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WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM? Our drinking water source is the B. Everett Jordan Reservoir, more commonly known as Jordan Lake, which lies approximately 10 miles west of Cary in eastern Chatham County. The lake is a surface water supply developed and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and is part of the Cape Fear River basin. Additionally, the Town maintains water system interconnections with the City of Raleigh, Town of Holly Springs and the City of Durham, which can be used in the event of emergency to ensure adequate water supply. SUBSTANCES THAT COULD BE IN WATER To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. 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. 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. 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 stormwater 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 stormwater runoff and residential uses. • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems. • Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791. LEAD IN HOME PLUMBING 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. The Town of Cary is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water but 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 two 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 www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. In 2018, the tap water from 60 specific homes that meet regulatory requirements were tested for lead. One hundred percent showed lead levels less than the analytical detection limit of three parts per billion. For more information, visit www.townofcary.org/lead. To learn more about lead in home plumbing watch the video from American Water Works Association: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out, https://bit.ly/2VxA4Nm IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION 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. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Cary is committed to being open, transparent and accessible and encourages public input in decisions affecting our community's drinking water. Regular meetings of the Cary Town Council are typically held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall located at 316 N. Academy Street in Cary. The public is welcome. More information about Council meetings can be found at www.townofcary.org.

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