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The City of Watertown provides drinking water to its residents from a groundwater source: three wells ranging from 153 to 475 feet deep, that draw water from the Quaternary Buried Artesian and Franconia-Ironton-Galesville aquifers.
Watertown’s water hardness ranges from 25-27 grains which is almost 6x harder than the national average. The high level of total dissolved solids (TDS) and organic matter also contribute to a poor overall taste.
The EPA has established two standards for additional contaminants in tap water:
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level - The maximum allowable level of a certain contaminant
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level GOAL - The level where studies have found ZERO HEALTH RISKS, aka the "Health Limit"
Certain contaminants that absorb easily through your skin have been highlighted in orange. For those items, a Point of Entry (POE) system is recommended to treat all the water for your home/business.
| Contaminant | Levels Found |
Health Limit |
Potential Effect | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Emitters | 1.38 - 3.0 | 0pCi/L | Increased risk of cancer | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow |
| Arsenic | 1.44 | 0ppb | Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, Arsenic Filters |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.83 - 5.9 | 0ppb | Increased risk of cancer, damage to liver, kidneys, and nervous system | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Chloroform | 3.35 - 25.0 | 5.7ppb | Nervous system depression, increase in kidney and liver tumors | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.14 - 0.9 | 0.4ppb | Increased risk of cancer | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Dichloroacetic acid | 1.22 - 4.9 | 0ppb | Irritant and corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Haloacetic Acids | 6.0 | 0ppb | Increased risk of cancer | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Radon | 103.5 - 550 | 1.5pCi/L | Increased risk of lung cancer | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow |
| Total Trihalomethanes | 31.8 | 0ppb | Liver, kidney or central nervous system problems; increased risk of cancer | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Contaminant | Levels Found |
Health Limit |
Potential Effect | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | 0.12 | 2ppb | Increase in blood pressure | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow |
| Chlorine | 0.59 - 0.90 | 4.0ppm | Eye/nose irritation; stomach discomfort | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
| Fluoride | 0.99 - 1.6 | 4.0ppm | Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); children may get mottled teeth | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow |
| Hardness | 25 - 27gpg | NA | Increased energy consumption, damage to plumbing, appliances, fixtures, clothing, and glassware | Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Water Softener |
| Manganese | 30ppb | 50ppb | Black staining, increased energy consumption, damage to plumbing, appliances, fixtures, clothing, decreased IQ in children | Pureoflow, DMT Systems |
| Nitrate | 0.82 - 0.90 | 10ppm | Infants below the age of six months could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and "blue baby" syndrome. | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow |
| Sodium | 28ppm | NA | Hypertension | Pureoflow, DMT Systems |
| Sulfate | 38.5ppm | NA | Catharsis, Dehydration from diarrhoea | Pureoflow, DMT Systems |
| Xylenes | 0.13 - 0.40 | 1,800ppb | Nervous system damage | Reverse Osmosis, Pureoflow, DMT Systems, Carbon Filters |
This information was compiled from Watertown's water treatment reports, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Minnesota Department of Health(DOH), World Health Organization(WHO), and Environmental Working Group(EWG).
