What We Monitor
As water travels through rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, or the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals or, in some cases, radioactive material or substances from animal or human activities.
To make sure our water stays safe to drink, the Public Works Department staff monitor for the following:
Microbial Contaminants
Microbial contaminants include viruses and bacteria. These contaminants may come from sources such as septic systems, livestock operations, or wildlife.
Inorganic Contaminants
Inorganic contaminants include salts and metals. These can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and Herbicides
Pesticides and herbicides can come from a variety of sources. The most common are urban storm water runoff, agricultural practices, or residential uses.
Organic Compounds
Organic compounds include synthetic and volatile organic compounds. They are often by-products of industrial processes or petroleum production or come from urban runoff or septic systems.
Radioactive Contaminants
Radioactive contaminants can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Additional Information
If you have any questions or would like more information about our monitoring process or the safety of our water, please contact City Hall at (208) 423-4151.