From Staff Reports
GARFIELD -- The Garfield Water Works is a public water system subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Those regulations require the notification of customers whenever a violation occurs, and is the basis for this notice.
The maximum contaminant level for coliform is 1 positive sample per month if less than 40 bacteriological samples are collected each month. This was exceeded in the month of December 2015.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has determined that the presence of total coliforms is a possible health concern.
Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Drinking water which meets this standard is usually not associated with a health risk from disease causing bacteria and should be considered safe. Failure to meet this requirement does not necessarily mean that the water is unsafe or that alternate sources of water should be used.
The water system has discontinued the use of this site for any future samples. Water customers upstream and downstream of this site were sampled and are safe.
Should you have any questions concerning this notice, contact the water system at 479-359-3652 or the Engineering Section of the Department of Health at 501-662-2623.
General News on 03/02/2016