Monroe Township

Municipal Utilities Authority

Public Notice

Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority

Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority announces that sampling of the drinking water for Radionuclides at our well supplies during the first and second quarter of 2007 indicated that 2 out of 7 of our wells slightly exceeded the maximum contaminant levels for Radium.

            The (MCL) maximum contaminant level for combined Radium activity is set at an annual average of 5 pci/L.  The level in our well 17/19 site is 5.62 pci/L.

            The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that Radium poses a health concern at certain levels of exposure.  The EPA has estimated that the additional lifetime risk associated with drinking water that contains the MCL level Radium is about 1 in 10,000.  This means that if 10,000 people were to consume two liters of this water per day for 70 years, we would expect to see one additional cancer in the 10,000 people exposed.  Increased risk of bone cancers and cancers of the head sinuses has been associated with ingestion of Radium.  Man has always been exposed to natural radiation from water, food, and air, and the quantity of radiation a person is exposed to varies with the background radioactivity.  Water of high radioactivity is unusual; nevertheless, it is known to exist in certain areas from natural sources.

            The EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for Radium to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects.  The MTMUA is committed to addressing this problem and is in the process of applying treatment to our wells which exceed the MCL.  Meanwhile, we have placed the above mentioned wells at the end of our operation sequence, so that they do not come on unless absolutely necessary to meet water demands.

For more information, please contact us at 732-521-1700 or 609-655-1050 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

RADIUM NOTIFICATION CLARIFICATION

Dear Valued Customer,

Monroe Township Water is Safe and Poses NO Health Risk!!!    In a mandatory letter you received earlier this month, that message may not have been clear.  We would like to take this opportunity to address some concerns that have been expressed by you following receipt of our letter.

 Q: What is radium and how does it get into a water supply?

A:  Radium is metallic element which occurs naturally within the ground.  As it decays, it produces radon gas and alpha rays.    If a well draws water from a layer of sand which contains radium, it will produce water containing alpha rays and sometimes radon gas.

Q:  What happened and what is the MTMUA doing?

A:   Two of our wells, when pumping together, have slightly higher readings than the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for combined radium 226/228 of 5 pci/l (a running annual average of 5.6 pci/l for wells 17/19).    The wells in question, Wells #17 and #19, are no longer being used as a potable (drinking) water source.   Well #17 now feeds a separate and non-potable irrigation system, and Well #19 is not being used at all.  Since these wells are no longer being utilized as a potable water source, there is no longer a health concern and, therefore, consulting your doctor is not necessary.

Q: What does all of this mean to you?  Is the water safe to drink?

A:  There is no guarantee that the bottled water you buy is any lower in radium than tap water.  In fact, tap water is subject to more stringent requirements and standards than bottle water.    Even if the tested radium levels remained above the MCL, it would take a lifetime (70 years) of consumption (2 liters per day) to raise any cancer risk by 1 in 10,000.   However, this is not an emergency condition and cause for immediate concern.   The required steps have been taken to mitigate any risks associated with combined radium levels and constant monitoring and testing for contaminants continues in accordance with all safe drinking water regulations.   The Authority’s water currently meets all the NJDEP Safe Drinking Water Standards, and is perfectly safe.

If you have any questions or concerns please call the MTMUA offices at either 609-655-1050 or 732-521-1700.