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I% 0 I 0 Some People Are More Vulnerable to Contaminants in Drinking Water Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drrnki• *er than the general population, Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer unr' r,, I notherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or othe, l.une syst- aorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. The dev,�lopc rg fetus and tht pregnant women may also be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking These people or the egrvers should seek advice about drinking water from then health providers. EPA/Centers for • , - Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen th, of infection by Cryptosporidium a • -her microbial r contaminants are available from the Safe Dr' ; Water Hotline t -800.426-4791 1k • iili Drinking Water Sources • Minnesota's primary drinking water sources are groundwater and surface v,a�er. Groundwater is the water found in aquifers beneath the surface of the land. Groundwater supplies 75 percent of Minnesota's drink ... L .vater. Surface water is the water in lakes, rivers, and streams above the surface of the land. Surface water supplies 25 percent of Minnesota's drinking water. Contaminants can get in drinking water sources from the natural environment and from people's daily activities. There are five main types of contaminants in drinking water sources . • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Sources include Sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestocf, operations, pets, and wildlife. • Inorganic contaminants include salts and metals from natural sources (e.g. rock and soil), oil and gas production, mining and farming oper ations, urban stormwater runoff, and wastewater discharges. • Pesticides and herbicides are chemicals used to reduce or kill unwanted plants and pests. Sources include agriculture, urban stormwater r unoff, and commercial and residential properties. • Organic chemical contaminants include synthetic and volatile organic compounds. Sources include industrial processes and petroleum production, gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. • Radioactive contaminants such as radium, thorium, and uranium isotopes come from natual sources (e.g. radon gas from soils and rock), mining operations, and oil and gas production. The Minnesota Department of Health provides information about your drinking water source(s) in a source water assessment, including: • How White Bear Township is protecting your drinking water source(s); • Nearby threats to your drinking water sources; • How easily water and pollution can move from the surface of the land into drinking water sources, based on natural geology and the way wells are constructed. r Page 4