We’re pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Quality Water Report.  This report is designed to inform you about the quality of water we deliver to you every day.  If you have any questions about this report, please feel free to contact Public Works Director, Brad Corrao at the DPW office at 608-522-4522.

Our goal at the Village of North Freedom is to provide you with the safest, most dependable supply of water possible. To that end, we have spent many thousands of dollars on sampling our water, improving our treatment processes, and safeguarding our water resources.  As you’ll see in the following pages, North Freedom’s water is safe and meets all Federal and State drinking water requirements.

Water Utility Information

General Information

Our facilities currently include 2 wells and 1 storage facility.  The Water System is overseen by the Village Board and Public Service Commission of WI (PSC) and the Village of North Freedom monthly Regular Board meeting is second Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the North Freedom Community Center (105 N Maple St, North Freedom, WI 53951).  These meetings are open to the public and customers are encouraged to attend.

Municipal Drinking Water

Substances in Drinking Water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater.  As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, radioactive materials, and substances resulting from human activity.  All drinking water, including bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain minerals and other constituents.  It’s important to remember that the presence of these materials does not necessarily pose a health risk.  More information about contaminants and their respective potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). The State of Wisconsin requires us to regularly test our water for certain contaminants at varying intervals, some of which are less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants is not expected to vary significantly from year to year.  Accordingly, some of our data, though representative, is more than one year old.  The data in the Test Results tables provides a summary of the sample results over the past five years.

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 microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

North Freedom’s Water

All our water is supplied from two groundwater wells that draw water from sandstone and gravel formations hundreds of feet below the surface of the ground.  Although the water from each well has different characteristics due to the makeup of the aquifer formation it draws water from, the water is blended together as it moves throughout the distribution system.  To obtain a summary of the source water assessment, please contact us at 608-522-4522.

Well #                      2             3
Depth (ft)               250         325

Hardness in water at the wells has a range of 135 mg/l to 342 mg/l (average 231 mg/l) and in the system, it ranges from 138 mg/l to 353 mg/l (average 248 mg/l) (17-18 grains/gal.).  pH in water at the wells has a range of 7.12 to 7.86 (average 7.37) and in the system, it ranges from 7.22 to 7.52 (average 7.35).  

Water Additives

We currently add chlorine as a disinfectant and fluoride to promote healthy development of teeth.

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 metal, which can be natural-occurring or result from urban storm water 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 storm water runoff and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order 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.  FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which shall provide the same protection for public health.

Detected Contaminants

Your water was tested for many contaminants last year.  We are allowed to monitor for some contaminants less frequently than once a year.  The following tables list only those contaminants which were detected in your water.  If a contaminant was detected last year, it will appear in the following tables without a sample date.  If the contaminant was not monitored last year, but was detected within the last 5 years, it will appear in the tables below along with the sample date.

Lead and copper

 Contaminant Health Effects – LEAD

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

Contaminant Health Effects – COPPER

Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilsons Disease should consult their personal doctor.

Additional Health Information

Lead can cause serious health effects in people of all ages, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and parts used in service lines and in home plumbing. North Freedom Waterworks is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in the plumbing in your home. Because lead levels may vary over time, lead exposure is possible even when your tap sampling results do not detect lead at one point in time. You can help protect yourself and your family by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. Using a filter, certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead, is effective in reducing lead exposures. Follow the instructions provided with the filter to ensure the filter is used properly. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Before using tap water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, flush your pipes for several minutes. You can do this by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. If you have a lead service line or galvanized requiring replacement service line, you may need to flush your pipes for a longer period. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact North Freedom Waterworks (Bradley Corrao at (608) 522-4522). Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Unregulated contaminants

Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards.  The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.  EPA required us to participate in the monitoring.

Within the last 12 months we conducted Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring (UCMR) in accordance with US EPA rules. We are required to inform you of this sampling. We are only required to include results showing detections within this report; however, if you would like a copy of all results, please contact us at (608) 522-4522.

Inorganic Contaminants

 DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS

Radioactive Contaminants

Additional Information on Service Line Materials

We were required to develop an initial inventory of service lines connected to our distribution system by October 16, 2024 and to make the inventory publicly accessible.  You can access the service line inventory by contacting the Director of Public Works Office at 608-522-4522.  All service lines were inventoried and there was no detected lead piping.  However, there is a portion of the street and private side service lines made from Galvanized materials and those pipes may have absorbed lead.  Property owners with confirmed Galvanized Service Lines were sent letters in November 2024.

Other Drinking Water Regulations Violations

Actions Taken

We failed to develop an inventory that meets all federal requirements and/or to make the inventory publicly accessible.

The Lead and Copper Service Line inventory was completed and submitted to the DNR on 10/16/2024 but there were questions from the DNR on our spreadsheet that was missed on submittal. It is being worked on being completed.

Definition of Terms

Spanish: Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.
Hmong: Dlaim ntawv tshaabzu nuav muaj lug tseemceeb heev nyob rua huv kws has txug cov dlej mej haus. Kuas ib tug paab txhais rua koj, los nrug ib tug kws paub lug thaam.