The sources of drinking water (both tap 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:

1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
2. 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.
3. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
4. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products or industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
5. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminates 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. All 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 Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water. As you can see by the table, our system had no violations. We are proud that your drinking water meets and exceeds all Federal and Sate requirements.

Maximum Contaminant Levels are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the Maximum Contaminant Level for a lifetime to have a one-in-million chance of having the described health effect.

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. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminates are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Okaloosa County Systems:

• Garnier's Main Water System. This water system services the Ocean City-Wright-Shalimar-Okaloosa Island area and all the unincorporated areas around Fort Walton Beach. It is served by 12 water wells, 8 elevated tanks, and one 2 million gallon ground storage tank.
  
  
• Bluewater Bay/Raintree System. Located in Bluewater Bay east of Rocky Bayou Bridge along Highway 20 to the Walton County line. This system is served by 3 wells and 2 elevated tanks.
  
  
• County West System. Located west of Hurlburt Field to the Santa Rosa County Line. It is also known as Seashore Village. The area is served by 3 water wells and 1 elevated tank.
  
  
• Mid-County (Crestview) System. This water system serves the unincorporated areas around Crestview and consists of 4 water wells and 2 elevated tanks.
  
  
• Del Cerro System. This system serves the Del Cerro Vista subdivision located east of Crestview on Highway 90. It consists of 1 water well and one pressure tank.
  
  
• The Del Cerro Water System had a sample test positive for Total Coliform bacteria in June. It was immediately retested with all repeats testing negative. DEP regulations require 5 samples to be run the following month after any positive distribution sample. Due to an oversight, OCWS collected only 2 samples the following month. DEP notified OCWS that this system was in non-compliance and was required to issue a public notification to this effect which was done in the Oct. 24, 2001 issue of The Crestview News Bulletin. The sampling plan for this system was reviewed and modified to assure that this mistake will not happen again.
  
  On September 14, 2001 the Del Cerro Well was abandoned. After this date customers in this area are being supplied with drinking water from the Mid-County System.

Please call our office if you have any questions. We at the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer System work around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us to protect our water sources, which are at the heart of our community, our way of life and our children's future.

We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more please attend any of our regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioner's meetings, usually held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month . Please contact: Kathleen Mignacca at (850) 651-7515.