Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 Attachment #1Truckee-Main 2020 CCRIn This Document  Water Quality General Information  Source Water Assessment  Where Our Water Comes From  Lead In Home Plumbing  Radon  Definitions  Sampling Results Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. Customer Views Are Welcome T he Truckee Donner Public Utility District encourages community par- ticipation in the public process. If you are interested in participating in the TDPUD’s decision-making process , you are welcome to attend Board Meetings. The Board of Directors meets at 6:00 PM on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the TDPUD Board room, located at 11570 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, California. Agendas for upcoming meetings may be obtained on our website or from the Deputy District Clerk ’s office, (530)582-3980. For More Information:  About this report or the water treatment process, contact Truckee Donner Public Utility District’s Senior Water Quality Technician, Clay Walker at (530)582-3926.  About water conservation and efficiency, the TDPUD has water conservation programs that will help customers save water and save money. Information can be found on our website or by calling (530) 587-3896. Truckee Main System PWS# 2910003 For more information about us, please visit our website at www.tdpud.org . Water Quality T ruckee Donner Public Utility District is able to report that it has met all State and Federal drinking water standards. The data in this brochure is a snapshot of the quality of water provided to TDPUD customers for the 2020 calendar year. This report includes details about your local water resources, water quality monitoring data, and how it compares to State and USEPA standards. Truckee Donner Public Utility District is committed to providing you with information about your water supply because customers who are well informed are key to the collaborative process in identifying improvements that are neces- sary to maintain the highest drinking water standards. It is important to note, that while the TDPUD strives to meet all State and Federal drinking water standards, 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, people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological con- taminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)426-4791 or https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-hotline. Lead in Residential Plumbing I f present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. In circumstances where lead is de- tected in drinking water, it is primarily derived from materials and components associated with service lines and residential plumbing. TDPUD is responsible for providing high quality water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components within private property. If your water has been sitting for a prolonged period of time, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. We conduct routine sampling for lead every three years. The last sampling was performed in 2019, where all sites tested below the Federal action level for lead. The next round of lead sampling is scheduled for the summer of 2022. More information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure can be found at www.epa.gov /lead. Where Our Water Comes From D rinking water served to Truckee Donner Public Utility District customers in the Truckee system is groundwater that comes from 10 deep wells. Each week, the system is sampled for microbial quality. Because of natural filtration, the groundwater aquifer is protected from surface water contamination, giving us a high quality of drinking water. Cryptosporidium and Giardia R ecognizing that our potable water sources are exclusively deep groundwater wells, the presence of microscopic organisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia in our water is highly unlikely. If ingested, Cryptosporidium and Giardia can cause diarrhea, fever, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Source Water Assessment A source water assessment was prepared in 2002 for the wells serving the Truckee area. The wells are considered most vulnerable to the following activities not associated with any detected contaminants: septic systems, drinking water treatment plants, and transportation corridors. A copy of the complete assessment may be viewed at the Truckee Donner Public Utility District office, located at 11570 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, California, or by calling Brian Wright at (530)582-3957. Water Hardness O ccasionally, a water user will need to adjust an appliance, such as a dishwasher or water softener, to a particular setting based upon the hardness of the water served to their home or business. Please use the information provided below to help with water hardness questions. Arsenic W hile your drinking water meets the current Federal and State standards for arsenic, it is present at low levels. The drinking water standard balances the current understanding of ar- senic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The USEPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans with prolonged exposures at elevated concentrations and has potential links to other health effects such as skin damage and circu- latory problems. Water Source Blending: The TDPUD operates the Glenshire Drive Well, Prosser Village Well and Old Greenwood Well under a SWRCB approved blending permit. The blending permit ensures lower detectable concentrations of arsenic in drinking wa- ter prior to being conveyed into the distribution sys- tem. The arsenic monitoring sample results from the blending point ranged from a low of 4.5 ppb to a high of 7.1 ppb with an average of 5.8 ppb. The MCL for arsenic is 10 ppb. Radon R adon is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, taste, or smell. It is found throughout the United States. Radon can move up through the ground and into a home through cracks and holes in structural foundations. Radon can accu- mulate in all types of homes. Radon can also get into indoor air when released from tap water from showering, washing dishes, and other household activities. Compared to radon entering the home through ground sources, radon exposure through water sources are typically far less common and much smaller in magnitude. Radon is a known human carcinogen. Exposure to air containing ra- don has been known to lead to lung cancer. Drink- ing water containing radon may also cause in- creased risk of stomach cancer. If you are con- cerned about radon levels in your home, testing is recommended. Testing can be relatively inexpen- sive and easy. Radon mitigation and removal for your home is recommended for detectable con- centrations in excess of 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). There are often simple ways to fix a ra- don problem that are not too costly. For additional information, call your State radon program (1-800- 745-7236), the USEPA Safe Drinking Water Hot- line (1-800-426-4791), or the National Safety Council Radon Hotline (1-800-SOS-RADON). Degree of Hardness Grains per Gallon (gpg) ppm (or mg/L) Soft < 1.0 < 17.0 Slightly Hard 1.0 - 3.5 17.1 - 60 Moderately Hard 3.5 - 7.0 60 - 120 Hard 7.0 - 10.5 120 - 180 Very Hard > 10.5 > 180 Water Softener / Appliance Setting In 2019 testing, TDPUD had an average hardness result of 63.8 mg/L. That translates to an average of 3.7 grains per gallon. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/L. Substances That Could Be In Water T he sources of drinking water (both tap 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. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. State Board regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that 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. Contaminants that may be present in source water include : Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or can result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; Pesticides and Herbicides, that 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 by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and which can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural applications, and septic systems; Radioactive Contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or can be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426- 4791. Definitions Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. Primary Drinking Water Standards (PDWS): MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements. Secondary Drinking Water Standards (SDWS): MCLs for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance of the drinking water. Contaminants with SDWSs do not affect the health at the MCL levels. Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Table Key N/A: not applicable N/D: not detectable at testing limit ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/l) ppt: parts per trillion or nanograms per liter (ng/L) pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation) (μS/cm): micro Siemens per centimeter (NTU): nephelometric turbidity unit (measures water cloudiness) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. Why does my water smell and taste like chlorine? A. Chlorine is regularly injected into the water at the source as a disinfectant that aids in eliminating potentially harmful bacteria present in water. In high demand summer month’s chlorine taste may be more noticeable because the water is "fresh" or "newer" and has not had time to dissipate through the system. Chlorine can also gas off in warm/hot water which produces a smell stronger than normal. Some people are more sensitive than others to the taste and smell of chlorine and may become aware of occasional changes. This is normal and safe. Chlorine levels are continually monitored. Q. Why does my water taste like metal? A. The source water is ground water, which has a mineral content that might give off a metal taste some are not used too. Sometimes plumbing can cause a metal taste, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for several hours. It ’s best to flush the lines for of couple minutes if water has sat in pipes for an extending period of time, however, this does not indic ate a higher or lower degree of water quality. Q. Why is there white crust on my shower head? A. The minerals in water may leave white spots on glasses, coffeepots, shower heads and shower doors. These spots are calcium deposits and are not harmful to health. Q. Why is there a black ring around my toilet? A. This black ring some may find after returning home when water has sat in the bowl for extending period of time is mold. Mold will grow in dark, wet, cool places making the toilet bowl a perfect place for that. If this accrues adding bleach to the bowl and letting it sit works best. To avoid this, leave a small amount of bleach in the bowl before leaving for more tha n a couple days. Q. What clauses cloudy water? A. Cloudy or milky water is usually caused by trapped air picked up from an air pocket in the water main or internal plumbing. Sometimes flows or water cascading within the aqueduct can also trap air, similar to a waterfall. If water sits in a glass or pitcher for a few minutes the air will dissipate and become clear.