Drinking Water Quality Report

2022 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT—PWS ID 1432003
Randolph Township Water Department
Morris County, New Jersey

Dear Customer:

We are pleased to present to you the 2022 Consumer Confidence Report as required by the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. This report is designed to inform you about the quality of water and services the Township of Randolph and the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority delivered to you for the year 2021.

The Township of Randolph is pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets all federal and state requirements.

Mark of Excellence

We provide our customers an average of 1.4 million gallons of water every day.

Our commitment is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We collect and test 375+ water samples a year to continually monitor your water quality. Randolph Township is dedicated to delivering drinking water that meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. The township will maintain our aim of providing you with the best-quality drinking water.

This report was prepared by the Randolph Township Water Department and is based on analytical data prepared by Garden State Laboratories. The results of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority 2022 Consumer Confidence Report for the year 2021 are also included.

Community Involvement

The Randolph Township Council makes decisions regarding our water system. The council meets regularly at the municipal building which is located at 502 Millbrook Avenue. You are invited to take part in the public meetings, which are generally held on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. To confirm meeting dates and time please visit our office or call the township clerk’s office at 973.989.7043.

In the event of a water emergency:

• During business hours, please call the engineering department at 973.989.7066.
• After business hours, please call the Randolph Police Department at 973.989.7000.

Internet Information—Source Water Assessment Report

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has completed and issued the Source Water Assessment Report and Summary for this public water system, which is available at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/swap or by contacting the NJDEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at 609.292.5550. For a brief summary of this report please see Page 7.

Where Does My Water Come from and How Is My Water Treated?

Our water is purchased from the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA). The MCMUA continually sample and test their source water and treatment process to maintain high water quality standards. Their source is ground water, treated with sodium hypochlorite for disinfection and lime for pH adjustment.

The MCMUA water source is known as the Alamatong well fields. There are six wells located in Randolph and Chester townships and two wells in Flanders Valley located in Mount Olive and Roxbury townships. These wells draw from the Upper and Lower Stratified Glacier Drift and the Lower Liethsville Limestone Formations.

The MCMUA has provided to us their 2022 Consumer Confidence Report for the year 2021 that indicates that concentrations of all the monitored contaminants did not exceed federal or state action levels. In addition to MCMUA monitoring, we provide additional monitoring to assure your water quality.

A source water protection plan that provides more information, such as potential sources of contamination, is available for review at the MCMUA office located at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ.

Special Health Information

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised 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 health care providers. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791.

Substances Expected to be in Drinking Water

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by the public water systems. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-877-927-6337).

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 can acquire naturally occurring minerals, 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:

• 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 stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
• 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 stormwater runoff and septic systems;
• Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities;
• Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

UCMR4: The Township of Randolph’s water system was randomly selected by the USEPA to participate in the UCMR4 monitoring (unregulated contaminants are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by the USEPA). The unregulated contaminants monitoring rule (UCMR4) purpose is to assist the USEPA in assessing which substances may be monitored in the future. Please be aware that the following results are not currently regulated by the USEPA and therefore the maximum containment level (MCL) have not been established.

Water Conservation Tips

Water conservation measures are an important first step in protecting our water supply. Such measures not only save the supply of our source water but can also save you money by reducing your water bill. Here are a few suggestions:

Conservation measures you can use inside your home include:

• Fix leaking faucets, pipes, toilets, etc.
• Replace old fixtures; install water-saving devices in faucets, toilets and appliances.
• Wash only full loads of laundry.
• Take shorter showers.
• Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Soak dishes before washing.
• Run the dishwasher only when full.

You can conserve outdoors as well:

From May 1 through September 30 each year, residential lawn watering shall be permitted as follows for properties served by public water:

• Watering of properties having even numbered street addresses shall be permitted on the even numbered days of the month.
• Watering of properties having odd numbered street addresses shall be permitted on the odd numbered days of the month.
• No watering shall be permitted on the 31st day of the month.
• These restrictions shall apply only to properties which receive water provided by the Township of Randolph and the Town of Dover.
• Watering on the above dates shall be permitted during the hours from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. only.
• Use mulch around plants and shrubs.
• Repair leaks in faucets and hoses.
• Test for sprinkler system leaks.
• Use water-saving nozzles.
• Use water from a bucket to wash your car, and save the hose for rinsing.

Please contact the engineering department at 973.989.7066 if you have any concerns or questions regarding the 2022 Consumer Confidence Report.

UCMR4: The Township of Randolph’s water system was randomly selected by the USEPA to participate in the UCMR4 monitoring (unregulated contaminants are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by the USEPA). The unregulated contaminants monitoring rule (UCMR4) purpose is to assist the USEPA in assessing which substances may be monitored in the future. Please be aware that the following results are not currently regulated by the USEPA and therefore the maximum containment level (MCL) have not been established.

Secondary Contaminant:

Substances that do not have an impact on health. Secondary contaminants affect aesthetic qualities such as odor, taste or appearance. Secondary standards are recommendations, not mandates.

Non-detects (ND):

Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/L):

One part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter:

One part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL):

The “Maximum Allowed” MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG):

The “Goal” MCLG is 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.

Treatment Technique (TT):

A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Action Level (AL):

The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L):

Picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL):

The highest level of 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 (MRDLG):

The level of a 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 contamination.

Recommended Upper Limit (RUL):

Recommended maximum concentration of secondary contaminants. RULs are recommendations, not mandates.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer who have undergone 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. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.927.6337.

Elevated lead levels, if present, 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. The Morris County M.U.A. is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in 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 2 minutes before using water for drinking and cooking. If you are concerned about lead in drinking 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 (1-800-927-6337) or at the EPA website.

The following are the potential health effects on children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and others of the found contaminants listed in the table above.

Alpha emitters:

Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water containing these alpha emitters in excess of the MCL, 15 (PPWS IDCi/L) over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Trihalomethanes:

Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

HAA5 and TTHM compliance is based on the Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA) calculated at each monitoring location.

Sodium—The MCMUA slightly exceeded the recommended Upper Limit (RUL) for sodium at one of their wells. For healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the RUL may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet.

Listed in the table are the contaminants that were detected. In this table you will find many terms and abbreviations that might not be familiar. To help you better understand these terms, we’ve provided the following definitions.

Secondary Contaminant:

Substances that do not have an impact on health. Secondary contaminants affect aesthetic qualities such as odor, taste or appearance. Secondary standards are recommendations, not mandates.

Recommended Upper Limit—RUL:

Recommended maximum concentration of secondary contaminants. RULs are recommendations, not mandates.

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring:

The Morris County MUA monitored for the following unregulated contaminants. Unregulated contaminants are those for which the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA and NJDEP in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether regulation is warranted. Per-and polyfluoroaklyl substances (PFAS) are widely found in the environment. EPA has identified a health advisory level for two PFAS analytes, PFOA and PFOS 0,070 ppb either singly or combined, and NJDEP has proposed new drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS of 14 ng/L (0.014 ppb) and 13 ng/L (0.013 ppb), respectively. It is likely that the NJDEP will adopt a final rule regarding the new MCLs before the end of 2020. The detected levels of PFOA and PFOS found are below DEP's proposed MCL.

What are PFOA and PFOS?
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) are per- and polyfluoroalklyl substances PFAS), previously referred to as perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, that are man-made and used in industrial and commercial applications. PFOA was used as a processing aid in the manufacture of fluoropolymers used in non-stick cookware and other products, as well as other commercial and industrial uses based on its resistance to harsh chemicals and high temperatures. PFOS is used in metal plating and finishing as well as in various commercial products. PFOS was previously used as a major ingredient in aqueous film forming foams for firefighting and training, and PFOA and PFOS are found in consumer products such as stain resistant coatings for upholstery and carpets, water resistant outdoor clothing, and grease proof food packaging. Although the use of PFOA and PFOS has decreased substantially, contamination is expected to continue indefinitely because these substances are extremely present in the environment and are soluble and mobile in water. More information

The Morris County MUA participated in monitoring for unregulated contaminants under the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) in 2019. Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether regulation is warranted.

Morris County MUA results are available upon request. MCMUA found the substances listed below:

The following are the potential health effects on children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and others of the found contaminants listed in the table above.

Alpha emitters:

Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water containing these alpha emitters in excess of the MCL, 15 (PPWS IDCi/L) over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Barium:

Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure.

Nitrate:

Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL 10 ppm could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

Trihalomethanes:

Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Fluoride:

Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL 4 ppm over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Children may get mottled teeth.

HAA5 and TTHM compliance is based on the Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA) calculated at each monitoring location.

The following is a brief summary of Morris County MUA’s source water assessment performed by NJDEP. Morris County MUA is a public community water system consisting of 8 wells. This system source water comes from the following aquifers: glacial sand and gravel, limestone. The table below illustrates the susceptibility ratings on the following potential contaminant sources that the NJDEP found within the source assessment areas. Each source has a susceptibility rating of high, medium or low for each potential contaminant.

If a system is rated high susceptible for a contamination category, it does not mean a customer is or will be consuming contaminated drinking water. The rating reflects the potential for contamination of source water, not the existence of contamination. Public water systems are required to monitor for regulated contaminants and to install treatment if any contaminants are detected at frequencies and concentrations above allowable levels.

Pathogens:

Disease-causing organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Common sources are animal and human fecal wastes.

Nutrients:

Compounds, minerals and elements that aid growth, that are both naturally occurring and man-made.

Volatile Organic Compounds:

Man-made chemicals used as solvents, degreasers, and gasoline components.

Pesticides:

Man-made chemicals used to control pests, weeds and fungus. Common sources include land application and manufacturing centers of pesticides.

Inorganics:

Mineral-based compounds that are naturally occurring and man-made.

Radionuclides:

Radioactive substances that are naturally occurring and man-made.

Radon:

Colorless, odorless, cancer-causing gas that occurs naturally in the environment.

Disinfection Byproduct Precursors:

A common source is naturally occurring organic matter in surface water. Disinfection byproducts are formed when the disinfectants (usually chlorine) used to kill pathogens react with dissolved organic material present in water.

If you have any questions regarding the source water assessment report or summary, please contact the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this e-mail address) or call 1.609.292.5550.