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August 2001
This cover page currently will be updated every month
Toms River, NJ
Please Help by Conserving Water
during the hot weather
Ciba Geigy Landfill Permit Renewal
Toms River, NJ
A new revised landfill permit has been issued for the Ciba Geigy Site. This new permit covers only Cell 3 on the Ciba Geigy superfund site versus the draft permit covering cells 1-7.
We appreciate the government agencies efforts in working with the citizens of Toms River in bringing about a revised permit, however we also would have appreciated a review of the new permit to correct any possible mistakes before it was issued.
Also answers to the public comments from the draft permit were issued, we do not necessarily agree with some of the responses. Issues with Cell 1 still need to be addressed.
To view the new permit or the public comments on the draft permit please click on this line to take you to the link on this site.
Consumer Confidence Report 2000
What our drinking water report
fails to tell you
Yes our drinking water meets the EPA Safe Drinking Water Standards but these standards were first created in 1974 by Congress and were last revised in 1995. To say the least they are outdated. The next revision to the standards is sometime next year.
What they fail to inform you of is these standards are based on a healthy 150 pound adult male drinking 2 liters of water each day throughtout a 70-year life span, not children, not the elderly nor anyone suffering from any health condition. The following "Health Note" is contained in these reports,
"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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as persons wuth 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 lesson the risk of infections by cryptosporidium and other micobial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791."
The standard water test being performed only looks for 83 chemicals (some requirements for sampling can be waived) out of the thousands that are produced. One would think that when a superfund site impacts a well field, government agencies would require sampling for all chemicals dumped on that superfund site.
Toms River, NJ
Consumer Confidence Report 2000
Trying to compare water reports from year to year can be confusing to the consumer. The report format has changed over time. Below is a comparision of those chart sections that match between the year 1998 to this just released report year 2000. Year 1998 is in white, year 2000 is in yellow.
Below each section is the potential health effects (in orange) if the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) were to be exceeded thus showing why sampling for these chemicals is important.
Inorganic Chemicals
|
Substance
Type and Name |
EPA
MCLG |
EPA
MCL |
UWTR
Highest |
UWTR
Range |
Likely
Source |
|
Fluoride ppm |
4 |
4 |
0.2 (1998)
.6 (2000) |
ND to 0.2 (1998)
ND-.6 (2000) |
Natural
deposits |
|
Nitrate
ppm |
10 |
10 |
0.8 (1998)
1.2 (2000) |
ND to 0.8 (1998)
ND-1.2 (2000) |
Natural
deposits |
Our standards for drinking water are totally inadequate to say the least. Out of
the thousands of chemicals produced, Toms River sampled for eighty one in our drinking water, even if other chemicals were potentially impacting the water source.
These inorganic chemicals are sampled at the point of entry to the United Water system.
Floride; "Potential health effects from exposure above MCL, Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); Children may get mottled teeth."
Nitrate (measured as Nitrogen); "Potential health effects from exposure above MCL, Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndome."
|
Substance
Type and Name |
EPA
MCLG |
EPA
MCL |
UWTR
Highest |
UWTR
Range |
Likely
Source |
....Radionuclides:
|
Alpha emitters
pCi/L |
0 |
15 |
10 (1998)
15(2000) |
6 to 10 (1998)
6.2-15 (2000) |
Natural
deposits |
|
|
|
Radon
pCi/L |
none |
none |
160 (1998)
160 (2000) |
N/A (1998)
N/A (2000) |
Natural
deposits |
|
Combined Radon (2000)
pCi/L |
0 |
5 |
5.5 (2000) |
.5-5.5(2000) |
Natural
deposits |
Radionuclides are sampled downstream of the well heads. This is called blending. The water from several wells dilute
the over all concentration, so the radioactivity is reduced. Concerns have been raised over this sampling method. Higher
concentrations have been reported at some well heads.
Alpha emitters, Radon, Combined Radon; "Potential health effects from exposure above MCL: Increase risk of cancer."
|
Substance
Type and Name |
EPA
MCLG |
EPA
MCL |
UWTR
Highest |
UWTR
Range |
Likely
Source |
...Volatile:
|
TTHMs ppb |
0 |
100 |
7.5 (1998)
4.9 (2000) |
ND to 7.5 (1998)
.7-4.9 (2000) |
Treatment
byproduct |
|
|
TTHMS are byproducts of the chemical disinfection of drinking water.
This sample is taken at the furthest point in the system, somewhere in the area of Green Island, Toms River.
TTHMS; "Potential health effects from exposure above MCL:
"Liver, kidney or central nervous system problems; increase risk of cancer."
|
Substance
Type and Name |
EPA
MCLG |
EPA
MCL |
90th
Percentile |
Samples
Above AL |
Likely
Source |
Lead and copper:
|
Lead ppb |
0 |
15 |
3 (1998)
.004 (2000) |
0 to 10 (1998)
0 (2000) |
Household
plumbing |
|
|
|
Copper
ppm |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0.2 (1998)
.3 (2000) |
0 (1998)
1 (2000) |
Household
plumbing |
This sample is taken at several homes that have been recently constructed, thus the "likely source", household plumbing.
It is questionable how sampling several homes could be representative of the Township's drinking water.
"LEAD", "Potential health effects from exposure above MCL;
Infants & Children: Delays in physical or mental development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities
Adults: Kidney problems, high blood pressure"
"Copper", "Potential health effects from exposure above MCL;
Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress,
Long term exposure: Liver or kidney damage
People with Wilson's Disease should consult their personal doctor if the amount of copper in their water exceeds the action level"
The previous cover page can be found under "RESOURCES", Previous Month's Cover Pages.
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