This was disclosed by Commonwealth Utility Corp. water and wastewater operation manager Mariano Iglecias in his report on the 2008 test results of water samples.
Other sources of contamination are the byproducts of drinking water disinfection, soil runoff and the corrosion of household plumbing systems, he said.
Iglecias said contaminants that may be present in the source of water include microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, spills, septic systems and agricultural operations.
These include inorganic contaminants such as salt and metals that can be naturally occurring or result from storm water runoff, industrial or residential wastewater discharges, or farming, he added.
Water contamination can be traced in pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources like agriculture, stormwater runoff and residential uses, he said.
According to Iglecias, drinking water can become contaminated by organic chemicals which include synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial processes that come from gas stations and septic systems.
To ensure that tap water is safe to use, Iglecias said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prescribed to limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water system.
Quoting the EPA’s message on water, Iglecias said 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 transplant, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections,” he said.
These people, he added, should seek advice about drinking water from their health providers.
