2023 Consumer Confidence Report
2023 WATER QUALITY
MO 1010399
We are pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. Our water comes from 44 wells that pump water from the Missouri River alluvial aquifer. Today, the Courtney Bend Water Plant has the capability of supplying a maximum of 48 million gallons of water per day. We supply water to approximately 250,000 people including residents of Independence and 12 wholesale customers.
Our water consistently meets or exceeds all federal and State of Missouri drinking water regulations. In 2023, our water was recognized as the best tastng water in the state of Missouri by the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association. This qualified us to compete in the Best of the Best water tastng competiton which was held at the internatonal gathering of drinking water professionals in Toronto, Canada.
In addition to operating and maintaining the water treatment plant, we also maintain and manage 766 miles of water main (ranging in size from 2” to 36” in diameter), over 5,000 fire hydrants and handle customer service for over 50,000 electric, water and sewer utlity customers. One area of focus for this year has been our water main replacement program. This program utilizes a data driven approach to identify and prioritize water main replacement projects based on the likelihood of failure, consequence of failure and benefit of replacement.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Lisa Reynolds, Municipal Services Director
For More Information
Substances Expected to be in Drinking Water
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwaterwells. As water travels over the surface of the 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. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.
Lead in Drinking Water
If present, elevated levels of 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.
The City of Independence Water Department is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sittng for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water hotline (800.426.4791) or at:
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinkingwater/basic-information-ab….
For more information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
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 storm water 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 storm water runoff and residential uses.
- Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
- Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Missouri Department of Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection to the public.
Consumer Confidence Report from the City of Independence Water Department
The City of Independence supplies water to about 250,000 people, including residents of Independence and 12 wholesale customers. The water is supplied from 42 wells located at the Courtney Bend Water Treatment Plant. The wells receive water from the Missouri River Alluvial Aquifer, classified as a groundwater source. The well water is softened and disinfected at the treatment plant, and meets or exceeds all federal and state quality regulations.
The City of Independence Water Department has violated no maximum contaminant levels, monitoring requirements, or treatment techniques for the 2023 year. The following shows chemicals we find in detectable limits in our drinking water
Important Definitions:
- HAA5-Haloacetic Acids (Mono-, di-, and trichloracetic acid and mono– and di-bromacetic
acid) as a group.
- LRAA—Locational Running Annual Average: The locational average of sample analytical results for samples taken during the previous four calendar quarters.
- Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a compound that is allowed in drinking water.
- Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
- Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.
- Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
- Milligram per Liter (mg/L): Part per million (ppm).
- Microgram per Liter (ug/L): Part per billion (ppb).
- Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): A measure of the radioactivity in water.
- Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
- TTHM: Total Trihalomethanes (Chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform,) as a group.
- Not Detected (ND): the level is below the method reporting limit or method detection limit.
Note to People with
Special Health Concerns
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1.800.426.4791).
Source Water Assessment
The Department of Natural Resources conducted a source water assessment to determine the susceptibility of our water source to potential contaminants. This process involved the establishment of source water area delineations for each well or surface water intake and then a contaminant inventory was performed within those delineated areas to assess potential threats to each source.
Assessment maps and summary informaon sheets are available on the internet at https://drinkingwater.missouri.edu.
To access the maps for your water system you will need the state assigned identification code, which is printed at the top of this report. The Source Water Inventory Project maps and information sheets provide a foundaon upon which a more comprehensive source water protection plan can be developed.
Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, taste, or smell. It is found throughout the U.S. Radon can move up through the ground and into a home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon can build up to high levels in all types of homes. It can also get into indoor air when released from tap water from showering, washing dishes, and other household activities. Compared to radon entering the home through soil, radon entering the home through tap water will in most cases be a small source of radon in indoor air.
Radon is a known human carcinogen. Breathing air containing radon can lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing radon may also cause increased risk of stomach cancer. If you are concerned about radon in your home, test the air in your home. Testing is inexpensive and easy. (You should pursue radon removal for your home if the level of radon in your air is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or higher. There are simple ways to fix a radon problem that are not too costly. For additional information, call your state radon program, the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act Hotline (1.800.426.4791) or call the EPA’s Radon
Hotline (1.800.SOS.RADON).
Important Water Customer Information
816.325.SERV (7378) is a 24-hour automated account information service from the City of Independence. To access your account information, dial 325.SERV, and use your Customer and Account Number located in the upper right corner of the City Utilities Bill to access account information. Utilities Online is a feature of the City of Independence internet site. Use this service to access and update account information or submit a service request. Access Utilities Online at www.independencemo.gov.
Call Utilities Customer Service at 816.325.7930 for more information during regular business hours, Monday—Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.