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Water Quality Report

Introduction

In compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, the City of Manchester water system is providing its customers with an annual water quality report. This report explains where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies.

What is the source of my water?

Your water comes from five municipal wells sunk about 300 feet into an underground source of water called the Silurian Aquifer. These wells are located at 412 Vine Street, 900 East Butler Street, 525 Williams Street, 201 West Honey Creek Drive, and 901 South 10th. The city owns the land around these wells and restricts any activity that could pollute them. The State has performed an assessment of our source water which was completed November, 2001. The Manchester water supply obtains its water from the dolomite of the Silurian aquifer. The Silurian aquifer was determined to be highly susceptible to contamination because the characteristics of the aquifer, and overlying materials provide little protection from contamination at the land surface. The City wells are most susceptible to surface contaminants such as leaking underground storage tanks, contaminant spills, and excess fertilizer application. A detailed evaluation of your source water was completed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and is available from the City of Manchester.

Is our water system meeting other rules that govern our operations? 

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. The State and EPA require us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. The Manchester Water Department met all regulations in 2023.

Does my drinking water meet EPA standards?

Yes, our water meets all of EPA’s standards. In 2023, we conducted over 500 tests for over 80 contaminants that may be in drinking water. As you’ll see in the table contained in this report, we found all contaminants at levels that met the EPA guidelines at all times.  

Why are there contaminants in my water?

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 (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, 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, agriculture livestock operations and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Do I need to Take Special Precautions?

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 trans-plants, 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.  EPA/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 (800-426-4791).

Additional Health Information

Nitrates

Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. 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 advice from your health care provider.

Lead in Drinking Water

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.  The Manchester Water Department 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 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 the following site:  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

How can I get involved?  

Residents are encouraged to first contact City Hall (927-3636) with any questions or concerns about the City’s water system. The Manchester City Council over sees the Water Department.  The council meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at City Hall.  Please feel free to participate in these meetings.

Water Quality Data Table

DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS

The water quality data table lists all the contaminants that were detected during monitoring for the 2023 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.