ALGOMA UTILITIES
Introduction
We are pleased to present this year's Annual Water Quality Report, also referred to as the Consumer Confidence Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. Water is vital to our community, and we are fortunate in Algoma to have a high-quality water supply. One of our priorities is protecting this natural resource! Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Efforts are made to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Algoma Utilities is pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements.
Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.
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Water System Information
If you would like to know more about the information contained in this report, please contact the general manager at (920) 487-5556.
Opportunity for Input on Decisions Affecting Your Water Quality
The Algoma Utility Commission meets monthly. Please call for meeting date, time and location.
Health Information
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 Environmental Protection Agency'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 systems 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. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Environmental Protection Agency's safe drinking water hotline (800-426-4791).
Sources of Water
| Source ID | Source | Depth (in feet) | Status |
| 1 | Groundwater | 589 | Active |
| 2 | Groundwater | 504 | Active |
| 3 | Groundwater | 472 | Active |
To obtain a summary of the source water assessment please contact the general manager at (920) 487-5556.
Educational Information
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 agriculture, 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.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which shall provide the same protection for public health.
Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|
AL |
Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. |
|
HAL |
Health Advisory Level: the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, poses a health risk and may require a system to post a public notice. |
|
MCL |
Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. |
|
MCLG |
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. |
|
pCi/l |
picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) |
|
ppm |
parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l) |
|
ppb |
parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l) |
|
SMCL |
Secondary drinking water standards or Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance of the drinking water. The SMCLs do not represent health standards. |
Detected Contaminants
Your water was tested for many contaminants last year. We are allowed to monitor for some contaminants less frequently than once a year. The following tables list only those contaminants which were detected in your water. If a contaminant was detected last year, it will appear in the following tables without a sample date. If the contaminant was not monitored last year, but was detected within the last 5 years, it will appear in the tables below along with the sample date.
Disinfection Byproducts
| Contaminant (units) | Site | MCL | MCLG | Level Found | Range | Sample Date (if prior to 2025) | Violation | Typical Source of Contaminant |
| HAA5 (ppb) | D-28A | 60 | 60 | 7 | 7 | No | By-product of drinking water chlorination | |
| TTHM (ppb) | D-28A | 80 | 0 | 18.9 | 18.9 | No | By-product of drinking water chlorination | |
| HAA5 (ppb) | D-31 | 60 | 60 | 6 | 6 | No | By-product of drinking water chlorination | |
| TTHM (ppb) | D-31 | 80 | 0 | 19.0 | 19.0 | No | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
Inorganic Contaminants
|
Contaminant (units) |
Site |
MCL |
MCLG |
Level Found |
Range |
Sample Date (if prior to 2024) |
Violation |
Typical Source of Contaminant |
|
ARSENIC (ppb) |
|
10 |
n/a |
1 |
0 - 1 |
3/14/23 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes |
|
BARIUM (ppm) |
|
2 |
2 |
0.048 |
0.027 - 0.048 |
3/14/23 |
No |
Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits |
|
FLUORIDE (ppm) |
|
4 |
4 |
1.0 |
0.6 - 1.0 |
3/14/23 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
|
NITRATE (N03-N) (ppm) |
|
10 |
10 |
0.07 |
0.00 - 0.33 |
|
No |
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
|
SODIUM (ppm) |
|
n/a |
n/a |
120.00 |
100.00 - 120.00 |
3/14/23 |
No |
n/a |
|
Contaminant (units) |
Site |
MCLG |
90th Percentile Level Found |
Range |
# of Results |
Sample Date (if prior to 2024) |
Violation |
Typical Source of Contaminant |
|
COPPER (ppm) |
AL=1.3 |
1.3 |
0.6500 |
0.0190 - 1.0000 |
0 of 10 results were above the action level. |
6/26/23 |
No |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives |
|
LEAD (ppb) |
AL=15 |
0 |
4.50 |
0.41 - 19.00 |
1 of 10 results were above the action level. |
6/26/23 |
No |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits |
Uncorrected Significant Deficiencies
| Deficiency Description and Progress to Date | Date System Notified | Scheduled Correction Date |
|
Review of your distribution sytem map shows one dead end water main that is not equipped with an approved hydrant. Dead ends are required to terminate in a fire hydrant, if flow and pressure are sufficient , or with an approved flushing hydrant or blow off for flushing purposes per NR 811.70(8). This water from the dead-end main, addressing potential contamination is the system, and ensuring proper disinfection throughout the entire distribution system. Flushing devices shall be sized to provide a minimum velocity of 2.5 fps in the water main being flushed. |
7/3/2025 |
8/31/2026 |
|
Actions Taken: Advanced Construction was awarded the bid to install a hydrant at the dead end along with about 300' of 6" water main to eliminate the dead end. Work to be completed Summer of 2026. |
What does this mean?
As you can see by the tables, our system had NO VIOLATIONS. We are proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. The Utility is continuously involved with system maintenance. Flushing mains through hydrants is one such activity. Flushing helps prevent corrosion products from forming on the wall of the pipe. Flushing is an important part of ensuring that fresh, quality water is delivered to you, the consumer. Please feel free to call our office at (920) 487-5556 if you have questions or would like additional information.
Unregulated Contaminants
Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. EPA required us to participate in this monitoring. Algoma Utilities did not have any requested unregulated contaminants monitoring.
Additional Health Information
If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Algoma Waterworks is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact Algoma Utilities at (920) 487-5556. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead
Additional Information on Service Line Materials
We developed an inventory of service lines connected to our distribution system. You can access the inventory by following these instructions: call us at 920-487-5556 or email us at algomautilities@algomautilities.com
Presence of Other Contaminants
N/A
Violation of the Terms of a Variance, Exemption, or Administrative or Judicial Order
N/A
Noncompliance with Recordkeeping and Compliance Data
N/A
Any questions about your water, we encourage you to call our office at (920) 487-5556. Please visit www.algomautilities.com/water-department for more information on programs like our pool filling form, temporary deduct meters and more.