2020 Drinking Water Quality Report

Overview

The Bellwood Borough Authority (BBA) has released its 2020 Drinking Water Quality Report. The report confirms that the water supply meets all federal and state health standards. The BBA purchases treated water from the Altoona Water Authority (AWA) and distributes it to customers in Bellwood.

Water Source and Treatment

• Source: The primary source is the Bellwood Reservoir, located at the base of Blandburg Mountain in Antis Township.
• Treatment Process: Raw water is treated with ozone to destroy bacteria (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidia) and reduce organic materials. It is then filtered through sand to remove sediment, treated with a corrosion inhibitor, and finally disinfected with chlorine.
• Interconnection: The BBA system is connected to the AWA system, allowing for water supply from other AWA sources during emergencies or droughts.

Water Quality Data

The report details the results of monitoring conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

Detected Regulated Contaminants

• Turbidity: Ranged from 0. 01 to 0. 11 NTU.
• Disinfection Residuals: Chlorine levels ranged from 0. 55 to 1. 23 ppm.
• Disinfection Byproducts:
  • Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM): 22. 9 ppb.
  • Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): 6. 34 ppb.
• Inorganic Contaminants: Barium (0. 041 ppm), Bromate (1. 17 ppb), Chromium (0. 559 ppb), and Nickel (1. 74 ppb) were detected.
• Unregulated Contaminants: Manganese, HAA5, HAA6Br, HAA9, and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) were monitored.

Lead and Copper

• Lead: The 90th percentile value was 0. 78 ppb (Action Level: 15 ppb). No sites were above the action level.
• Copper: The 90th percentile value was 0. 072 ppm (Action Level: 1. 3 ppm). No sites were above the action level.

Health and Safety Information

• Vulnerable Populations: Individuals with compromised immune systems (e. g. , cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients), the elderly, and infants are at higher risk from microbial contaminants.
• Recommendations: These groups should consult their healthcare providers regarding drinking water safety.

Contact Information

• Authority: Bellwood Borough Authority
• Address: 516 Main Street, Bellwood, PA 16617
• Public Meetings: Held on the third Monday of each month at 6 PM in the Bellwood Borough Municipal Building.
• Contact Person: Mr. Rick Caswell
• Phone: (814) 742-8591
• Email: rcaswell@bellwoodborough. com