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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHirschdale 2015 CCR Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2015 WATER QUALITY REPORT Hirschdale Water Sy stem PWS# 2910010 Customer Views Are Welcome If you are interested in participating in the decision-making process of the Truckee Donner Public Utilit y District, you are welcome to attend Board meetings. The Board of Directors meet 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 m ay be obtained on our website at ww.tdpud.org or from the Deput y District Clerk’s office, (530) 582- 3909. For More Information  About this report or the water treatment process, contact Truckee Donner Public Utility District’s Senior Water Qualit y Tech, Julie Nelson at (530) 582-3926.  About water conservation and efficienc y, the TDPUD has new water conservation programs that will help customers save water and save money. Information can be found on the TDPUD’s website at www.tdpud.org or contact TDPUD’s Conservation Department at (530) 582-3931. For more information about us, please visit our website at: www.tdpud.org Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo ó hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. Water Quality Truckee Donner Public Utility District vigilantly safeguards its mo untain groundwater supplies. We are able to report that the District has met the California Department of Public Health d rinking water standards. This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of water provided to custo mer s for the 2015 calendar year. Included in this pamp hlet are details about where your water co mes fro m, what it contains, and how it compares to State and USEPA Standards. Truckee Donner Public Utility District is committed to providing you with the information about your water supply because custo mers who are well informed are the District’s best allies in supporting improvements that are necessar y to maintain the highest 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. T hese 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 contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Where Does Our Water Come From The source of the drinking water served to our Hirschdale custo mers co mes from a well drawing fro m a deep aquifer. We filter this water to remove iro n, manga nese, and arsenic before delivering it to your tap. Additionally, each month the system is sampled for microbial quality. Because of natural filtration, the groundwater aquifer is protected fro m surface water contamination, giving us a high quality of drinking water. Source Water Assessment A source water assessment has been completed for the well ser ving the Hirschdale area. The well is considered most vulnerable to the following activities not associated with any detected contaminants: septic systems, drinking water treatment plants, and transportation corridors. A copy o f the complete assessment may be viewed at the Truckee Donner Public Utility District located at 11570 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA or by calling Brian Wright at (530) 582-3957. No Cryptosporidium or Giardia in District Water You may have seen or heard news reports about Cryptosporidium and Giardia, microscopic organisms that can enter surface waters fro m run- off containing animal wastes. If ingested, Cryptospridium and Giardia can cause diarrhea, fever and other gastro-intestinal symptoms. Because Truckee Donner Public Utilit y District’s water comes from deep wells rather than surface water, it is almost impossible to have these contaminants in the District’s water supply. Radon Radon is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, taste, or smell. It is found throughout the U.S. Radon can move up through the ground and into a ho me through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon can build up to high levels 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 soil, radon entering the home through tap water will in most cases be a small source of radon in indoor air. Radon is a known human carcinogen. Breathing air containing radon can lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing radon may also cause increased risk of stomach cancer. If you are concerned about radon in your home, test the air in your home. Testing is inexpensive and easy. You should pursue radon removal for your ho me if the level of radon in your air is 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or higher. There are simple ways to fix a radon problem that are not too costly. For additional information, call your State radon program (1-800-745-7236), the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1 -800-426- 4791), or the National Safety Council Radon Hotline (1 -800-SOS- RADON). Lead and Copper The Lead and Copper Monitoring Rule (LCMR) was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991 with the goal of reducing exposures to harmful levels of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu). According to the EPA, lead has been known to cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and the kidney, especially in children and pregnant women. Copper has been known to cause stomach and intestinal distress, liver and kidney damage, and complications of Wilson's disease in genetically predisposed individuals. The current MCL for lead (Pb) is .015 mg/L, and for copper is 1.3 mg/L. Sources of lead and copper contamination in public drinking water systems can be traced back to lead service lateral pipe materials, as well as residential plumbing that contains copper with lead based solder. Leaching of lead and copper from residential plumbing into drinking water is enhanced by the corrosive properties of the water, if not properly managed. The TDPUD water distribution system does not contain lead water service laterals that the District's staff is aware of. The LCMR initial sampling requirements call for lead an copper testing to be completed every six months. Once compliance has been established, the sampling requirements are reduced to every three years. The last round of sampling for the Hirschdale System was in 2015, where all five sample locations tested "non- detect" for lead and copper. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead and copper in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. The data in the tables on the follo wing pages is from the most recent monitoring done in compliance with California drinking water regulatio ns. So me data may be more than a year old. TABLE 1 – SAMPLING RESULTS SHOWING THE DETECTION OF COLIFORM BACTERIA Microbiological Contaminants Highest No. of Detections No. of months in violation MCL MCLG Typical Source of Bacteria Total Coliform Bacteria 0 0 More than 1 sample in a month with a detection 0 Naturally present in the environment TABLE 2 – DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS Contaminant # Samples, Frequency Average Level Range MCL MCLG Typical Source of Contaminant Chlorine Residual (ppm) 1 per month 0.52 0.43- 0.58 4 4 Drinking water disinfectant added for treatment Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) 1 on 8/21/15 20 N/A 80 N/A By-product of drinking water disinfection Haloacectic Acids (ppb) 1 on 8/21/15 11 N/A 60 N/A By-product of drinking water disinfection TABLE 3 – DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CUSTOMER TAP SAMPLING FOR LEAD AND COPPER Lead and Copper Sample Date No. of samples collected 90th percentile level detected No. sites exceeding AL AL PHG Typical Source of Contaminant Lead (ppb) 12/18/15 5 N/D 0 15 0.2 Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; discharges from industrial manufacturers; erosion of natural deposits Copper (ppm) 12/18/15 5 0.053 0 1.3 0.3 Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives TABLE 4 – SAMPLING RESULTS FOR SODIUM AND HARDNESS Chemical or Constituent (reporting units) Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detections MCL PHG (MCLG) Typical Source of Contaminant Sodium (ppm) 2011 29 N/A N/A N/A Salt present in the water and is generally naturally occurring Hardness (ppm) 2011 89 N/A N/A N/A Sum of polyvalent cations present in the water, generally magnesium and calcium, and are usually naturally occurring TABLE 5 – UNREGULATED GENERAL MINERALS Chemical or Constituent (reporting units) Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detections MCL [MRDL] PHG (MCLG) [MRDLG] Typical Source of Contaminant Total Alkalinity (ppm) 2011 130 N/A N/A N/A Erosion of natural deposits Calcium (ppm) 2011 15 N/A N/A N/A Erosion of natural deposits Magnesium (ppm) 2011 13 N/A N/A N/A Erosion of natural deposits TABLE 6 – DETECTION OF CONTAMINANTS WITH A PRIMARY DRINKING WATER STANDARD Chemical or Constituent (reporting units) Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detections MCL [MRDL] PHG (MCLG) [MRDLG] Typical Source of Contaminant Inorganic Contaminants Arsenic (ppb) 2015 2.5 N/D-6.6 10 0.004 Erosion of natural deposits Barium (ppm) 2011 0.11 N/A 1 2 Erosion of natural deposits Fluoride (ppm) 2011 0.12 N/A 2 1 Erosion of natural deposits Radioactive Contaminants Gross Alpha Particle Activity (pCi/L) 2014 N/D N/D 15 0 Erosion of natural deposits Radon (pCi/L) 2005 570 N/A N/A* N/A* Erosion of natural deposits *Note The State of California does not have an MCL for Radon. The EPA has an advisory MCL of 4000 pCi/L for Radon. TABLE 7 – DETECTION OF CONTAMINANTS WITH A SECONDARY DRINKING WATER STANDARD Chemical or Constituent (reporting units) Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detections MCL PHG (MCLG) Typical Source of Contaminant Chloride (ppm) 2011 8 N/A 500 500 Leaching of natural deposits Iron (ppb) 2015 10 N/D-90 300 300 Leaching of natural deposits pH 2015 8.1 7.9-8.3 N/A N/A Leaching of natural deposits Potassium (ppm) 2011 5.5 N/A N/A N/A Erosion of natural deposits Specific Conductance (μS/cm) 2011 300 N/A 1600 1600 Substances that form ions when in water. Sulfate 2011 14 N/A 500 500 Leaching of natural deposits Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) 2011 250 N/A 1000 1000 Leaching of natural deposits See next page for terms used in these tables. TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT 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. Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Variances and Exemptions: State Board permission to exceed an MCL or not comply with a treatment technique under certain conditions. ND: 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) ppq: parts per quadrillion or picogram per liter (pg/L) pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation) The sources of drinking water (both tap water 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. 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 result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas pr oduction, 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, that are by- products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems.  Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.