2024 Newsletter/ 2023 CCR : Beaches Water Co-op

The state of Beaches Water Co-op is good. We currently have 8 wells at six pump locations that serve our community of almost 800 homes, with only minor interruptions due to repair work. Our water continues to be safe and clean, and pass all regulatory standards, including the new ones for PFAs. For this we thank the Business Manager, Dennis DiBello and his office crew and Jim Stone, the Water Superintendent and his crew of helpers, and the plumbers he contracts.

Fiscally, the co-op is in good shape, our revenues continue to meet our expenses, and there will be no rate increase in the upcoming year.

Our physical water system is in good shape overall, but much of it is aging and in need of ongoing repair and maintenance. Our focus in the upcoming year will be to continue to maintain and repair the existing system, in particular, maintenance on our water tanks, which need repair and cleaning and touch ups both internally and externally. We are still in the process of obtaining a low interest loan from MDE for the purpose of replacing much of the older water lines in the community. The loan will come with certain restrictions as to where the funds can be spent geographically, so we try to avoid preemptive repairs in the area where they will cover. When those funds become available we will begin a program of replacing much of the older water lines in the system.

The shift in our business model over the past two years has been a success so far. Dennis DiBello is no longer the Water Superintendent, but rather the Business Manager, although his knowledge of the system continues to be invaluable. Jim Stone is the Water Superintendent, responsible for the physical operations of the system, along with Michael Clarke, a certified Water Operator who checks the operation at the pump houses daily.

The board unusually has a full complement of seven members, myself, Vice President Frank DiGeorge, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Forgette, and members Gary Clarke, John Collins, Paul Murdoch and Teresa Wheeler. On their behalf I thank Dennis and his crew, Cheryl Houchen and Debbie Simmons, Jim Stone and his crew of helpers and Michael Clarke, as well as Bill Bozman and the ?ladies auxiliary,? Kathy Collins, Georgia Riedel, Debbie Berens, and Jean Bozman for their voluntary help with mailings. We also thank our members for their continued support.

The next annual meeting of the Co-op is scheduled for 3:00 PM Sept. 8, Sunday, at the Long Beach Civic Association building. We look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you,

Gerhardt F. (Fritz) Riedel

President, Beaches Water Cooperative

Welcome to Summer 2024.

As the Water Superintendent I continue to be focused on the Operations and Maintenance aspects of the Beaches Water Co-op (BWC) system. I also continue to look forward to supporting BWC and you in our quest to provide co-op members with safe, clean and reliable water service year-round. That said, we recently installed a stand-by generator at one of our pump houses which will allow us to provide continuous water service when electric power goes out.

As with any utility, system age and wear and tear take their toll. While our above ground infrastructure is relatively new, sections of the water main need replacing. Most of this piping is 60-70 years old. This is costly but work that must be done. Since my last update we have been preliminarily approved by MDE for monies to replace a substantial amount of the old water main and while this effort will be a 2-year project it will indeed be worth it. Construction should start January 2025.

Within the last year we have upgraded a portion of Long Beach Rd, all of Floral Circle and Floral Court as well as a section of Flag Harbor Blvd with a new main and service lines.

As a proponent of continuous improvement and in support of saving water I ask all to conserve water, especially now that summer is upon us. For inside water use, we provide at cost shower heads, shower wands, and faucet aerators designed to be more efficient to aid in conserving water use. For outside water use, consider irrigating your yard before the sun rises to minimize water evaporation. Anything to save water is a good thing and reduces your cost.

If you have any questions about the Operation or Maintenance of the BWC Water System, please give us a call.

Jim Stone
Superintendent

Water Conservation

Look at your water bill to compare your daily consumption for that monthly cycle to the national daily average:

NATIONAL DAILY AVG. PER PERSON: 82 GALS.

YOUR DAILY AVG. THIS MONTH: 40.13 GALS

The table below reflects the rate increase for fiscal year 2024-2025.

Fiscal year 7/1/24 - 6/30/25

BWC FY 2024/25 BUDGET	INCOME
Water service	525,300
Office Rent	1,200
Advertising-Quarterly	1,000
Application & Transfer Fees	5,000
Total Income	532,500
BWC FY 2023/22 BUDGET	EXPENSES
Auditing	16,500
Bad Debt	500
Bank Service Charges	1,600
Depreciation Expense	50,000
Professional Memberships	800
Engineering	1,500
Insurance	9,000
Mortgage Pay Down	19,000
Mortgage Interest	5,500
Legal	5,000
Licenses and Permits	500
Office - Other	17,000
Operating Supplies	19,000
Repairs & Maintenance	101,000
Administration	250,000
Taxes	100
Utilities	28,000
Water Testing	7,500
Total Expense	532,500

BWC customers have access to manage their accounts 24/7, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

One-step secure bill payment with "Quick Pay"
Credit cards, Debit cards and ACH Bank Draft Payments
Sign up for recurring payments
Use the electronic wallet feature to store payment methods (secured)
Sign up for paperless services via email
Manage your account settings

Visit our website @ www.beacheswater.com and click on the Make a Payment / Customer Portal link to set-up your account.

We encourage our customers to review their bill in its entirety - Did you know that the meters are so sensitive that they can detect a possible water leak, a dripping faucet or something that is running continuously? In these events **Meter Indicates a Possible Leak** will appear on your bill. We also have Company Notes on your bill with useful tips and information each month.

**Please make sure to use the updated account number on your recent bill**

Our drinking water is safe and meets all federal and state requirements for community drinking water. In 2023, there were no water quality violations.

BEACHES WATER CO-OPERATIVE

MD0040009

Annual Water Quality Report for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2023

This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made by the water system to provide safe drinking water.

The source of drinking water used by BEACHES WATER CO-OPERATIVE is Ground Water: Nanjemoy and Aquia confined aquifers.

For more information regarding this report contact:

Name: James Stone

Phone: 410-586-8710

Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre el agua que usted bebe. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

Source of Drinking Water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.

Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

- If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but we cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Source Water Name		Type of Water	Report Status	Location
Gerard (bayfront/bayview) CA029966	CA029966	GW	Y	Long Beach approx. 200 ft W of Main St
Jorgensen 1 (locust 1) CA054043	CA054043	GW	Y	Long Beach approx. 0.5 mi e of Rt 2
Grover CA120490	CA120490	GW	Y	Long Beach approx. 0.5 mi e of Rt 2
Rausch (balsam) CA054331	CA054331	GW	Y	Long Beach approx. 0.5 mi e of Rt 2
Slater 1 (new well) CA920901	CA920901	GW	Y	Near 4 SE of St Leonard approx. 50 ft W of Long Beach Dr & Hill Rd
Slater 2 CA811940	CA811940	GW	Y	Near 1.3 mi SE of St Leonard approx. 200 ft w of Long Beach Rd
Slater 3 CA882256	CA882256	GW	Y	Near 5 mi SE of St Leonard approx. 50 ft S of Long Beach Rd
Bozman 1 CA733266	CA733266	GW	Y	Long Beach approx 0.5 mi e of Rt 2

A source water assessment was performed by MDE and is available on their website: mde.maryland.gov.

Definitions:

Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Lead and Copper	Date Sampled	MCLG	Action Level (AL)	90th Percentile	# Sites Over	Units	Violation	Likely Source of Contamination
Copper	7/12/2022	1.3	1.3	0.7	0	ppm	N	Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Lead	7/12/2022	0	15	2.5	0	ppb	N	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.

Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Level 1 Assessment: A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Level 2 Assessment: A Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on multiple occasions.

Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

na: not applicable.

mrem: millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body)

ppb: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water.

ppm: milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.

Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products	Collection Date	Highest Level Detected	Range of Levels Detected	MCLG	MCL	Units	Violation	Likely Source of Contamination
Chlorine	2023	1.1	0.8-1.1	MRDLG = 4	MRDL = 4	ppm	N	Water additive used to control microbes.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)	2023	4	4.4 - 4.4	No goal for the total	80	ppb	N	By-product of drinking water disinfection

Inorganic Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Level Detected	Range of Levels Detected	MCLG	MCL	Units	Violation	Likely Source of Contamination
Arsenic - While your drinking water meets EPA standards for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPAs standard balances the current understanding of arsenics possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.	2023	9	3.1 - 11.9	0	10	ppb	N	Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes.
Barium	2023	0.0066	0 - 0.0066	2	2	ppm	N	Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits.
Chromium	2023	3.4	0 - 3.4	100	100	ppb	N	Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits.
Fluoride	2023	0.2	0.2 - 0.2	4	4.0	ppm	N	Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.

Radioactive Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Level Detected	Range of Levels Detected	MCL	Units	Violation	Likely Source of Contamination
Beta/photon emitters	2023	17.4	6.2 - 17.4	50	pCi/L	N	Decay of natural and man-made deposits.
Combined Radium 226/228	2023	0.2	0.2 - 0.2	5	pCi/L	N	Erosion of natural deposits.
Gross Alpha excluding radon and uranium	2023	1	0 - 2.5	15	pCi/L	N	Erosion of natural deposits.

Volatile Organic Contaminants	Collection Date	Highest Level Detected	Range of Levels Detected	MCLG	MCL	Units	Violation	Likely Source of Contamination
Toulene	2023	0.00134	0 - 0.00134	1	1	ppm	N	Discharge from petroleum factories
Xylenes	2023	0.00183	0 - 0.00183	10	10	ppm	N	Discharge from petroleum factories; Discharge from chemical factories

PFAS – short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – refers to a large group of more than 4,000 human-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in a range of products, including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, cookware, food packaging and fire-fighting foams. These uses of PFAS have led to PFAS entering our environment, where they have been measured by several states in soil, surface water, groundwater, and seafood. Some PFAS can last a long time in the environment and in the human body and can accumulate in the food chain.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) conducted a PFAS monitoring program for Community Water Systems from 2020 to 2022. The results are available on MDE's website: https://mde.maryland.gov/PublicHealth/Pages/PFAS-Landing-Page.aspx

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed regulations for 6 PFAS compounds in drinking water in March 2023. The MCLs for PFOA and PFOS are proposed to be 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt). The proposal for HFPO-DA (GenX), PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS is to use a Hazard Index of 1.0 (unitless) to determine if the combined levels of these PFAS pose a risk and require action.

The 5^th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) began testing for 29 PFAS compounds and lithium in 2023, and testing will run through 2025. The UCMR5 should test all community water systems with populations of at least 3300 people. Three randomly selected systems in Maryland with populations less than 3300 people will also be tested under the UCMR5. Detections greater than the minimum reporting levels for each constituent should be reported in the CCR.

There has been a minor adjustment to the required Lead Statement (40 CFR 141.154).

Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Beaches Water Cooperative is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact Beaches Water Co-op at 410-586-8710.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Terminology used in this report is what is generally accepted as a means of measurement of the degree of contaminants in the water.

Contaminants include naturally occurring items in the water such as minerals and foreign matter that may or may not be acceptable based on the level detected.

OUR MISSION

TOPICS INSIDE

BWC OFFICE

Board of Directors

Contract Management

Water Quality Questions

I. President’s Corner

II. Water System Operations, Maintenance & Improvements

III. Financials & Water Rates

BEACHES WATER CO-OP CUSTOMER WEB PORTAL

2023 Annual Water Quality & Consumer Confidence Report

Lead and Copper

Water Quality Test Results

PFAS Statement for CCR (CY2023)

Lead Statement