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Substances That Could Be in Water 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 sub- stances 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 occur naturally in the soil or groundwater or may 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 occur naturally or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, U.S. EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. 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 mean that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or visiting epa.gov/safewater. Reduced Water Pressure Culprits in Your Plumbing Here is a list of potential causes of low water pressure. Please be sure to use caution and consult with a licensed plumbing professional when resolving any of these issues. 1. Water softener issue: Bypass the water softener to test via valves. 2. Pressure reducer: In higher-pressure areas (80+ pounds per square inch), these devices are required so appliances and in-home connections are less likely to leak. They can be adjusted to control pressure from the water system into your home plumbing. These devices can be a point of failure and close off water flow from time to time. Replacement requires a plumber. 3. Faulty or partially closed valve: A valve in your system may have failed or isn’t fully open. 4. Service line or curb stop valve issue: There may be a service line leak or a problem with the outdoor curb stop valve. Pressure Issue Culprit 2 Pressure Issue Culprit 1 Valve Construction Lead in Home Plumbing 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. ERMU is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water 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 remov- ing 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, or 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, resources are available through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), or contact ERMU at (763) 441-2020. For detailed information about lead in drinking water, including testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure, visit epa. gov/safewater/lead. You can also access the MDH’s “Lead In Drinking Water” fact sheet at health.state.mn.us/communities/environ- ment/water/docs/contaminants/leadfactsht.pdf. To address lead in drinking water, public water systems were required to develop and maintain an inventory of service line materials by October 16, 2024. Developing an inventory and identifying the location of lead service lines (LSL) is the first step for beginning LSL replacement and protecting public health. The lead service inventory may be found at https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/. Please contact us if you would like more information about the inventory or any lead sampling that has been done. 171