can be difficult and confusing for the average water customer. He asked customers with questions to call him.
“Don’t go on social media looking for answers to your water quality questions,” Sheppeard said. “If you have questions or concerns, call the Marysville Division of Water.”
The Marysville Division of Water can be contacted by phone at (937) 645-7330.
The report lists 19 contaminants detected in Marysville’s drinking water in 2018. According to the report, none of the contaminants rose to a level above the limits set by state or federal regulators.
“No one ever wants anything in their water,” Sheppeard said. “There are some things that are naturally occurring and are in the water, no matter where it comes from.”
He said that having nothing in the water is “probably an impossible task” and said there is a cost associated with increased treatments.
“You can’t just say ‘Why don’t we take everything out of the water,’” Sheppeard said.
He said the presence of contaminants does not necessarily mean the water poses a health risk. He said Marysville water is safe for all consumers.
“I have no reservations saying to anybody that our water quality is far and above… better than we are required by the EPA,” Sheppeard said. “I have no problem drinking our water. I drink it every day, even though I don’t live here.”
Of the 19 contaminants, 10 are unregulated by the state or federal governments.
“They literally test for thousands of things,” Sheppeard said, explaining that the Ohio and federal EPAs monitor some things they don’t actually regulate. He added that the report does not list all the things tested for, only contaminants that were detected at some point during the year.
According to the report, 11 of the contaminants are a “by-product of drinking water chlorination.”
Sheppeard said Marysville’s drinking water is a combination of surface water (Mill Creek) and ground water (wells). Sheppeard said that surface water, because it is on the surface, will have a certain amount of organic material in it. He said that when chlorine is added to the water to kill the organic material, there is “the likelihood” that another chemical will be produced. Most of the chlorination byproducts in Marysville were unregulated chemicals.
According to the report, “the potential for water quality impacts can be further decreased by implementing measures to protect Mill Creek and the local aquifer.”
The report showed that no lead had been detected in Marysville’s water. According to the report, lead in drinking water is “primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.”
The report stressed the water system is responsible for providing drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components for individual homes.
“When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking,” according to the report. “If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.”
Those concerned can find more information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps they can take to minimize exposure by contacting the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.