The Bradford City Water Authority has received a clean bill of
health, according to a 2006 drinking water quality report.

The document, which has been sent by mail to residents
throughout the Bradford area, indicates the authority’s drinking
water meets or exceeds all federal and state requirements.

“The entire report is a requirement for all water utilities
nationwide,” Executive Director Kim Benjamin said on Tuesday,
adding a large portion of what is contained in the report is
directed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state
Department of Environmental Protection.

According to the results from the report, the authority was
within the normal guidelines after testing for contaminants.

However, there was a “failure to monitor” violation for
haloacetic acids and total trihalomethanes for the first quarter of
2006. Regular monitoring, as required, resumed in the second
quarter of the year.

In that circumstance, Benjamin said the authority notified the
DEP that it would be late in reporting on those byproducts. He said
DEP officials told the authority to pick up the normal reporting
pattern in the second quarter.

“Haloacetic acids have been required to be reported since
revisions of the 1986 Safe Water Drinking Act,” Benjamin said. “He
haven’t had any exceedance or failure to monitor in any quarter
dating back to then.”

The report indicates the haloacetic acids and total
trihalomethanes are byproducts of drinking water disinfection.

Among the contaminants the authority routinely checks for
include barium, fluoride, nitrate, lead and copper. Tests are also
run for turbidity, chlorine and organic carbon.

The main sources of water for the system are the Heffner,
Marilla and Gilbert reservoirs.

Over the past two decades, more than $20 million has been
invested in improvements to the water system, according to the
report, including the extensive rehabilitation of the Marilla
Reservoir.

Among the work on the reservoir includes modifying the
downstream side of the spillway, expanding the embankment and some
dredging. The project is slated to be completed by early fall.

The authority has also expanded its service to include Bradford,
Foster and Lafayette townships, including as far south as Bradford
Regional Airport.

“We encourage our customers to read the report,” Benjamin said,
adding anyone who has questions regarding it should contact the
authority.

The report is annually released to the public.