3. The Lake Huron Plant receives raw water from Lake Huron. The intake shaft is located 4 miles from shore. Raw water travels 6 miles between the intake and the plant via a 16 foot diameter gravity flow line.

The many miles of deep raw water tunnels are periodically inspected, either by hard hat divers or with cameras, for structural integrity and zebra mussel infestation.

Note: Data is from various maps and drawings held by DWSD.

Required Health Information

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.

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).

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 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:

1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
2. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
3. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff and residential uses.
4. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
5. 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 which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA 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 is 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. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Unregulated Contaminants

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department tested for and did not detect Cryptosporidium.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department did not test for Radon.

Additional Contaminants Monitored

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has performed additional monitoring and tested for many substances found in water. These substances may be a concern if they occur at high concentrations; however, maximum safe levels have not been set for them because we do not know if they pose a health risk – because we do not have a good way of detecting them or because they are rarely found in treated water. We measured and detected Total Haloacetic Acid (a family of six (6) halogenated acetic acid organic chemicals), Aluminum, Iron, Silver, and Zinc. The measured amount of these substances is below the EPA health advisory limit. Scientific findings suggest that the level we found poses no threat to human health.

Other Monitoring

In addition to testing that is required to be performed, DWSD voluntarily tests for hundreds of additional substances and microscopic organisms to make certain our water is safe and of high quality. If you are interested in a more detailed report, contact the Water Quality Division at (313) 926-8128.

Upon completion of the treatment process at the various plants, the finished water is transported through Detroit transmission mains ultimately reaching the SOCWA system via their 54-inch water line in Eight Mile Road, 60-inch water line in Inkster Road and their new 72-inch water line along Quarton-Lahser-14 Mile Roads.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department's drinking water meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards. DWSD is a member of the Partnerships For Safe Water, a new national initiative to help achieve operational excellence in water treatment. The partnership was developed through cooperation among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states, and water supply associations to provide better protection for consumers from microbial contaminants that can cause intestinal illness.

SOCWA System

There were a total of six (6) connections to the DWSD System that provided for the purchase of approximately 9.81 billion gallons of water (see breakdown below) for an average of 26.9 million gallons per day.

            Shafter Pump Station (Livernois and Eight Mile Road)-------------------------------0.34

            Lamb Pump Station (Greenfield and Eight Mile Road)-------------------------------0.22

            12 Mile Meter Station (Twelve Mile and Inkster Road)--------------------------------4.44

            14 Mile and Lahser Meter Station (Fourteen Mile and Lahser)---------------------4.36

            Quarton and Chesterfield-----------------------------------------------------------------------0.45

The SOCWA System delivered water purchased from the City of Detroit through a system of 54 miles of water main, storage and pumping facilities, leading to 48 metered connections to its member communities.

2007 Community Consumption

Berkley---------------------------------------430 Million Gallons

Beverly Hills---------------------------------452 Million Gallons

Birmingham---------------------------------1,039 Million Gallons

Bingham Farms----------------------------110 Million Gallons

Clawson---------------------------------------346 Million Gallons

Detroit Zoo-----------------------------------203 Million Gallons

Rackham Golf Course----------------------18 Million Gallons

Huntington Woods-------------------------208 Million Gallons

Lathrup Village-----------------------------192 Million Gallons

Pleasant Ridge----------------------------139 Million Gallons

Royal Oak---------------------------------2,293 Million Gallons

Southfield----------------------------------4,404 Million Gallons

SOCWA has a fully certified laboratory for the microbiological examination of drinking water which is compliant with state and federal regulations. We take a minimum of 58 water samples per week at strategic locations throughout the distribution system and test for indications of waterborne pollution to ensure that the water is bacteriologically safe. We begin the analysis of each sample in our lab the day that it is taken. We are proud of the fact that we had no positive tests for the year and therefore no follow up testing or other actions were required.

This report includes the following charts and tables listing the results of tests conducted by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority in the year 2007:  

• Northeast Water Treatment Plant Detected Contaminants Table
• Springwells Water Treatment Plant Detected Contaminants Table

• Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant Detected Contaminants Table

• SOCWA'S Bacteriological Analysis Report 

Terms used in these charts, tables and other parts of the report are defined here:
Definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: 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.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirement that a water system must undertake.

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

The data presented in this report is from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations.  

 Water-Quality Table Footnotes

1. The detected level is based on the 90 percentile values of the most recent round of sampling. No samples exceeded the action level (AL).
2. The detected level and range values are determined by calculating a running annual average of all samples taken at a sampling point.
3. The detected level is based on the 90 percentile values of the most recent round of sampling.

Questions:

Local Distribution – Call your Community Water Department.

Southeastern Oakland County Water Supply System – Water Authority offices: (248) 288-5150.

Detroit Water and Sewerage Department – Water Quality Division at (313) 926-8128.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Drinking Water and Radiological Protection – (517) 241-1300.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.

Water quality data for community water systems throughout the United States is available at: www.waterdata.com

Copyright © 2001 [SOCWA]. All rights reserved.
Revised: April 24, 2008.