2016 Water Quality ReportANNUAL
WATER QUALITY REPORT
This improves the taste of the wa-
ter, reduces the corrosivity, and
keeps it safe to drink.
The Water Department diligently
operates and maintains the treat-
ment facility to ensure the de-
livery of reliable, safe and high
quality water to our customers.
The Town also has the ability to
provide you with water through
interconnections with the Cities
of Delray Beach or Boca Raton in
case of an emergency or for main-
tenance that requires our plant to
be shut down.
We want our valued customers
to be informed about your water
utility and encourage you to at-
tend Town Commission Meet-
ings or view them on line at www.
highlandbeach.us. Meetings are
held at 1:30 p.m. on the first and
last Tuesday of each month at the
Town Hall Commission Cham-
bers, 3614 South Ocean Boule-
vard.
If you have any questions or con-
cerns about this information or to
learn more about your water util-
ity, please contact Edward Soper,
Public Works Director or Robert
Ailstock, Water Plant Superinten-
dent at 561-243-2084.
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACHWATER QUALITY REPORT
2016
In This Report
2016 Water
Quality Monitoring
Results
Our Monitoring
Process
How is Our Water
Treated?
Definitions &
Test Results Table
Why are
Contaminants
Present in Our
Water?
The Town of Highland Beach
is pleased to present our Water
Quality Report for 2016. Publi-
cation of this report allows us
the opportunity to keep you in-
formed about the excellent water
services we have delivered over
the past year.
Our goal has always been to pro-
vide our residents with a safe and
dependable supply of drinking wa-
ter. The source of the raw water is
from wells drawn from the Floridan
Aquifer. Since water is the earth’s
most precious resource we request
that citizens practice sensible con-
servation measures whenever pos-
sible. Reduced usage also helps to
control expenses associated with
pumping and treatment of water.
The Town of Highland Beach
Water Treatment Plant uses a
state-of-the-art method of Re-
verse Osmosis to treat the water
that is pumped from the aqui-
fer. This process removes miner-
als and other contaminants from
the water but does not eliminate
dissolved gases. A degasification
system and two air scrubbers are
used to remove unwanted gases
from the water. The water is then
treated to add hardness, alkalinity
and for disinfection.
Test Results Table
Lead and Copper (Tap Water)
Inorganic Contaminants
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products - Inorganic Contaminants
Microbiological contaminants
Dates of
Sampling
(mo./yr.)
10/14
10/14
Dates of
Sampling
(mo./yr.)
12/14
12/14
8/15
8/15
Monthly
Dates of
Sampling
(mo./yr.)
3/15
Action Level
Exceedance
Y/N
N
N
MCL
Violations
Y/N
N
N
N
N
N
Non-Acute
MCL Violations
Y/N
Y
Percentile
Result
90th
0.15
0.0017
Level
Detected
0.047
94.0
1.11 (Avg.)
0.37 (Avg.)
1.5 (Avg.)
No. of Sampling
Sites Exceeding
the AL
0
0
Range of
Results
N/A
N/A
0.92 - 1.30
.037
0.8 - 2.40
MCLG
1.3
0
MRDLG
or
MCLG
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.0
Likely Source
of
Contamination
Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Likely Source
of
Contamination
Erosion of natural deposits. Discharge
from fertilizer and almunium factories.
Salt water intrusion; leaching from soil.
By-product of drinking water
disinfection.
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Water additive used to control microbes.
Likely Source
of
Contamination
Naturally Present in the Environment;
Sample or test error
AL
(Action
Level)
1.3
15
MRDL
or
MCL
4.0
160
80
60
4.0
Contaminant
and Unit of
Measure
Copper (ppm)
Lead (ppm)
Contaminant
and Unit of
Measure
Fluoride (ppm)
Sodium (ppm)
Trihalomethanes
(ppb)
Haloacetic Acids (PPB)
Chlorine (ppm)
Contaminant
and Unit of
Measure
Total Coliform
Bacteria
(Positive Samples)
Highest Monthly
Percentage/Number
5%
MCL
1 positive
sample
MCLG
0
Our Monitoring Process
The Town of Highland Beach Water Treatment plant routinely monitors for
many contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State
Laws; however, only those detected are included in the table below. As water
travels over the land or underground it can pick up substances or contaminants
such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances.
All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably ex-
pected to contain at least trace amounts of some contaminants. It’s important
to remember that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose
a health risk.
The state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year
because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.
Therefore, some of our data, although representative, is more than one year
old.
Definitions
In the test result table you may
find terms and abbreviations you
might not be familiar with. To
help you better understand these
terms, we have provided the fol-
lowing definitions:
Action Level (AL) - The concen-
tration of a contaminant which,
if exeeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements that a water
system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level
or MCL - The highest level of a
contaminant that is allowed in
drinking water. MCLs are set as
close to the MCLGs as feasible us-
ing the best available treatment
technology.
Maximum Residual Disinfec-
tant Level or MRDL - The high-
est level of disinfectant allowed in
drinking water. There is convinc-
ing evidence that addition of a
disinfectant is necessary for con-
trol of microbial contaminants.
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.
Maximum Residual Disinfec-
tant Level Goal or MRDLG - The
level of a drinking water disin-
fectant below which there is no
known or expected risk to health.
MRDLGs do not reflect the ben-
efits of the use of disinfectants to
control microbial contaminants.
N/A - Not applicable.
ND - “ND” means not detected
and indicates that the substance
was not found by laboratory anal-
ysis.
Parts per billion (ppb) or
Micrograms per liter (μg/L) –
one part by weight of analyte to
1 billion parts by weight of the
water sample.
Parts per million (ppm ) or
Milligrams per liter (mg/L) –
one part by weight of analyte to
1 million parts by weight of the
water sample.
Note: The Water Department performs regular, periodic compliance monitoring for numerous substanc-
es in your drinking water, however on February 10, 2017, we realized that testing for Trihalomethanes
(TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5s) was inadvertently omitted in 2016. These substances, known as
disinfection byproducts (DBPs), are contaminants formed when chlorine reacts with carbon compounds
naturally occurring in ground water.
Why are Contaminants Present in Our Water?
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include
rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reser-voirs, springs and wells. 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 hu-
man 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 systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be nat-
urally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or do-
mestic 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 water runoff, and residential uses.
(D) Organic chemical contami-nants, including synthetic and vola-
tile 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 produc-
tion and mining activities.
F) Lead, if present, elevated levels of
lead can cause serious health prob-lems, 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 Town
of Highland Beach is responsible for providing high quality drinking wa-
ter, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing compo-
nents. When your water has been sit-ting for several hours, you can mini-
mize 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 meth-
ods, and steps you can take to mini-mize exposure is available from the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
How Is Our Water Treated?
Highland Beach’s water plant uses the process of reverse osmosis to treat our
water. The water plant utilizes the Floridan aquifer, and draws water from wells
that are 1,200 feet deep. Although raw water is quite pristine, it is high in salin-
ity (salt content).
To remove the salinity and other impurities, the raw well water passes through
a series of membranes. The system uses 300 horse power pumps that force the
water through the membranes at very high pressures, in excess of 350 pounds
per square inch (psi). An anti-scalant is used in order to protect the membranes
from a build-up of solids that would result in clogging, and phosphate is used
as a corrosion inhibitor as protection for the piping.
Before the finished water enters the distribution system, acid and sodium hydrox-
ide are added for pH adjustment, and chlorine is used as a disinfectant. The end
result is that Highland Beach residents enjoy very pure water that is crystal clear.
The Water Department followed corrective action procedures as required by the Palm Beach County
Health Department. We have also implemented a new and improved tracking system to make sure all
tests are conducted in strict accordance with the applicable regulations. Water samples were analyzed for
these contaminants in 2015 and the test results were well below permitted levels. Another round of tests
for DBPs were performed in 2017 and these results were also within compliance limitations.
Test Results Table
Lead and Copper (Tap Water)
Inorganic Contaminants
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products - Inorganic Contaminants
Microbiological contaminants
Dates of
Sampling
(mo./yr.)
10/14
10/14
Dates of
Sampling
(mo./yr.)
12/14
12/14
8/15
8/15
Monthly
Dates of
Sampling
(mo./yr.)
3/15
Action Level
Exceedance
Y/N
N
N
MCL
Violations
Y/N
N
N
N
N
N
Non-Acute
MCL Violations
Y/N
Y
Percentile
Result
90th
0.15
0.0017
Level
Detected
0.047
94.0
1.11 (Avg.)
0.37 (Avg.)
1.5 (Avg.)
No. of Sampling
Sites Exceeding
the AL
0
0
Range of
Results
N/A
N/A
0.92 - 1.30
.037
0.8 - 2.40
MCLG
1.3
0
MRDLG
or
MCLG
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.0
Likely Source
of
Contamination
Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Likely Source
of
Contamination
Erosion of natural deposits. Discharge
from fertilizer and almunium factories.
Salt water intrusion; leaching from soil.
By-product of drinking water
disinfection.
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Water additive used to control microbes.
Likely Source
of
Contamination
Naturally Present in the Environment;
Sample or test error
AL
(Action
Level)
1.3
15
MRDL
or
MCL
4.0
160
80
60
4.0
Contaminant
and Unit of
Measure
Copper (ppm)
Lead (ppm)
Contaminant
and Unit of
Measure
Fluoride (ppm)
Sodium (ppm)
Trihalomethanes
(ppb)
Haloacetic Acids (PPB)
Chlorine (ppm)
Contaminant
and Unit of
Measure
Total Coliform
Bacteria
(Positive Samples)
Highest Monthly
Percentage/Number
5%
MCL
1 positive
sample
MCLG
0
Town of Highland Beach
3614 South Ocean Blvd.
Highland Beach, FL 33487
In order to ensure that tap water is
safe to drink, EPA prescribes regula-
tions which limit the amount of cer-
tain contaminants in water provided
by public water systems. FDA regu-
lations establish limits for contami-
nants in bottled water which must
provide the same protection for pub-
lic health. MCLs are set at very strin-
gent levels. 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.
In our continuing effort to maintain
a safe and dependable water supply
and to comply with applicable regu-
lations it may, from time-to-time be
necessary to make improvements to
the water system. The costs of such
improvements may be reflected in
the rate structure or through ad
valorem taxes. The Town recently
completed the side street water
main replacement project and will
be upgrading the Water Treatment
Plant’s remineralization system this
summer to further improve water
quality.
The Department of Environmental
Protection performed a Source Water
Assessment in 2009 which indicated
there are no potential sources of con-
tamination near our groundwater
wells. The assessment results are avail-
able on the FDEP Source Water Assess-
How Do We Ensure the Highest Quality of Water?
Town of Highland Beach
3614 S. Ocean Blvd.
Highland Beach FL 33487
Water Dept. Hours
Monday-Friday - 7:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Water Quality Questions
Contact: Edward Soper,
Public Works Director
or Robert Ailstock,
Water Plant Superintendent
561/243-2084
www.highlandbeach.us
Additional Contacts
Environmental Protection Agency’s
Safe Drinking Water Hotline:
800/426-4791 • www.epa.gov
Palm Beach County
Public Health Unit:
561/837-5900
Florida Department of Health:
904/791-1599
®2016 Town of Highland Beach. This publica-
tion may not be reproduced in whole or in part
without written authorization from the Town
of Highland Beach.
WATER CONSERVATION TIPS
Courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency
• Repair all leaks immediately. A leaky
toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per
day. To detect leaks in the toilet, add food
coloring to the tank; if the colored water
appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking
• When using a hose, control the flow
with an automatic shut-off nozzle
• Water only when necessary. The most ef-
fective time is early in the morning; not
on windy, rainy or very hot days. Use wa-
ter efficiently; direct water to plants, not
to driveways or sidewalks
• Replace old fixtures with high efficiency
devices
ment and Protection Program website
at www. dep.state.fl.us/swapp.
Note: Some individuals may be more
vulnerable to contaminants in drink-
ing water than the general popula-
tion. Immunocompromised persons
such as people with cancer undergoing
chemotherapy, have undergone organ
transplants, or those who may have
HIV/AIDS or other immune system dis-
orders, 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 ap-
propriate means to lessen the risk of
infection by cryptosporidium and oth-
er microbiological contaminants are
available from the Safe Drinking Water
Hot Line 800-426-4791.