Wales Water System

Monitoring Violation: 5 violations, May 2024 to May 2026. The system did not complete required monitoring. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

What the rule requires: The 2013 RTCR (effective 2016) replaced the original TCR. It triggers automatic E. coli testing whenever total coliform is found. A single E. coli-positive sample is an acute MCL violation. It also requires systems exceeding 5% total coliform-positive samples to conduct a formal assessment and correct any deficiencies, helping prevent contamination before it escalates.

Treatment Technique Violation, health-based: 3 violations, Jun 2022 to Jan 2024. The system did not carry out a required treatment process or corrective action.

Monitoring and Reporting: 1 violation, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

Contaminants on the record: Groundwater Rule (GWR), E. coli (Escherichia coli).

Groundwater Rule (GWR), health effects: Protects against enteric viruses, which can contaminate groundwater via cracked well casings, failing septic systems, or animal waste. Viruses persist longer in groundwater than in surface water. Hepatitis A and norovirus are the primary pathogens of concern. Limit: Treatment technique: 4-log virus treatment required when source water has fecal indicators or significant sanitary deficiencies

E. coli (Escherichia coli), health effects: Most E. coli strains cause diarrheal illness. Some strains (e.g., O157:H7) produce toxins causing severe bloody diarrhea, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS — a form of kidney failure), and death — especially in children under 5 and the elderly. Even non-pathogenic strains in drinking water indicate that disease-causing organisms may also be present. Limit: Zero (one confirmed positive sample = acute MCL violation)

Monitoring and Reporting: 1 violation, Apr 2026 to May 2026. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

Contaminant on the record: Chlorine (MRDL).

Monitoring and Reporting: 21 violations, Jan 2024 to Jul 2025. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

Contaminants on the record: 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Xylenes, Total, Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride), o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, Vinyl Chloride, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Carbon Tetrachloride, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Chlorobenzene, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene.

Monitoring and Reporting: 1 violation, Jan 2024 to Jul 2025. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

What the rule requires: Nitrate (NO₃) is the most common chemical contaminant in US groundwater, entering from fertilizers, septic systems, and animal waste. It is odorless and tasteless — the only way to know if it's present is to test.

Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, health-based: 2 violations, Oct 2023 to Sep 2025. A sample exceeded the maximum contaminant level EPA allows in drinking water.

Monitoring and Reporting: 11 violations, Jul 2023 to Jun 2026. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

Contaminants on the record: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Combined Uranium, Combined Radium (-226 and -228).

Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, health effects: Alpha-emitting radionuclides accumulate in bone and soft tissue, delivering sustained internal radiation doses that increase lifetime cancer risk. There is no established safe threshold for ionizing radiation. Individual contributors such as radium-226 and polonium-210 have their own MCLs; gross alpha serves as a cost-effective screening tool that triggers more specific radionuclide analysis when exceeded. Limit: 15 pCi/L (excluding radon and uranium)

Combined Uranium, health effects: Uranium poses both radiological and chemical health risks. Chronic exposure is primarily associated with kidney damage due to its chemical toxicity as a heavy metal. The radiological risk — increased cancer probability — is also present but secondary to the nephrotoxic concern at drinking water concentrations. There is no safe threshold for radiation exposure. Limit: 0.030 mg/L (30 µg/L)

Combined Radium (-226 and -228), health effects: Radium is a bone-seeking radionuclide that accumulates in skeletal tissue after ingestion. Long-term exposure increases the risk of bone cancer and leukemia. There is no safe threshold for ionizing radiation — the MCL is set at a level balancing risk reduction with treatment feasibility. Children are particularly vulnerable due to higher rates of bone growth and calcium uptake. Limit: 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 and Ra-228)

Other Violation: 3 violations, Apr 2024 to Dec 2024. A requirement other than monitoring, reporting, or a contaminant limit, such as public notice or the annual water quality report.

Contaminant on the record: Public Notification Rule.