The Municipal Authority of the Borough of West View is committed to providing customers with a safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water. This annual “Consumer Confidence Report” provides customers information of the water’s composition it supplies.

The Municipal Authority of the Borough of West View is committed to providing residents with a safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water. We test our water using sophisticated equipment and procedures. The Municipal Authority of the Borough of West View water meets state and federal standards for both appearance and safety. This annual "Consumer Confidence Report," required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), tells you where your water comes from, what our tests show about it, and other things you should know about drinking water.

We are proud to report that the water provided by The Municipal Authority of the Borough of West View meets or exceeds established water-quality standards.

Overview

The Municipal Authority of the Borough of West View treatment plant is located on the tip of Neville Island along the shore of the Ohio River. Our source water is surface water obtained from our intake structure in the Ohio River, however we maintain groundwater wells on Neville and Davis Islands for emergency sources should they be required.

Upon completion of screening, the source water is directed through a mixing chamber where the necessary treatment chemicals are added to coagulate the fine unwanted particles. Next the water enters clarifiers where the coagulated particles are allowed to settle out prior to passing through the granular activated carbon filters which remove any remaining unwanted particles along with color taste and odor. Finally, chlorine is added as a disinfectant to kill bacteria, fluoride is added to aid in the prevention of tooth decay and the water is pH stabilized with sodium hydroxide. The clean water is stored in the clearwell of the treatment plant until pumped to the pipes and tanks of the distribution system.

Ultraviolet Disinfection

On April 19, 2001 the new Sentinel™ Ultraviolet Disinfection System at the West View Water Treatment Plant on Neville Island began operation. The Calgon Carbon Corporation headquartered right here in Pittsburgh designed and constructed the new disinfection system. The Sentinel™ system uses ultraviolet light to provide a cost-effective barrier against viruses, bacteria and parasites. Before finished water leaves the treatment plant and enters the distribution system it passes through the Sentinel™ unit where it is exposed to Ultraviolet (UV) light. This UV exposure inactivates harmful pathogens that may be present in the water without leaving behind any undesirable by-products. Recent studies have shown that UV treatment is even effective in inactivating Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are parasites that cause intestinal illness, and are potentially deadly to people with suppressed immune systems, such as children, the elderly and those who are ill. Since 1971 Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been the most commonly identified pathogens in waterborne outbreaks in the United States. These parasites are commonly found in surface water and are difficult to remove using conventional techniques. At the time of its initial start-up the West View Sentinel™ system was the largest UV disinfection system for municipal drinking water treatment in the United States. The West View Water Authority is proud to be one of the Nation’s leaders in this new and exciting technology.

What Does The Following Table Mean?

The table shows the results of our water-quality analyses. Every regulated contaminant that we detected in the water, even in the most minute traces, is listed here. The table contains the name of each substance, the highest level allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health, the amount detected, the usual sources of such contamination, footnotes explaining our findings, and a key to units of measurement. The following definitions of MCL and MCLG are important.

The state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.

Maximum Contaminant Level or 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.

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