HIGHLAND RIDGE WATER ASSOCIATION

Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report for 2022

The Highland Ridge Water Association (HRW) has prepared the following report to provide information to you, the
consumer, on the quality of our drinking water. Included within this report is general health information, water
quality test results, how to participate concerning your drinking water and water system contacts. HRW is a Class I
Distribution Water System, which serves approximately 1374 customers in Muskingum, Fearing, Salem, Liberty,
Lawrence, Adams, Newport and Independence Townships in Washington County, Ohio. HRW currently maintains
approximately 220 miles of main water line. We have a current unconditioned license to operate our water
system.

HRW receives its water from the Warren Community Water system well field in Oak Grove, Marietta, Ohio.
Questions concerning this should be directed to Tony Lang, Warren Water (740-373-8476.) The three water wells
servicing HRW provide excellent well head protection from contamination. Warren Water provides chlorination
and fluoride to insure safe drinking water throughout the system. HRW water flows through a master meter
station and is piped under the Muskingum River to our booster station located off St. Rt. 60 near Devola. The
water is distributed to three storage tanks and service lines throughout the water system.

Highland Ridge Water has an emergency connection with Putnam Community Water. During 2022, we did not use
any water from this connection. This report does not contain information on the water quality from the Putnam
Community Water, but a copy of their consumer confidence report can be obtained by contacting Jay Huck at
(740-373-0975).

The sources of drinking water both tap and bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs, springs and
wells. As water travels over the surface of the land and 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: (A) Microbial
contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic sy stems,
agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as 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, urban storm runoff, and residential uses;(D) 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 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.

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. FDA regulations establish limits from contaminants in
bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. 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. More information about contaminants
and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1 -
800-426-4791).

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-
comprised 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 infection. 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 (1-800-426-4791).

The EPA requires regular sampling to ensure drinking water safety. The Highland Ridge Water Assoc. water supply
was sampled for contaminants during 2022. Since the Ohio EPA requires monitoring from some contaminants less
than once per year since the concentrations of these chemicals do not change frequently, some of the data,
although accurate, is more than one year old.

There was no monitoring violations in 2022. Public participation and comment are encouraged at regular meetings
on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the office at 1330 Highland Ridge Road, Lowell, OH at 6:30 p.m.
For more information or to receive a paper copy of this report, contact Judy Mercer (740)376-0337.

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. HRW is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of
materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize
the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water fo r 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 and Water Hotline or at http:www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
 2022 Table of Detected Contaminants for:
HIGHLAND RIDGE WATER ASSOCIATION

Contaminants MCLG MCL Level Range of Violations Year Typical Source of Contamination
(Units) Found Detections Sampled

Inorganic Contaminants
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching
Nitrate (ppm) 10 10 N/A NO 2022 from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion
of natural deposits.

Discharge of drilling waste; Discharge

Barium (ppm) 2 2 N/A NO 2022 from metal refineries; Erosion of
natural deposits.
Erosion of natural deposits. Water
2022 additive which promotes strong
Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.80-1.04 NO teeth. Discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories.
Fluoride (ppm)
Residual Disinfectants

Total Chlorine
(ppm) MCLG=4 MRDL-4 0.8-0.9 NO 2022 Disinfection residuals

Disinfection Byproducts
Total
Trihalomethanes N/A 80 37.9 – 41.0 NO 2022 By product of drinking water
TTHMs (ppb) chlorination.

Haloacetic Acids By product of drinking water

HAA5 (ppb) N/A 60 <6 NO 2022 chlorination

Radionuclides
Fluoride (ppm)
Erosion of natural deposits of
Gross Alpha N/A 15 N/A NO 2022 certain minerals that are
Pci/L Radioactive and may emit Alpha
Radiation.

Lead and Copper

Contaminants Action Individual Year
(Units) Level (AL) Results Over Violation Sampled Typical Source of Contaminants
the AL
IndividuaL
Results over Corrosion of household plumbing
Lead (ppb) 15 ppb oVERN/A
Over NO 2020 systems.

Zero out of 10 samples were found to have lead levels in excess of the lead action level of 15 ppb

Corrosion of household plumbing

Copper (ppm) 1.3 ppm N/A NO 2020 systems.

Zero of 10 samples were found to have copper levels in excess of the copper action of 1.3 ppm
Level (AL)

Definitions of some terms contained within this report:

*Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or
expected risk of health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
*Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as clos e
to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
*Parts per Million (ppm) or Milligrams per Liter (mg/l) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per
million corresponds to one second in 11.5 days.
*Parts Per Billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (ug/l) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per
billion corresponds to one in 31.7 years.
*Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a
water system must follow.
*The “<” symbol: A symbol which means less than. A result of <5 means that the lowest level that could be detected was 5 an d
the contaminant in that sample was not detected.
*N/A: Not applicable

A Source Water Protection Plan (SWAP) is being developed and is being implemented. The Ohio EPA classifies the Warren
Community Water system as a High Susceptibility PWS Based on High Sensitivity. More information about the source water
assessment and what consumers can do to help protect the aquifer is avai lable by calling Tony Lang at (740) 373-8476.
