Water We Drink

CITY OF GONZALES WATER SYSTEM
Public Water Supply ID: LA1005030
Consumer Confidence Report

2024 CCR

The Water We Drink
CITY OF GONZALES WATER SYSTEM
Public Water Supply ID: LA1005030

Our water source(s) are listed below:

Source Name/Source Type

• BOURQUE WELL/Ground Water
• DOUBLE L HYDROTEST WELL/Ground Water
• RODDY ROAD WELL/Ground Water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes,
streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of land or through the
ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick
up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. 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.

A Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) is now available from our office. This plan is an
assessment of a delineated area around our listed sources through which contaminants, if present,
could migrate and reach our source water. It also includes an inventory of potential sources of
contamination within the delineated area, and a determination of the water supply’s susceptibility to
contamination by the identified potential sources. According to the Source Water Assessment Plan, our
water system had a susceptibility rating of ‘MEDIUM’. If you would like to review the Source Water
Assessment Plan, please feel free to contact our office.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the
amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug
Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the
same protection for public health. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water
utility. If you have any questions about this report, want to attend any scheduled meetings, or simply
want to learn more about your drinking water, please contact TIMOTHY RILEY at 225-647-9567.

Unregulated contaminants are those that do not yet have a drinking water standard set by USEPA. The purpose of
monitoring for these contaminants is to help USEPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard.

Unregulated Contaminants	Collection Date	Average Concentration	Range	Unit
Lithium	2024	26.5	23.8-29.4	ppb

There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause
serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and
breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in
IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior
problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at
increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood
pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information
about your risks.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals – Office of Public Health routinely monitors
for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The tables that follow
show the results of our monitoring during the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2024. Drinking
water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. The pre8ence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health
risk.

In the tables below, you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar
with. To help you better understand these terms, we’ve provided the following definitions:

• Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/L) – one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
• Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (ug/L) – one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
• Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) – picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
• Treatment Technique (TT) – an enforceable procedure or level of technological performance which public water systems must follow to ensure control of a contaminant.
• Action level (AL) – the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
• Maximum contaminant level (MCL) – the “Maximum Allowed” MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
• Maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) – the “Goal” is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to human health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.
• Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
• Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG) – The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• Level 1 assessment – A study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.
• Level 2 Assessment – A very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on multiple occasions.

Our water system tested a minimum of 15 sample(s) per month in accordance with the Total
Coliform Rule for microbiological contaminants. With the microbiological samples collected, the water
system collects disinfectant residuals to ensure control of microbial growth.

Disinfectant	Collection Date	Highest Value	Range	Unit	MRDL	MRDLG	Typical Source
CHLORAMINE	2024	1.5	ppm	0.73 – 1.93	4	4	Water additive used to control microbes

In the tables below, we have shown the regulated contaminants that were detected. Chemical
Sampling of our drinking water may not be required on an annual basis; therefore, information
provided in this table refers back to the latest year of chemical sampling results.

The State of Louisiana regularly monitors source water per State and Federal Regulations. Treated
water samples are monitored to further evaluate compliance.

Source Water Regulated Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Value	Range	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Typical Source
Fluoride	5/8/2023	0.1	0 – 0.1	ppm	4	4	Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Source Water Radiological Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Value	Range	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Typical Source
GROSS BETA PARTICLE ACTIVITY	5/8/2023	1.95	0-1.95	pCi/l	50	0	Decay of natural and man-made deposits

Disinfection Byproducts	Sample Point	Period	Highest LRAA	Range	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Typical Source
TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAAS)	1517 N Coontrap Rd	2023-2024	1	0.69-1.82	ppb	60	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAAS)	1908 S Robert Wilson Rd	2023-2024	1	0-1.7	ppb	60	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAAS)	2312 S San Francisco	2023-2024	1	0.47-0.77	ppb	60	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAAS)	2425 S Burnside Ave	2023-2024	1	0.67-0.96	ppb	60	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TTHM	1517 N Coontrap Rd	2023-2024	0	0	ppb	80	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TTHM	1908 S Robert Wilson Rd	2023-2024	1	0-0.85	ppb	80	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TTHM	2312 S San Francisco	2023-2024	1	0	ppb	80	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection
TTHM	2425 S Burnside Ave	2023-2024	0	0	ppb	80	0	B-product of drinking water disinfection

Source Secondary Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Value	Range	Unit	SMCL
Aluminum	5/8/2023	0.04	0.02-0.04	MG/L	0.2
Chloride	5/8/2023	24	0-24	MG/L	250
Hardness, Total (AS CACO3)	5/8/2023	26.2	21.9-26.2	MG/L	0
Iron	5/8/2023	0.15	0.14-0.15	MG/L	0.3
Manganese	5/8/2023	0.12	0.11-0.12	MG/L	0.05
PH	5/8/2023	7.89	7.68-7.89	PH	8.5
Potassium	5/8/2023	1.4	1.4	MG/L	0
Sodium	5/8/2023	61.5	52-61.5	MG/L	0
Sulfate	5/8/2023	3	2-3	MG/L	250

Treated Secondary Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Value	Range	Unit	SMCL
Iron	5/15/2023	0.17	0.15-0.17	MG/L	0.3
Manganese	5/15/2023	0.14	0.12-0.14	MG/L	0.05

++++++++++++++Environmental Protection Agency Required Health Effects Language++++++++++++++
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).

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. CITY OF GONZALES WATER SYSTEM is responsible for providing high quality drinking water
and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in
your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your
home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your
home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your
pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You
can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce
lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water
tested, contact CITY OF GONZALES WATER SYSTEM and TIMOTHY RILEY BUS Phone: 225-647-9567.
Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is
available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

There are no additional required health effects notices

There are no additional required health effects violation notices.

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Thank you for allowing us to continue providing your family with clean, quality water this
year. In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply we sometimes need to make
improvements that will benefit all of our customers.

We at the CITY OF GONZALES WATER SYSTEM work around the clock to provide top quality
drinking water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect and conserve our water
sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life, and our children’s future. Additional
information on the water system can be found at www.ldh.la.gov/watergrade. Please call our office if
you have questions