AN IMPORTANT NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE MONTEREY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

SPRINGFIELD MUTUAL WATER COMPANY - I.D. No.  270-0771                                     

DATE:   SEPTEMBER 5, 2023       

This notification of all water consumers is being performed in compliance with the laws and regulations of the California Department of Health Services and the Monterey County Health Department to keep you fully informed about your drinking water.

The quality of water served by the SPRINGFIELD MUTUAL WATER COMPANY does not meet the drinking water standards specified in the California Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring Regulations.  Chemicals analyses indicate that the Nitrate content in the water supplied to you exceeds the maximum permissible levels set by the State and Federal Drinking Water Regulations.

Water containing nitrates in excess of 45 mg/l presents a risk to the health of humans when continually used for drinking or culinary purposes.  Pregnant women and children under the age of 6 months run the greatest risk of experiencing possible health problems, i.e. “Blue Baby Syndrome”.  The presence of nitrates in the blood reduces its oxygen-carrying capacity.  Accordingly, you are advised not to use water from this system in the preparation of food, juices or baby formula.  Be advised that boiling the water will not eliminate the problem but rather increases the concentration of nitrate.

Pregnant women are also at risk of development the symptoms of methemoglobinemia due to the presence of nitrate in their drinking water.  During pregnancy, it is common for methemoglobin levels to increase from the normal range (0.5 to 2.5% of the total hemoglobin) to a maximum of 10% in the 30th week of pregnancy, and then decline to normal levels after delivery.  Therefore, pregnant women are particularly susceptible to methemoglobinemia and should be sure that their drinking water does not exceed safe levels for nitrate.  There is, however no clear evidence that nitrate can be transmitted to the fetus from the pregnant woman.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN: ALTHOUGH NO HEALTH HAZARD FROM NITRATES HAS BEEN CONFIRMED FOR PERSONS OLDER THAN 6 MONTHS, WE ARE REQUIRING THE USE OF BOTTLED WATER OR WATER FROM AN APPROVED SOURCE FOR DRINKING OR COOKING PURPOSES FOR ALL PERSONS ON THE SYSTEM.  CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING WATER TO PREVENT BACTERIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION.  THESE PROCEDURES ARE TO REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT

                        Judy Vazquez-Varela                                                                  (831) 722-1389 / 663-2181