CHILILI WATER USERS ASSN

What this violation means

Fluoride at the optimal level (~0.7 mg/L) reduces tooth decay, which is why most US utilities add it. The MCL of 4.0 mg/L exists to protect against skeletal fluorosis from naturally high-fluoride groundwater, while the EPA's secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L addresses dental fluorosis in children.

Recommended precautions

• →Reverse osmosis removes fluoride; standard carbon filters do NOT.
• →If your child uses fluoride toothpaste and drinks fluoridated water, supervise brushing to limit ingestion.
• →Bone meal supplements often contain fluoride and should be used cautiously.

What this violation means

Total coliform bacteria are themselves usually harmless, but their presence signals that the water distribution system has a vulnerability — typically a cracked pipe, loss of pressure, or back-siphonage — that could allow disease-causing pathogens to enter. Repeated coliform-positive samples trigger mandatory utility investigation.

Recommended precautions

• →If your utility issues a boil-water advisory, boil all drinking and cooking water for at least one minute.
• →Use bottled water until the advisory is lifted.
• →Ice from icemakers and beverages made before the advisory should be discarded.
• →UV light and chlorination both kill coliform bacteria — most home filters do not.

What this violation means

Lead is a potent neurotoxin with no safe exposure level. In drinking water it primarily enters via corroded lead service lines, lead-soldered copper pipes, and brass fixtures. Children under 6 and pregnant women face the highest risk because lead disrupts developing nervous and skeletal systems.

Recommended precautions

• →Run cold tap water 30–120 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially after the tap has been unused for hours.
• →Never cook with hot tap water — heat increases lead leaching from pipes.
• →Use an NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter for lead removal (carbon block or reverse osmosis).
• →If you have children, get blood lead levels tested by your pediatrician.