MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. The BWL adds chloramine treatment to its water at the conditioning plant to protect against bacterial growth. Chloramine is used rather than other disinfectant options because it minimizes the number and level of chlorination by-products, persists better in the distribution system, and leaves little or no unpleasant odor and taste. The following table lists the chloramine residual level measured in our distribution system and the disinfectant by-products created by the reaction of our chloramine treatment and naturally occurring organic compounds. These disinfectant by-products are not currently regulated and the EPA has not established MCL or MCLG levels for them.
Sulfate occurs naturally in drinking waters, and at low levels has no known adverse effects.
The U.S. EPA recommends that water systems keep sulfate below 250 parts per million because taste and odor problems can result from higher amounts. Your water has sulfate concentrations well below 250 ppm. Cryptosporidium is not a concern for water systems that, like the BWL, draw their drinking water from deep wells. Cryptosporidium is not a concern for water systems that, like the BWL, draw their drinking water from deep wells. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in groundwater and is released from water into the air during household use.