Ramsey Resident - 2004 - May/June

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2 OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS Ramsey is in the process of upgrading the city's 17 outdoor warning sirens. Outdoor warning sirens were originally installed in Ramsey in 1987. These sirens were expected to be functional for 10 years. Three sirens were recently replaced in 2003, and financing has been established for several siren replacements again this year. Sirens are the most effective method to warn the population at large of dangerous conditions in the shortest amount of time. People may be outdoors at ball games, in their yard, or anywhere else where they are not in contact with the normal news media channels such as radio, TV or local public address systems. However, one of the most common misconceptions about outdoor warning sirens is that they will alert you to dangerous conditions even when you're indoors. While some people may live close enough to hear the sirens indoors, this is not their purpose. They are designed to advise people who are outside that a hazard exists. Newer structures are insulated better and are more lil(ely to keep sound out and sirens cannot be made louder to penetrate buildings because doing so would pose a danger to the hearing of people who are outdoors. A battery operated radio or TV is the best way to stay advised of possible dangerous conditions when indoors. Sirens in Anoka County are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 1 :00 p.m. The first test is comprised of a steady signal for approximately one minute. A second test follows, which consists of a series of short blasts or a wavering (warbling) tone. Some sirens in Ramsey rotate around in a circle, while others are non-rotators. Each test lasts approximately one minute. In an actual emergency, sirens will sound for three to five minutes, and then will probably be repeated. CITY OF RAMSEY 2003 DRINKING WATER REpORT The City of Ramsey is issuing the results of monitoring done on its drinking water for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2003. The purpose of this report is to advance customers' understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of the need to protect precious water resources. This document is required by all cities by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health. Call Parks & Utilities Supervisor, Marl( Riverblood, at 763-427-8254 if you have questions about the City of Ramsey's drinl(ing water or would like information about opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water. SOURCE OF WATER The City of Ramsey provides drinl(ing water to its residents from a groundwater source: five wells ranging from 320 to 345 feet deep, that draw water from the Ironton-Galeville aquifer and the Franconia-Ironton-Galesville aquifer. The Minnesota Department of Health has determined that one or more sources of your drinking water are susceptible to contamination. If you wish to obtain the entire source water assessment regarding your drinking water, please call 651.215.0800 or 1.800.818. 9318 (and press 5) during normal business hours. Also, you can view it on line at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ eh/waterl swpl swa. RESULTS OF CONTAMINANT MONITORING No contaminants were detected at levels that exceeded the federal standards. (Ramsey's drinl(ing water has never exceeded any 'contaminant' levels.) However, some contaminants were detected in trace amounts that were below legal limits. The table that follows shows the contaminants that were detected in trace amounts during 2003. (Some contaminants are sampled less frequently than once a year; as a result, not all potential contaminants were sampled for in 2002. If any of these contaminants were detected the last time they were sampled for, they would be included in the table along with the date that the detection occurred.) KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS: MCLG - Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no lmown or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for margin of safety. MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level: 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. AL - Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirement which a water system must follow. 90tl! Percentile Level - This is the value obtained after disregarding 10 percent of the samples taken that had the highest levels. (For example, in a situation in which 10 samples were taken, the 90th percentile level is determined by disregarding the highest result, which represents 10 percent of the samples.) Note: In situations in which only 5 samples are tal(en, the average of the two with the highest levels is taken to determine the 90th percentile level. pCi/1 - PicoCuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) Continued on Page 6 I've learned. . . That the best classroom in the world is at the feet 0.[ an elderly person.