Whiteman AFB Annual Water Quality Report/Consumer Confidence Report 2007 Published June 24, 2008 By the 509th Medical Operations Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo., -- This is an annual report on the quality of water delivered by Whiteman AFB. We continually monitor the drinking water for contaminants. Our water is safe to drink. Users will not be mailed individual copies of this report. Under the Consumer Confidence Reporting Rule of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), community water systems are required to report this water quality information to the consuming public. Presented in this report is information on the source of our water, its constituents and the health risks associated with any contaminants. There were no contaminant level, monitoring or treatment technique violations for this reporting period. Your drinking water comes from the Whiteman AFB Water Treatment Plant operated by 509th Civil Engineering Squadron. Our system has been assigned the identification number MO 1079501. The plant treats water from the Ozark Aquifer pumped from wells located on base. Your water is filtered and treated with chlorine to disinfect the water. These wells have been tested and the results are available from the 509th Medical Operations Squadron, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight (687-4324). If you would like to observe the decision-making processes that affect your drinking water quality or if you have any questions, the water plant can be reached at 687-1984. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater 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 pickup substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. 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). 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 be naturally-occurring or 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 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, the Department of Natural Resources prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department of Health 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 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 and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-426-4791. Please direct questions to 2nd Lt. Kirk or Tech. Sgt. Tina Carroll at the 509th Medical MDOS, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight at 687-4324.