WATER DEPARTMENT

WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?

In general, 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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

The City of Corning derives its water supply from the Chemung Valley Aquifer. Water is withdrawn from this aquifer by five wells located throughout the City. These wells yield ample reserve capacity to supply all demands including firefighting.

ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER?

As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include: total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, and synthetic organic compounds. In 2004, we tested for more than 140 contaminants. The tests done on the City drinking water shows that some contaminants were detected; however, these contaminants were detected well below New York State Requirements. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or the New York State Department of Health, 107 Broadway, Hornell, NY 14843 - Phone (607) 324-8371.

The City of Corning provides the following treatment to its water supply:

Chlorination for disinfection

Air stripping for removal of TCE

Addition of poly-phosphate for the purpose of sequestering calcium and iron

Chlorine odors may be more noticeable when the weather is warmer.

Chlorine is essential to kill organisms that may cause disease. The following are ways you can remove the chlorine odor from your drinking water.

Once you remove the chlorine, be sure to refrigerate the water to limit bacterial regrowth.

Brown water is often the result of street construction or water main work being done in the area. Any disturbance to the main, including the opening of a fire hydrant, can cause pipe sediment to shift, resulting in brown water. The settling time of the main will vary, depending on the size of the water main. In addition, brown water is commonly associated with plumbing corrosion problems inside buildings and from rusting hot water heaters. If you have a problem with brown water, it is recommended that you run your cold water for 2 - 3 minutes if it has not been used for an extended period of time. This will flush the line. You can avoid wasting water by catching your "flush" water in a container and using it to water plants or for other purposes.

Air becomes trapped in the water during main repairs. The water as a result, can sometimes appear cloudy or milky. This condition presents no threat to public health. The cloudiness is temporary and clears quickly after the water is drawn from the tap and the excess air is released.