2020 Annual SYSTEM NAME White Deer PWS ID: 4490023 A message from Pennsylvania American Water’s President Dear Pennsylvania American Water Customer, Having access to safe, reliable water service is something that can be easily taken for granted. This report contains At Pennsylvania American Water, it’s our top priority. important information I am pleased to share with you our 2020 Consumer Confidence Report, which is a testament about your drinking to the hard work and dedication of our employees. As you read through this annual water water. Translate it or quality information, you will see that we continue to supply high quality drinking water service speak with someone to help keep your life flowing. who understands it at, We monitor and test your water at multiple points throughout our process of drawing it from its 1-800-565-7292 source, treating it to meet drinking water standards, and distributing it through our pipeline Monday-Friday, systems. In fact, we test for about 100 regulated contaminants as required by state and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. federal drinking water standards. MIKE DORAN QUALITY: We take water quality so seriously that 33 of our surface water treatment plants President, Pennsylvania have been nationally recognized with Directors Awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection American Water Agency’s (EPA) Partnership for Safe Water program for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards, with 18 of these treatment plants having maintained this high level of . service for 20 years or more. We remain committed to protecting our sources of drinking water. We utilize advanced technology and detection methods that are paving the way for source water protection across the country. SERVICE: Last year, we invested $400 million to upgrade our water and wastewater treatment and pipeline systems in the communities we serve. These investments allowed us to improve water quality, water pressure and service reliability for our customers. VALUE: While the cost to provide water service continues to increase across the country, our investments help us provide high quality water service that remains an exceptional value for such an essential service. We hope our commitment to you and our passion for water shines through in this report detailing the source and quality of your drinking water in 2020. We will continue to work to help keep your life flowing – both for today, and for future generations. Proud to be your local water service provider, Mike Doran Pennsylvania American Water 2 A message from our President 2 Once again, we proudly present our Annual Water Quality Report, also referred to as a What is a Consumer Confidence Report 3 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). CCRs let consumers know what contaminants, if any, Mark of Excellence 4 were detected in their drinking water as well as related potential health effects. CCRs also include details about where your water comes from and how it is treated. Additionally, they About Your Drinking Water Supply 5 educate customers on what it takes to deliver safe drinking water and highlight the need to What are the Sources of Contaminants? 6 protect drinking water sources. Protecting Your Drinking Water Supply 7 Pennsylvania American Water is committed to delivering high quality drinking water service. About Lead 8 To that end, we remain vigilant in meeting the challenges of source water protection, water conservation, environmental compliance, sustainability and community education while Important Information About Your Water 9-11 continuing to serve the needs of all our water users. • Cryptosporidium • Nitrates • Chlorine / Chloramines • Fluoride • UCMR • PFOA/PFAS Water Quality Results Statement 12 Definitions of Terms Used in Report 13 Water Quality Result Tables 14-16 About Us 17 Contact Us 18 3 NOT JUST MEETING DRINKING WATER STANDARDS— SURPASSING THEM. The Partnership for Safe Drinking Water Program is administered by the EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and other water industry organizations. The award honors utilities for achieving operational excellence by voluntarily optimizing their surface water treatment operations and adopting more stringent performance goals than those required by federal and state drinking water standards. Pennsylvania American Water takes water quality so seriously that: The Milton and White Deer Water Treatment Plants were awarded the prestigious Director’s Award. Just as Pennsylvania American Water is investing in research and testing; we also understand the importance of investing in the infrastructure that provides high-quality water service to you. Last year alone, we invested more than $400 million to improve our water and wastewater treatment and pipeline systems. 4 WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM The raw drinking water supply is surface water from the Susquehanna River, Spruce Run Reservoir, and White Deer Creek. The Spruce Run Reservoir and the White Deer Creek sources are in the Susquehanna River Basin. Both streams are classified as high-quality, cold-water fisheries. Learn more about local waterways at https://watersgeo.epa.gov/mywaterway. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE (DEP) completed a source water assessment for the White Deer System in 2003 to meet Federal requirements of the WHITE DEER SYSTEM Safe Drinking Water Act. The study looked at the drainage area and ranked its vulnerability to contamination. The water Communities served: supplies are considered vulnerable to runoff from Northumberland County- Delaware transportation corridors and stormwater runoff. DEP ranked Twp, East Chillisquaque Twp, Milton the susceptibility high because the water supplies are above Boro, Northumberland Boro, Point the ground and exposed. To get a copy of the assessment, Twp, Turbot Twp, Upper Augusta contact DEP at (717) 705-4732 or visit: Twp, Watsontown Boro, West http://www.depgreenport.state.pa.us/elibrary/ Chillisquaque Twp Union County- Buffalo Twp, East Buffalo Twp, Gregg Twp, Kelly Twp, Lewisburg Boro, White Deer Twp SOURCES OF SUPPLY Water source: FOR THE SYSTEM Surface water from the Susquehanna River, Spruce Run Reservoir, and White Deer Creek Surface Water Average amount of water supplied to customers on a daily basis: Milton Filter Plant – 2.95 million 100% gallons per day White Deer Complex – 2.16 million gallons per day Disinfection treatment: Surface water supplies are treated with chlorine to maintain water quality in the distribution system. 5 6 WHAT ARE WE DOING? Our priority is to provide reliable, quality drinking water service for customers. The source of supply is an important part of that mission. We work to understand and reduce potential risks to your drinking water supply. We have developed a Source Water Protection Plan under the Pennsylvania Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program (SWPTAP). This is a voluntary program to identify and address potential threats to drinking water supplies. Stakeholder involvement is an important part of the program. We partner with DEP to host annual meetings to review progress on the plan with stakeholders. We also welcome input on the plan or local water supplies through our online feedback form. Here are a few of the efforts underway to protect our shared water resources: Community Involvement: We have a proactive public outreach program to help spread the word and get people involved. This includes school education, contests, and other community activities. Environmental Grant Program: Each year, we fund projects that improve water Report any spills, illegal dumping or suspicious resources in our local communities. activity to the PA Department of Environmental Pharmaceutical Collection: We sponsor Protection at 1-800-426-4791. drop box locations across the Commonwealth for residents to safely dispose of unwanted drugs for free. This FOR MORE INFORMATION helps keep pharmaceutical products from To learn more about your water supply entering water supplies. Protect Our Watersheds Art Contest: and local activities, visit us online at pennsylvaniaamwater.com or contact the Open to fourth, fifth and sixth graders, the regional Source Water Protection Lead, contest encourages students to use their Kristi English at 717-550-1508. artistic skills to express the importance of protecting our water resources. 7 CHECK YOUR PLUMBING AND SERVICE LINE If you live in an older home, consider having a licensed plumber check your plumbing for lead. If your service line is made of lead, and you’re planning to replace it, be sure to contact us at 1-800-565-7292. 8 CRYPTOSPORIDIUM NITRATES Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 in surface water throughout the U.S. Although mg/L is a health risk for infants of less than six filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most months of age. Such nitrate levels in drinking commonly-used filtration methods cannot water can interfere with the capacity of the guarantee 100 percent removal. Our infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in monitoring indicates the presence of these serious illness. Symptoms include shortness of organisms in our source water and/or finished breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels water. Current test methods do not allow us to above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of determine if the organisms are dead or if they the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, are capable of causing disease. Ingestion of such as pregnant women and those with Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, certain specific enzyme deficiencies. Nitrate an abdominal infection. Symptoms of infection levels may rise quickly for short periods of time include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you cramps. Most healthy individuals can are caring for an infant or are pregnant, you overcome the disease within a few weeks. should ask for advice from your health care However, immuno-compromised people, provider. infants and small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life-threatening illness. We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult their doctor regarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection.