Introduction
To comply with State regulations, the Village of Franklin will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. Last year, your tap water met all State drinking water health standards. We are proud to report that our system has never violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality statement. This report provides an overview of water quality for the year 2022. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards. You can obtain a copy of the source water assessment by contacting the water system operator, county or district health department office, or State DOH.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact the Village of Franklin at 607-829-3782. We want you to be informed about your drinking water. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Village Board meetings. The meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Franklin Village Hall, 141 Water Street, Franklin, NY. These meetings are also streamed and recorded on ZOOM.
Where does our water come from?
In general, 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 the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Our water system serves approximately 480 people through 192 service connections. Our water sources are two wells located by Otego Road. The original well drilled in 1962 was compromised by flooding in June 2006 and ordered closed by the Department of Health. A new well that was drilled in 2004 was put on line during the fall of 2007 with all required tests having been approved. FEMA funding was provided to drill another well during 2008. Water is treated with chlorine for disinfection and caustic soda for corrosion control treatment prior to distribution.
Approval for an entire upgrade of the water system was obtained during 2011. The upgrade included, but was not limited to, new mains for the entire Village except one section that was replaced in 1977, new service hook-ups from the main to curb stops, new piping to the reservoir, upgraded equipment in the pump house, new generator and electric service. All Village streets were re-surfaced and sidewalks replaced that were disturbed during installation of piping. All reconstruction was completed by the fall of 2013. Initial funding for the project was provided by USDA through a grant and low interest loan. During 2014, that loan was paid by a grant/no-interest loan obtained through New York State EFC, funding established by that department to assist communities with maintaining safe drinking water. The grant amount was $972,326 and the no-interest loan $172,845, to be re-paid over a period of 30 years.
Source water assessment
The NYS DOH has completed a source water assessment for this system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to the drinking water sources were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the drinking water sources. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. While nitrates (and other inorganic contaminants) were detected in our water, it should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants from natural sources. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. The nitrate levels in our sources are not considered high in comparison with other sources in this area. See section “Are there contaminants in our drinking water?” for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. As mentioned before, our water is derived from drilled wells. The source water assessment has rated the well as having a high susceptibility to microbials, nitrates, industrial solvents, and other industrial contaminants. These ratings are due primarily to the close proximity of permitted discharge facilities (industrial/commercial facilities that discharge wastewater into the environment and are regulated by the state and/or federal government), pasture, and mines within the assessment area. In addition, the wells draw from an unconfined aquifer of unknown hydraulic conductivity. While the source water assessment rates our well as being susceptible to microbials, please note that our water is disinfected to ensure that the finished water delivered into your home meets New York State’s drinking water standards for microbial contamination. A copy of the assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted below.
Are there contaminants in our drinking water?
As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include: total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, radiological, haloacetic acids, and synthetic organic compounds. The table presented below depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.
It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or the Oneonta District Office of the New York State Health Department at 607-432-3911.
Is our water system meeting other rules that govern operations?
We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards.
Do I need to take special precautions?
Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease-causing microorganisms or pathogens 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Why save water and how to avoid wasting it
Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:
- Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life.
- Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers.
- Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water-use restrictions so that essential fire fighting needs are met.
You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include:
- Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. Load it to capacity.
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
- Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fixing the leak can save up to 6,000 gallons per year.
- Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise-invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you may save more than 30,000 gallons a year.
| Table of Detected Contaminants | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant | Violation | Date of Sample | Level Detected | Unit | Regulatory Limit (MCL, TT or AL) | MCLG | Likely Source of Contamination |
| Nitrate | No | 8/10/22 | 2.5 | mg/l | 10 | 10 | Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. |
| Sulfate | No | 2/19/20 | 9.7 | mg/l | 250 | N/A | Naturally occurring. |
| Sodium1 | No | 2/19/20 | 29 | mg/l | (see health effects) | N/A | Naturally occurring; Road salt; Water softeners; Animal waste |
| Chloride | No | 2/19/20 | 63 | mg/l | 250 | N/A | Naturally occurring or indicative of road salt contamination. |
| Nickel | No | 2/19/20 | 0.00081 | mg/l | N/A | N/A | Naturally occurring. |
| Barium | No | 2/19/20 | 0.1 | mg/l | 2 | 2 | Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. |
| Copper2 | No | 9/21/22 | 0.2 0.090-0.18 | mg/l | AL=1.3 | 1.3 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives. |
| Lead3 | No | 9/21/22 | 1.0 1.0-1.4 | ug/l | AL=15 | 0 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | No | 8/9/22 | 3.8 | ug/l | 60 | N/A | By-product of drinking water disinfection needed to kill harmful organisms. |
| Total Trihalomethans (TTHM) | No | 8/9/22 | 6 | ug/l | 80 | N/A | By-product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. TTHMs are formed when source water contains large amounts of organic matter. |
| Notes: 1 – Sodium: Water containing more than 20 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets. 2 – The level of copper presented represents the 90th percentile of the 5 sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of copper values detected at your water system. In this case, 5 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the average of the 2 highest values (0.2 mg/l). The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested. 3 – The level of lead presented represents the 90th percentile of the 5 sites tested. The action level for lead was not exceeded at any of the sites tested. |
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Definitions
- Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible.
- Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (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.
- 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 contamination.
- Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
- Milligrams per liter (mg/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million – ppm).
- Micrograms per liter (ug/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion – ppb).
- Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): A measure of the radioactivity in water.
As you can see by the table, our system had no violations. We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below the level allowed by the State.
What does this information mean?
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. Village of Franklin 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 the Village of Franklin at 607-829-3782. 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.
Thank you for allowing us to continue to provide your family with quality drinking 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. The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure. Rate adjustments may be necessary in order to address these improvements. We ask that all of our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community. Please call our office if your have questions. 607-829-3782.