Ironwood water report gets passing grade

By TOM LAVENTURE

[email protected]

Ironwood — The city of Ironwood drinking water shows no failing marks, according to the annual report recently released by the city.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants and the presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk, according to the city’s annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report). The city’s test results show that water samples tested in 2020 were below limits for the presence of disinfectant byproducts; inorganic contaminants such as fluoride, nitrates and sodium; and contaminants such as copper, lead and cyanide.

“There was nothing out of the ordinary which is good,” said Scott Erickson, city manager. “We’re all under the levels they need to test for and no significant issues have popped up.”

The water quality report is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide details about contaminant levels in water sources and if they exceed regulatory standards.

“We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies,” Bob Tervonen, city utilities manager, stated in the report.

The information is also important to water customers who are more sensitive to the presence of specific contaminants than are the general population, the report said. There may be a need for precautions for immune-compromised residents or who are HIV/AIDS positive, undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplants, or the elderly or infants who are more at risk from infections.

People with special concerns should seek advice about drinking water from a health care provider, and the Environmental Protection Agency or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

The municipal wells do have elevated manganese which were recorded during six sampling rounds from July 2019 through October 2020. The October 2020 manganese results ranged from non-detect to 470 parts-per-billion (ppb) which was above the 50 ppb aesthetic criteria and 300 ppb for infants under 1 year old, resulting in a health advisory, and an acute health advisory for individuals older than 1 year at 1,000 ppb.

Historically, the high manganese in the source water was resolved by blending wells with higher levels of manganese with lower manganese wells, the report said. The excessive sample resulted in shutting down the well with highest manganese concentration as a precaution.

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department completed three rounds of manganese sampling at Ironwood residences in August 2019 using a state approved testing facility. Samples taken after hydrant flushing showed manganese levels between 63 ppb and 280 ppb, all below the health advisory levels.

An engineering study of iron and manganese removal completed by SEH (Short, Elliot & Hendrickson) recommended a filtration treatment plant pump station as the ultimate solution to remove iron and manganese from the municipal water supply and improve the aesthetic quality. The project is just completing the funding phase and will enter the design stage with construction expected to start in 2022, according to city commission meetings.

The city’s water sources are two glacial aquifers, which serve the Big Springs and Spring Creek Well Fields. These six wells range with a depth of 54 feet to 140 feet.

The city of Ironwood water supply recently completed a state approved wellhead protection plan to protect the public area water supply, the report said. The city recently revised the wellhead protection and now provides educational materials for property owners to help protect the water supply such as private well abandonment, use of pesticides and fertilizers and maintaining a septic system.

Residents can help protect the city drinking water by eliminating lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides that contain hazardous chemicals, picking up after pets, properly maintaining septic systems and proper disposal of chemicals including motor oil.

For information about manganese concerns, contact WUPHD at 906-482-7382 or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 800-648-6942.

Residents with concerns about lead in their service lines or plumbing can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing the tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking if water is idle in the lines for several hours. Have the water tested if there are concerns.

For more information see a full copy of the report, on page 15, or call city officials at 906-932-5050.