2019 Consumer Confidence Report

Welcome

district information

Monthly Meeting

The Southwest Harbor Water & Sewer District will be meeting Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022 at the Southwest Harbor Town Office at 4:00p.m.

TO CUSTOMERS OF SWH WATER & SEWER

FOR YOUR WELL BEING AND THE WELL BEING OF

OUR EMPLOYEES, THE SOUTHWEST HARBOR WATER &

SEWER DISTRICT’S OFFICE WILL BE OPEN FROM 8:00am TO 4:00pm Monday -Thursday

TO THE PUBLIC. ONLY 1 CUSTOMER AT A TIME WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE OFFICE.

BUSINESS CAN STILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE MEANS BELOW AS WELL:

BY PHONE: 207-244-3948

EMAIL: dclark@swhdistrict.org

OR REGULAR MAIL:

P.O. BOX 1100, SOUTHWEST HARBOR, ME 04679

WE NOW HAVE A PAY ONLINE LINK FOR CARD PAYMENTS AND E CHECKS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A 2.5% PORTAL CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE THAT WILL BE CHARGED AT THE TIME OF MAKING YOUR PAYMENT.

PLEASE WATCH OUR WEBSITE, AT WWW.SWHDISTRICT.ORG, FOR UPDATES

Southwest Harbor Water & Sewer District

Due to the large increase in the cleaning of surfaces, with disinfectant wipes and paper products, we would like to remind, our customers, to please not flush these items down the toilet. These items will clog up your sewer lines and our equipment. Even if with the word “flushable” these should be thrown in your trash.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation

PUBLIC NOTICE

KEEPING YOU INFORMED

Southwest Harbor Water & Sewer District

Public Water Supply # ME0091490

4 Quarter Average Trihalomethane Exceedance

2nd Quarter 2020, (4/1/20 – 6/30/20)

The running annual average for trihalomethane tests results in the drinking water, over the past 4 quarters, was at 97 parts per Billion which is above the required 80 parts per Billion set by the State Drinking Water Program.

What consumers need to do; According to the Maine Dept. of Public Health there is nothing that needs to be done other than be aware of the level of trihalomethanes, or take any precautions your health care professional may advise if you have specific health issues.

What is being done; These are not new results, but a combined average using the past 4 quarters of results. The current results for Trihalomethane for the 3rd quarter of 2020 was at 49, well below the State parameters. The SWH Water & Sewer District has submitted application to the State’s Drinking Water Program for both approval and funding for changing our disinfectant from Sodium Hypochlorite, (which forms Trihalomethanes) to Chloramines, (which does not form Trihalomethanes).

If you have any non-medical concerns or questions, please feel free to contact the District at the SWH Town Hall, 26 Village Green Way, call 244-3948 or email skenney@swhdistrict.org.

Thank you for your understanding and sorry for any concerns this may cause you.

Steven Kenney, District Manager

Maine PUC Docket No. 2020-00081

NOTICE OF RESUMPTION OF DISCONNECTION ACTIVITIES

The PUC has amended the above regulation and we are required to supply this notice.

The purpose of this notice is to inform you that we MAY initiate credit and collection procedures that include the issuance of disconnection notices on November 1, 2020 and the potential disconnection of services sometime thereafter. If you have a past due account balance, we encourage you to contact us at 207-244-3948 to establish a reasonable payment arrangement. Please note that we are required by Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) rules to offer you a reasonable payment arrangement on your past due account balance and if we cannot agree on an arrangement, you have the right to seek assistance from the Consumer Assistance and Safety Division (CASD) of the MPUC. You can reach the CASD at (800) 452-4699 or at CASD.PUC@maine.gov.

We also wish to inform you that if you agree to a payment arrangement for your past due account balance, we will waive the assessment of late payment fees on your past due balance so long as you abide by the terms of the payment arrangement. To take advantage of this offer, you must contact us before December 31, 2020 to establish a payment arrangement by that date.

If you are having difficulty paying your utility bills, you may be eligible for financial assistance. You can learn what financial assistance is available by calling 211 and requesting a list of assistance agencies near you or by visiting their website at www.211maine.org and entering your town name.

information FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

SWH Water & Sewer District

Statement on COVID-19 Virus

We recognize that our services play an essential role in providing safe drinking water and safe treated wastewater. We are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and will provide updates to this notice as necessary.

Information for our customers:
The World Health Organization has published a Technical Brief which

is highlighted here:

The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water supplies, and based on laboratory studies, the risk to water supplies is low.
There is no evidence that coronaviruses are present in surface water or groundwater sources or transmitted through contaminated drinking water
This family of viruses are not stable in the environment and are susceptible to disinfection through oxidation, like chlorine.
There is no evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through sewers with or without wastewater treatment
Current wastewater treatment techniques will inactivate coronaviruses.
Best practices for protecting wastewater treatment workers health, such as the use of PPE and frequent handwashing should be practiced.

Effects on MRWA training, and events:
As of 1pm, Thursday March 12, 2020, Gov. Janet Mills confirmed Maine's first positive case of COVID-19. The Maine CDC is recommending that all large non-essential gatherings (over 250 people) be postponed for at least 30 days.

In response, we have cancelled the Management and Administrative Summit scheduled for Tuesday, March 17th. All other classes and events are still scheduled as of now. We realize that this is a fluid situation and appreciate your understanding.

MRWA will always treat the health and safety of our attendees and participants as our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the situation and will maintain regular contact with State and/or local officials including the Maine CDC. We will take all reasonable precautions necessary to prevent the spread of disease including:

Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces throughout the venue we are using.
Having hand sanitizer available and encouraging its use.
Encouraging a “no handshake” policy at the event.

In addition, we request you to stay home if you are sick or demonstrate health symptoms that could impact others, or believe you have or may have been exposed to the COVID-19 or other virus.

   For more information from trusted sources:
   Maine CDC https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/coronavirus.shtml?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
   US CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html
   World Health Organization https://www.who.int/publications-detail/water-sanitation-hygiene-and-waste-management-for-covid-19
   CISA https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/pandemic_flu.html
   US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
   Water Environment Federation https://www.wef.org/news-hub/wef-news/the-water-professionals-guide-to-the-2019-novel-coronavirus/
   National Rural Water Association https://nrwa.org/2020/03/nrwa-statement-on-the-covid-19-virus/
   AWWA https://www.awwa.org/Resources-Tools/Resource-Topics/Coronavirus

Water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management for the COVID-19 virus:

Technical Brief. (3 March 2020). World Health Organization.

WHO reference number WHO/2019-NcOV/IPC_WAH/2020.1

Southwest Harbor Water & Sewer District

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