Where does your drinking water
come from?

What's in the Source Water?

As water travels over the surface of the land and into the sea or filters through the ground into an aquifer, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up contaminants resulting from human activity or the presence of animals.

Contaminants that may be present
in untreated source water:

• Microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, can be naturally present in soil or may come from agricultural livestock, wildlife, sewage treatment plants or septic systems.
  
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally occurring or come from storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
  
• Pesticides and herbicides may come from agricultural activities, residential uses or rainwater runoff.
  
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial process and petroleum production, and can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff or septic systems.
  
• Radioactive contaminants can be naturally occurring or result from oil or gas production and mining activities. 

In order to ensure that tap and bottled water is safe to drink, the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources' (DPNR), Division of Environmental Protection, prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

These limits are the same as those prescribed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Water Quality

All 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 in your drinking water and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Special Health Effects

• Immunocomprimised -Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. 
  Immunocomprimised 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 advise about drinking water from their health care providers.
  
  EPA and 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 EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

• Total Coliform Bacteria - Coliforms are bacteria are naturally present in the environment.  They are used as an indicator that the water may contain other disease causing microorganisms, called pathogens, which may cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. 
  
  Fecal Coliforms - Fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes which may cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
  
• Lead - Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population.  It is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing.  If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water.  Additional information is available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
  
• Nitrate - Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age.  High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause metahemaglobanemia, also called blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity.  If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advise from your health care provider.

• 2001 Compliance Report - Excel Tables Only (See Below for Full Report)

  -Significant Violations
  -Chemical & Radiological Contaminants
  -Water System Information

• 2002 Compliance Report - Excel Tables Only (See Below for Full Report)

  -Significant Violations
  -Chemical & Radiological Contaminants
  -Water System Information

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