Water Quality 2023

the sole source of the water treated and distributed by Patoka Lake Regional Water & Sewer District was surface water from the Patoka Reservoir.  For more information about your drinking water, please call us at (812) 678-8300.   As an end user and consumer of water, you can help to protect the sources of drinking water by increasing and promoting efforts to recycle materials and properly dispose of chemicals, used oils and petroleum products, batteries, and other household refuse.  Source water assessment is available for review at the District office.

          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 for 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 Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

     The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) 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 radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. 

 

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, and residential uses.

• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential use.

• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water run off, and septic systems.

• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.