2008 Annual Water Quality Report

City of New London 
Utilities
Serving 
New London & Waterford 
Connecticut
Customer Service: 
(860) 447-5222
Safe Drinking Water 
Hotline: 
(800)426-4791
2008 Annual Water Quality Report
The City of New London annual water quality report shows the source of our water, lists the results of our tests, and 
contains important information about water and health. We are pleased to show you how we have surpassed water-
quality standards. If you have concerns about the quality of water please contact the customer service.
Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o 
hable con alguien que lo entienda
Water System Data
The City of New London’s water comes from lakes and reservoirs in a protected watershed that is located in 
Waterford, Montville, and Salem. The principal reservoir is Lake Konomoc, storing over 1.2 billion gallons of water. The 
water is treated at Konomoc and delivered through a system of 210 miles of pipes, three pump stations and six water 
storage tanks with a capacity of fifteen million gallons. The water system serves 45,000 customers through 14,000 
water services. Over 2 billion gallons of water per year is processed using coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and 
carbon filtration.  Lime is added to the finished water to adjust the ph, sodium hypochlorite to disinfect, fluoride for 
dental health and phosphate for corrosion control. Water quality lab tests are performed regularly at the plant and by 
Groton Labs, a state certified facility. 
Source Water Assessment
The Connecticut Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Division completed a water assessment of Lake 
Konomoc Reservoir System and can be accessed on the Department of Public Health’s website: 
http://www.dph.state.ct.us. The assessment found that this public drinking water source, Lake Konomoc, has a low 
susceptibility to potential sources of contamination.  Additional Source Water Assessment information can be found at 
the Environmental Protection Agency’s website: www.epa.gov.
Lead and Copper Advisory
Corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits are sources of lead in drinking water. Infants 
and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or 
mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities.
Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Sources of copper in drinking water are corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits, and 
leaching from wood preservatives.  Copper is an essential nutrient , but some people who drink water containing 
copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience  gastrointestinal distress. 
Some people, who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could, suffer liver or 
kidney damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal doctor.
Additional Health Information
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA sets limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by 
public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.  Small amounts of some 
contaminants are commonly found in all drinking water, including bottled water.. The presence of contaminants does 
not necessarily indicate that water poses health risk.  Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in 
drinking water. Immuno-compromised persons such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant 
recipients, 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 are available from Safe Drinking 
Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, 
and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals 
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and radioactive material and can pick up substances from the presence of animals or human activity. Contaminants 
that may be present in source water include:
(A)
Microbial contaminants,
 
  (viruses and bacteria) which may come from Sewage treatment plants, septic 
systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wild life.
(B)
Inorganic contaminants,
 
  (salts and metals) which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm 
runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
(C)
Pesticides and herbicides
 
 , which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water 
runoff, and residential uses.
(D)
Organic chemical contaminants
 
 , (synthetic and volatile organics) which are by-products of industrial 
processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and 
septic systems.
(E)
Radioactive contaminants
 
 ,  which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and 
mining activities.
Water Quality
How to Read this Table
The table shows the results of our water-quality analyses. Every regulated contaminant detected in the water, even in 
the minutest traces, is listed here. The table contains the name of each substance, the ideal level for public health 
(MCLG), the highest level allowed by regulation (MCL), the amount detected, the usual sources of such contamination, 
footnotes explaining our findings, and a key to units of measurement.
Definitions of MCL and MCLG are important.
Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are 
set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no 
known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Action Level or AL: The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded triggers a treatment or other requirement, 
which a water system must follow.
The data presented in this report is from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations. Although we ran 
thousands of test for over a hundred contaminants, only substance listed below were found. They are all the within the 
required MCL.
Regulated at the Treatment Facility
Substance
MCLG
MCL
Highest 
Level 
Detected
Major sources in drinking water
Turbidity
N/A
5 NTU
0.19 NTU
Soil Runoff
Chloride
N/A
250 ppm
8.7 ppm
Natural Deposits; Runoff from road salting
Sodium
N/A
* 28 ppm *
10 ppm
Natural Deposits; Runoff from road salting
Sulfate
N/A
N/A
8 ppm
Naturally present in the environment
TOC
N/A
N/A
1.4 ppm
Naturally present in the environment
Fluoride
4
4
0.99 ppm
Water additive that promotes strong teeth
Barium
N/A
2
0.004 ppm
Naturally present in the environment
Regulated in the New London Distribution System
Substance
MCLG
MCL
Highest 
Level 
Detected
Major sources in drinking water
HAA5
N/A
0.06 ppm
0.02 ppm
By-product of chlorinating drinking water
TTHM
N/A
0.08 ppm
0.07 ppm
By-product of chlorinating drinking water
Chlorine
4.0 
ppm
4.0 ppm
2.13 ppm
Water additive used to control microbes
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Regulated in the Waterford Distribution System
Substance
MCLG
MCL
Highest 
Level 
Detected
Major sources in drinking water
HAA5
N/A
0.06 ppm
0.02 ppm
By-product of chlorinating drinking water
TTHM
N/A
0.08 ppm
0.06 ppm
By-product of chlorinating drinking water
Chlorine
4.0 
ppm
4.0 ppm
1.83 ppm
Water additive used to control microbes
Regulated at New London's Customers Tap
Substance
MCLG
MCL
Highest 
Level 
Detected
Major sources in drinking water
Lead 
0 ppb
AL = 0.015
0.02 ppm
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Copper
1.3 
ppm
AL = 1.3
0.09 ppm
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Regulated at Waterford's Customers Tap
Substance
MCLG
MCL
Highest 
Level 
Detected
Major sources in drinking water
Lead 
0 ppb
AL = 0.015
0.01 ppm
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Copper
1.3 
ppm
AL = 1.3
0.11 ppm
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
*** Although there is no EPA MCL for sodium, the State of Connecticut requires systems exceeding 28 ppm notify their 
customers, so individuals on sodium restricted diets can inform their physicians
Monitoring and reporting violations
None
Public Education and Information
Please call the customer service office for more information about the water system, wastewater system
or environmental concerns.  Additional information is available and public educational opportunities are available.
If you have any questions regarding this report or any other water quality questions please call
(860) 447-5222
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