CONTACT US
11900 East Terry St.
Bonita Springs
Florida 34135
239-992-0711
800-583-1496
En Espanol – Si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre este informe favor de llamar a Bonita Springs Utilities al
239-992-0711.
2020 ANNUAL
Drinking Water Quality Report
THE COMPANY AND OUR MISSION
Bonita Springs Utilities, Inc. (BSU) is a not-for-profit water and wastewater cooperative. In 1970, the need for better quality water drove local residents to form BSU and begin to provide central water service to homes and businesses in the area. BSU has grown along with the City of Bonita Springs and the Village of Estero and now provides water and wastewater service to a population of over 50,000. We are dedicated to providing a safe, reliable potable water supply and wastewater treatment, emphasizing responsible protection of our resources at the most effective cost to all members. We are proud to continue to earn the community’s trust as your locally owned and operated utility.
This report, required by law, provides data about the quality of the water supplied by BSU during 2020. BSU welcomes the opportunity to share this information with you. It’s important that you know where our water comes from, what it contains and the risks that our water treatment is designed to prevent. The board of directors and staff of Bonita Springs Utilities, Inc. are pleased to report that our drinking water meets all federal and state requirements.
OUR WATER SOURCE
Our drinking water source lies underground. Groundwater for the lime-softening treatment process comes from the Lower Tamiami Aquifer. BSU operates two well fields located east of Interstate 75 with 19 wells at an average depth of 100 feet. Groundwater for the reverse-osmosis treatment process comes from the Lower Hawthorne Aquifer, a more brackish water source. BSU operates 15 RO wells at an average depth of 800 – 1,000 feet.
In 2020, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) performed a Source Water Assessment on our system as part of its Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAPP). The assessment provides information about potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. Eleven potential sources of contamination, with low susceptibility levels, were identified. It should be noted that the potential sources of contamination identified by this assessment project are just that: potential sources. Many of these facilities are regulated and operate under stringent construction and maintenance requirements designed to protect both human health and the environment.
The assessment results are available on the FDEP SWAPP website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp, or they can be obtained by calling BSU Operations Director Andy Koebel at 239-992-0711.
WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES
Our drinking water is a blend of two treatment processes. The lime-softening process includes hydrogen sulfide removal, hardness reduction, filtration and chlorination. The reverse-osmosis process includes membrane treatment, degasification and chlorination. Each process includes a corrosion inhibitor to help prevent corrosion in the plumbing of our customers’ homes and businesses.
The treated water from the two processes is blended together to produce the final finished water product. BSU follows established practices in the water treatment industry designed to deliver reliable water quality through an efficient water system. We test and monitor your water to maintain compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements, and are committed to ensuring the quality of your water.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE…
Bonita Springs Utilities, Inc. is a member-owned utility. We want you, our members and customers, to be informed about your water quality. Our Board of Directors meets at 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month and public input is welcome. If you have questions about this report or your water utility, you may also contact the Director of Operations, Andy Koebel, at 239-992-0711.
BSU routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2020. Data obtained before January 1, 2020, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations.
TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL:
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG:
The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
AN EXPLANATION:
MCLs are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated contaminants, a person would have to drink two liters of water a day at the MCL for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.
Action Level (AL):
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or 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 or 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 contaminants.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (ug/l):
One part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample (One part per billion is the equivalent of one cent in $10,000,000).
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 (One part per million is the equivalent of one cent in $10,000).
Picocurie per liter (pCi/L):
Measure of the radioactivity in water.
Treatment Technique (TT):
A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Microbiological Contaminants
| Contaminant | Dates of Sampling (mo/yr) | MCL Violation Y/N | Total Number of Positive Samples for the Year | MCLG | MCL | Likely Source of Contamination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E.coli** | 04/20/20 | N | 1 | 0 | Routine and repeat samples are total coliform positive and either is E.coli positive or system fails to take repeat samples following E.coli positive routine sample or system fails to analyze total coliform positive repeat samples for E.coli. | Human and animal fecal waste |
**E.coli: The total number of EC+ positive samples taken to comply with the RTCR must be reported, even if they are not MCL violations
Inorganic Contaminants
| Contaminant and Unit of Measurement | Dates of Sampling (mo/yr) | MCL Violation Y/N | Level Detected | Range of Results | MCLG | MCL | Likely Source of Contamination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium (ppm) | 02/11/20 | N | 0.0018 ppm | 0.0018 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
| Fluoride (ppm) | 02/11/20 | N | 0.18 ppm | 0.18 ppm | 4 ppm | 4 ppm | Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Water additive that promotes strong teeth when at the optimum level of 0.7 ppm |
| Nitrate (as Nitrogen) [ppm] | 02/11/20 | N | 0.088 ppm | 0.088 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
| Nitrite (as Nitrogen) [ppm] | 02/11/20 | N | 0.02 ppm | 0.02 ppm | 1 ppm | 1 ppm | Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
STAGE 1: Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products
| Disinfectant or Contaminant and Unit of Measurement | Dates of Sampling (mo/yr) | MCL or MRDL Violation Y/N | Level Detected | Range of Results | MCLG or MRDLG | MCL or MRDL | Likely Source of Contamination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine and Chloramines (ppm)* | 01/20-12/20 | N | 3.2 ppm | 0.2 - 4.5 ppm | MRDLG = 4 | MRDL = 4.0 ppm | Water additive used to control microbes |
*BSU conducted a free chlorine flush during 5/19. The results shown include both chloramine and chlorine results.
STAGE 2: Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products
| Disinfectant or Contaminant and Unit of Measurement | Dates of Sampling (mo/yr) | MCL or MRDL Violation Y/N | Level Detected | Range of Results | MCLG or MRDLG | MCL or MRDL | Likely Source of Contamination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids HAA5 (ppb) | 11/20 | N | 18 | 18 ppb | N/A | 60 ppb | By-product of drinking water disinfection |
| Total Trihalomethanes THHM (ppb) | 11/20 | N | 35 | 26 - 35 ppb | N/A | 80 ppb | By-product of drinking water disinfection |
Lead and Copper (Tap Water)**
| Contaminant and Unit of Measurement | Dates of Sampling (mo/yr) | AL Exceeded Y/N | 90th Percentile Result | No. of sampling sites exceeding the AL | MCLG | AL (Action Level) | Likely Source of Contamination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (tap water) (ppm) | 08/20-10/20 | N | 0.14 ppm | 0 | 1.3 | 1.3 ppm | Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits, leaching from wood preservatives |
| Lead (tap water)*** (ppb) | 08/20-10/20 | N | 5 ppb | 1 | 0 | 15 ppb | Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits, leaching from wood preservatives |
**We failed to complete required sampling for tap water for lead and copper on time and therefore were in violation of monitoring and reporting requirements. Because we did not take the required number of samples on time, we did not know whether the contaminants were present in your drinking water, and we are unable to tell you whether your health was at risk during that time. The monitoring period was 1/1/2020 through 9/30/2020. Thirty samples were required for each contaminant, and 28 were taken. The remaining two were collected and sent to the lab on October 23.
***Lead – 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. Bonita Springs Utilities, Inc. is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in home 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 two 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 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
2020-2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Brian Farrar
Vice President
Vincent Marchesani
Secretary
Paul J. Attwood
Treasurer
Mike Malloy
Directors
Robert Bachman
Richard Garner
Lawrence Kosilla
James Murphy
Ben Nelson
CONTAMINANTS
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) 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, 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 systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater 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 stormwater runoff and residential uses.
(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public heath.
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 Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
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 healthcare providers. EPA/Center for Disease Control (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).
Note: Bonita Springs Utilities is not required to test for the unregulated contaminant Cryptosporidium because our source water is from wells, not surface waters.
IN CONCLUSION
Water supply sustainability and good water quality are central to our mission at BSU. This is of particular concern in fast growing Southwest
Florida. Since 2004, diversification into reverse-osmosis (RO) is helping to preserve and protect water quality in the shallow aquifer that
feeds our lime-softening treatment plant. We recently completed a two million gallon per day expansion of the RO plant to increase supply
and operational reliability. Our two water treatment plants can supply up to 17 million gallons per day of water for our customers.
In 2016, the Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) judged BSU’s water the best-tasting in the three-county
region. BSU’s Water Distribution Department was recognized by the FSAWWA in 2009, 2011, 2012 , 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019 with awards
for Outstanding Water Distribution System in Florida. Both the Water Plant and Distribution Departments won a Safety Commendation
from the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association “For Leadership, Promotion, Service and Performance rendered through an
outstanding Safety Program for 2013.” The utility also won the FWPCOA “2018 Utility of the Year” award “for our outstanding safety record.”
As our population grows, demand for water will continue to increase. Our responsibility is to provide quality water to every tap. We ask
you to do your part to protect our valuable water resources for present and future generations.
Together, we are BSU