        KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT

                Consumer Confidence Report 2007

INTRODUCTION

     The Kennebec Water District (KWD) has been in existence since 1899. KWD presently serves the municipalities of Waterville, Winslow, Fairfield, Vassalboro, and Benton and supplies water for the town of Oakland. KWD has a regular testing and reporting program and this Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is one way of communicating those test results. The CCR is intended to provide you, the KWD customer, with important information about your drinking water. KWD’s trustees and employees want you to know that you can count on us for a safe and reliable supply of water every day, and we are dedicated to providing the highest quality service to you.

WATER QUALITY

       KWD ensures that your water is safe through regular monitoring of both its source and treated water. Testing is conducted in KWD’s own laboratory as well as in independent, state-certified laboratories. This CCR is a comprehensive summary of the laboratory test results. KWD employs a staff of certified water treatment operators, licensed by the State of Maine Department of Human Services, to maintain water quality within required parameters.

      The Safe Drinking Water Act directs the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and enforce minimum drinking water standards. These standards set limits on certain biological, organic, inorganic, and radioactive substances potentially found in water supplies. Two levels of standards have been established. Primary drinking water standards set achievable levels (MCL’s) and goals for drinking water quality to protect your health. Secondary drinking water standards (SMCL’s) provide guidelines regarding the taste, odor, color, and other aesthetic aspects of your drinking water which do not present a health risk. The 2007 testing results indicate that the Kennebec Water District’s water continuously meets or exceeds all state and federal requirements.

      The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. However, some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.

          Immune-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 (1-800-426-4791) or from the Kennebec Water District office.

Fluoride in Drinking Water: KWD adds fluoride to its water in an amount to meet the EPA’s recommended dosage level of 1.2 ppm. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that the proper amount of fluoride from infancy through old age helps prevent and control tooth decay. Parents, however, should be aware that a recent study raised the possibility that fluoride exposure during the first year of life may play a role in the development of enamel fluorosis, cosmetic changes to the outer surface of the tooth. When fluoridated water is used consistently as a mixer for formula as the primary source of nutrition over long periods of the first year, a child may receive enough fluoride to increase his/her chances of developing very mild to mild fluorosis. This potential can be lessened by using a low fluoride water for formula all or most of the time.

    For more advice:. http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm

Lead in Drinking Water: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. KWD is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in household plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking and cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at    http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead .

Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water: Recent media attention has focused on the presence of trace amounts of pharmaceutical and personal care products that have been detected in some water sources. Some minute amounts of these products may pass through animals and humans who use them and eventually enter groundwater or surface waters. Even in locations showing some presence, the levels found are extremely low concentrations – millions of times lower than a therapeutic dose. Testing for the products is not yet required by EPA. KWD will be proactively testing China Lake water and its finished water in 2008 for such products. More information can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ppcp

WATER SUPPLY / SOURCE INFORMATION

China Lake has served as KWD’s primary source of water since 1905. China Lake has 6.1 square miles of surface area within 32 square miles of watershed. The estimated capacity of the lake is 31 billion gallons. KWD demand averages over 1.2 billion gallons annually. As a surface water body, China Lake is susceptible to pollution and contamination from both human and natural sources. Early in its existence, to help protect the water quality within China Lake, the Kennebec Water District acquired nearly all of the shoreline around the west basin of the lake. The east basin shoreline is mostly privately owned. Protection of the watershed presently is a combined effort of the towns of China and Vassalboro, the China Region Lakes Alliance, the China Lake Association and the Kennebec Water District. The common goal of these organizations is to improve China Lake water quality.

The Maine Drinking Water Program has evaluated all public water supplies statewide as part of its Source Water Assessment Program. The evaluation considered geology, hydrology, land use, water testing information and the extent of land ownership or protection by local ordinance to determine future potential drinking water source contamination. The KWD Source Water Assessment is available for public viewing at the Kennebec Water District office.

Because the variable water quality from China Lake includes frequent algae blooms during the summer and fall, the KWD water treatment facility uses many modern processes to effectively improve the quality of water you receive at your tap. These processes include coagulation, filtration, disinfection, pH adjustment and corrosion control. Coagulation with alum is used to remove particles from the raw water in three Microfloc upflow clarifiers. The water is then filtered and polished in six granular activated carbon filters. Chlorine is added as a disinfectant. Chlorine levels are continuously monitored to ensure adequate and appropriate disinfection has occurred prior to delivery to consumers. As a dental health aid, fluoride is also combined with the finished water.

The addition of a corrosion inhibitor and raising the pH of the water provides corrosion protection for KWD's distribution piping system and your household plumbing. This treatment practice has been so effective that our annual monitoring program for lead and copper levels has been reduced to once every three years.

WATER SYSTEM DATA

KWD's water transmission and distribution systems include over 171 miles of water mains. The system serves over 8900 customers in six communities and provides fire protection service through 633 hydrants. In the last twelve months, KWD produced and delivered 1.27 billion gallons of water. That's a daily average of 3.47 millions gallons. KWD can maintain 17.4 million gallons in its 6 storage tanks. This storage permits KWD to meet normal and peak system demands and to maintain an adequate supply for fire fighting needs.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE PAST YEAR

Approximately 3,526 feet of water main was replaced or added to the KWD system in 2007. In addition, 41 leak reparis were completed on water mains, services, and hydrants. 783 water meters were cleaned, tested, and returned to service and over 35,000 meter readings were recorded and billed. More than 600 samples were collected and analyzed in KWD 's state certified laboratory.

2007 began with a 19.67% rate case being implemented on January 1. The increase in revenue was necessary to make up for annual shortfalls resulting from significant expense increases, particularly in fuel and materials.

The District contracted much of its main and service replacement work while District employees focused on maintenance projects involving hydrants, valves, services, and mains.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This CCR is only a summary report. If you have any questions about this report, your water quality, or your water service, please call the Kennebec Water District's business office at (207) 872-2763 during normal business hours. Questions may also be directed to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Drinking Water Program at (207) 287-2070 or on-line at http://www.state.me.us/dhs/boh/eng/water/index.html or to the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or on-line at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html

Primary Drinking Water Standards
Parameter	Maximum Contaminant Level Goal	Maximum Contaminant Level	Actual KWD Test Results
CLARITY 2007 Finished Water
Turbidity (a) (e)	0.10 NTU	0.50 NTU	Avg: 0.10 NTU Max.: 0.14
MICROBIOLOGICAL (b) 2007 Finished Water Coliform bacteria		Enzyme substrate test	(480 tests conducted)
% positive for microbiological presence	0 %	5 %	0.42 % ***
Cryptosporidium / Giardia lamblia cysts	0		BDL
VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS (c) 2005 EPA 524.2 Method TSN/TSO
Acrylamide	0 ppm	TT	No test required in 2007
Alachlor	0 ppb	2 ppb	BDL
Atrazine	3 ppb	3 ppb	BDL
Benzene	0 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAHs)	0 ppb	0.2 ppb	BDL
Carbofuran	40 ppb	40 ppb	BDL
Carbon Tetrachloride	0 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
Chlordane	0 ppb	2 ppb	BDL
Chlorobenzene	100 ppb	100 ppb	BDL
2,4 – D	70 ppb	70 ppb	BDL
Dalapon	200 ppb	200 ppb	BDL
Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)	0 ppt	0.2 ppb	State Wide Waiver
o – Dichlorobenzene	600 ppb	600 ppb	BDL
p – Dichlorobenzene	75 ppb	75 ppb	BDL
1,2 – Dichloroethane	0 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
1,1 – Dichloroethylene	7 ppb	7 ppb	BDL
cis- 1,2 – Dichloroethylene	70 ppb	70 ppb	BDL
trans- 1,2 – Dichloroethylene	100 ppb	100 ppb	BDL
Dichlormethane	0 ppb	5 ppb	No test required in 2007
1,2 – Dichoropropane	0 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	400 ppb	400 ppb	No test required in 2007
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	0 ppb	6 ppb	BDL
Dinoseb	7 ppb	7 ppb	BDL
Dioxin (2,3,7,8 – TCDD)	0	.03 ppt	State Wide Waiver
Diquat	20 ppb	20 ppb	KWD Waiver 2006-2008
Endothal	100 ppb	100 ppb	KWD Waiver 2006-2008
Endrin	2 ppb	2 ppb	BDL
Epichlorohydrin	0 ppb	TT	No test required in 2007
Ethylbenzene	700 ppb	700 ppb	BDL
Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)	0 ppt	50 ppt	BDL
Glyphosate	700 ppb	700 ppb	State Wide Waiver
Heptachlor	0 ppt	400 ppt	BDL
Heptachlor Epoxide	0	200 ppt	BDL
Heptachlor /Heptachlor Epoxide	0	200 ppt	BDL
Hexachlorobenzene	0	1 ppb	BDL
Hexachlorocyclopentadine	50 ppb	50 ppb	BDL
Lindane	200 ppt	200 ppt	BDL
Methoxychlor	40 ppb	40 ppb	BDL
Oxamyl (Vydate)	200 ppb	200 ppb	BDL
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s)	0 ppt	500 ppt	BDL
Pentachlorophenol	0 ppb	1 ppb	BDL
Picloram	500 ppb	500 ppb	BDL
Simazine	4 ppb	4 ppb	BDL
Styrene	100 ppb	100 ppb	BDL
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)	0 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
Toluene	1 ppm	1 ppm	BDL
Toxaphene	0 ppb	3 ppb	BDL
2,4, 5 – TP (Silvex)	50 ppb	50 ppb	BDL
1, 2, 4 – Trichlorobenzene	70 ppb	70 ppb	BDL
1,1, 1 – Trichloroethane	200 ppb	200 ppb	BDL
1, 1, 2 – Trichloroethane	3 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
Trichloroethylene (TCE)	0 ppb	5 ppb	BDL
Vinyl Chloride	0 ppb	2 ppb	BDL
Xylenes (total)	10 ppm	10 ppm	BDL
DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS - 2007 Finished Water
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (d)	0 ppb	80 ppb	45 ppb
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (d)	0 ppb	60 ppb	23 ppb
*** The positive microbiological test results (2) were sample point specific and unrelated to the distribution system

Primary Drinking Water Standards
Parameter	Maximum Contaminant Level Goal	Maximum Contaminant Level	Actual KWD Test Result
INORGANIC CHEMICALS (c) TE2/TE3 2007
Antimony	6.0 ppb	6.0 ppb	< 0.50 ppb
Arsenic	0.0 ppb	10.0 ppb	0.70 ppb
Asbestos (million fibers > 10 micron per liter)	7.0 MFL	7.0 MFL	KWD Exempt
Barium	2.0 ppm	2.0 ppm	0.0018 ppm
Beryllium	4.0 ppb	4.0 ppb	< 0.50 ppb
Cadmium	5.0 ppb	5.0 ppb	< 0.50 ppb
Chromium (Total)	100 ppb	100 ppb	< 0.50 ppb
Copper (Action Level) (6/30/2006)	1.3 ppm	1.3 ppm	0.08 ppm @ 90^th %
Cyanide	0.2 ppm	0.2 ppm	< 0.01 ppm
Fluoride	4.0 ppm	4.0 ppm (a)	1.21 ppm
Lead (Action Level) (6/30/2006)	0.0 ppb	15 ppb	< 5 ppb @ 90^th %
Mercury	2.0 ppb	2.0 ppb	< 0.05 ppb
Nitrate as nitrogen	10.0 ppm	10.0 ppm	< 1.0 ppm
Nitrite as nitrogen	1.0 ppm	1.0 ppm	< 0.01 ppm
Selenium	50.0 ppb	50.0 ppb	< 0.001 ppb
Thallium	0.5 ppb	2.0 ppb	< 0.5 ppb
RADIONUCLIDES (c)(f) (picoCuries/L) 2006
Gross Alpha	0.0 pCi/L	15 pCi/L	.59 pCi/L
Radium	0.0 pCi/L	5 pCi/L	.63 pCi/L
Secondary Standards Aesthetic Standards for Finished Water
CHEMICAL PARAMETERS (e) 2007 TE2		SMCL	Actual KWD Test Result
Chloride		250 ppm	11 ppm
Color (color units)		15 cu	< 5 cu
Copper		1.0 ppm	< 0.0005 ppm
Corrosivity		Non corrosive
Fluoride (a)		2.0 ppm	1.21 ppm
Foaming Agents (MBAS)		0.50 ppm
Iron		0.30 ppm	< 0.05 ppm
Manganese		0.0500 ppm	0.0037 ppm
Odor – Threshold Odor Number		3 TON
pH		6.5 to 8.5	7.5
Silver		100 ppb	< 0.5 ppb
Sulfate		250 ppm	12 ppm
Total Dissolved Solids		500 ppm	63.5 ppm
Zinc		5 ppm	0.0021 ppm
ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS (e) (g) 2007	KWD Range		KWD AVERAGE
Alkalinity (as CaCO₃)		No Standard	23 ppm
Langelier Index	-2.55 to -1.75	No Standard	- 2.21
Calcium	5.6 to 6.8 ppm	No Standard	6.8 ppm
Hardness (as CaCO₃)	< 100 ppm	No Standard	31 ppm
Free Chlorine Residual	1.03 to 1.65 ppm	No Standard	1.32 ppm
Total Chlorine Residual	1.25 to 1.82 ppm	No Standard	1.53 ppm
Ortho-Phosphate	0.51 to 0.75 ppm	No Standard	0.61 ppm
Temperature (degrees Celsius)	3.0 °C – 23.5 °C	No Standard	10.2 °C
Definitions and key to abbreviations
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level, The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
SMCL = Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels = Target for aesthetic quality without posing risk to human health at SMCL.
TT = Treatment Technique = A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in water in order to meet the standard.
NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measurement of cloudiness or suspended colloidal matter (silt). Excessive turbidity levels can cause problems with water disinfection. The single highest measurement of turbidity in calendar year 2006 was 1 NTU. More than 99% of the samples taken by our water system were below 0.35 NTU, the MCLG for rapid filtration media. KWD’s water filtration system renders the finished drinking water clear and safe to drink.
ppm = parts per million = milligrams per liter; ppb = parts per billion = micrograms per liter; ppt = parts per trillion = nanograms per liter.
BDL = Below detectable limit.
(a) Turbidity and Fluoride are reported as monthly averages from daily samples at the entry to the distribution system.
(b) Coliforms reported as monthly averages. No more than 5% of the monthly samples shall be coliform positive.
(c) Samples collected at the water source as required by state monitoring regulations
(d) TTHM & HAA5 are calculated as a running annual average of quarterly samples taken at the extremities of the distribution system.
(e) Data collected at the entry of the distribution system.
(f) Results for radionuclides are from the 2006 samplings. Regulations require radionuclide monitoring once every four years.
(g) KWD annual average test results
Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment requirements which a water provider must follow.

KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT

Consumer Confidence Report 2007

Primary Drinking Water Standards

Primary Drinking Water Standards

SMCL

KWD Range

KWD AVERAGE