Polk Center

Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, health-based: 1 violation, Sep 2025 to Dec 2025. A sample exceeded the maximum contaminant level EPA allows in drinking water.

Treatment Technique Violation, health-based: 1 violation, Oct 2025 to Dec 2025. The system did not carry out a required treatment process or corrective action.

Monitoring Violation: 1 violation, Aug 2023 to May 2024. The system did not complete required monitoring. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

Reporting Violation: 1 violation, Oct 2025 to Dec 2025. The system did not report required information on time.

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.

Health effects: Total coliform bacteria indicate that the disinfection barrier has been breached or fecal contamination is entering the system. E. coli specifically indicates fecal contamination and the possible presence of disease-causing pathogens (norovirus, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter). Illness can be severe in elderly, young children, and immunocompromised individuals. Limit: Zero E. coli; ≤5% of monthly samples total coliform-positive

Treatment Technique Violation, health-based: 1 violation, Mar 2026 to Jul 2026. The system did not carry out a required treatment process or corrective action.

Monitoring and Reporting: 5 violations, Nov 2025 to Jul 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: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.

Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, health effects: Violations indicate failure to meet treatment technique requirements that reduce exposure to Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and other microbial pathogens. Cryptosporidium poses the greatest risk to immunocompromised individuals, infants, and the elderly, and can cause severe or fatal illness in vulnerable populations. Limit: Treatment technique — no numeric MCL; compliance means meeting turbidity limits (0.3 NTU in 95% of monthly samples) and Cryptosporidium removal benchmarks

Monitoring and Reporting: 4 violations, Nov 2023 to Jul 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.

What the rule requires: All systems using surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) or groundwater under surface influence (GWUDI) must filter and disinfect. Treatment technique violations mean the system failed to maintain adequate disinfectant residual, exceeded turbidity limits, or lacked required permits. Snowmelt and storm events can raise turbidity and pathogen loads in surface water.

Treatment Technique Violation, health-based: 1 violation, Jul 2024 to Jul 2026. The system did not carry out a required treatment process or corrective action.

Monitoring and Reporting: 8 violations, Jan 2024 to Jul 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: Chlorine (MRDL), Carbon, Total.

Chlorine (MRDL), health effects: Acute high-dose exposure to chlorinated water can cause eye and nose irritation, stomach discomfort, and nausea. Chronic exposure above the MRDL is primarily a concern because elevated chlorine accelerates formation of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, which are associated with increased cancer risk over time. Limit: MRDL: 4.0 mg/L as an annual average

Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, health-based: 11 violations, Oct 2023 to Jun 2026. A sample exceeded the maximum contaminant level EPA allows in drinking water.

Monitoring and Reporting: 2 violations, Jul 2025 to Jul 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: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes).

Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), health effects: Dichloroacetic acid is a probable human carcinogen (Group B2). Long-term exposure to trichloroacetic acid may also increase cancer risk. Animal studies show liver, kidney, and reproductive effects at high doses. Limit: 0.060 mg/L (60 ppb) locational running annual average (LRAA)

TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes), health effects: Long-term exposure is associated with increased bladder cancer risk. Some studies link high TTHM exposure to adverse reproductive outcomes. Bromodichloromethane is classified as a possible human carcinogen. Limit: 0.080 mg/L (80 ppb) locational running annual average (LRAA)

Monitoring and Reporting: 20 violations, Jan 2025 to Apr 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: 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Xylenes, Total, Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride), o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, 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: 16 violations, Jan 2023 to Jul 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: Endrin, BHC-Gamma (Lindane), Methoxychlor, Toxaphene, Endothall, Oxamyl (Vydate), Simazine, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Carbofuran, Alachlor (Lasso), 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin), Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Chlordane.

Monitoring and Reporting: 1 violation, Jan 2023 to Jan 2024. 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: Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid found in bedrock and soil. It dissolves into groundwater from natural deposits and can also come from mining, smelting and past pesticide use. EPA lowered the MCL from 50 ppb to 10 ppb in 2001.

Monitoring and Reporting: 11 violations, Jan 2023 to May 2024. 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: Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cyanide, Fluoride, Mercury, Nickel, Selenium, Antimony, Beryllium, Thallium.

Monitoring and Reporting: 2 violations, Jan 2025 to Jul 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: Nitrate, Nitrite.

Monitoring and Reporting: 4 violations, Oct 2024 to Feb 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: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Combined Uranium, Radium-226, Radium-228.

Other Violation: 14 violations, Jan 2024 to Jul 2026. 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.

Other Violation: 1 violation, Oct 2023 to Jan 2024. A requirement other than monitoring, reporting, or a contaminant limit, such as public notice or the annual water quality report.

What the rule requires: Community water systems must deliver an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) to all customers by July 1, covering the previous year. It must list all detected contaminants, compare them to MCLs, identify source water, and include educational language about lead. A violation means the report was not delivered on time or was incomplete.