HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo Surface Water Treatment Memo
To: Board of Directors
From: Mark Thomas
Date: 04/17/2002
Re: Public Notice Regarding Non-Compliance with Surface Water Treatment
This letter will be mailed to the Donner Lake system customers. It is required
by the Department of Health Services every quarter until the surface water and
spring water are removed from the Donner Lake distribution system.
0 Page 1 04/17/2002
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Truckee Donner Public Utility District
DONNER LAKE SYSTEM
Public Notice Regarding Non-Compliance With Surface Water
Treatment Requirements.
Since the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (District) acquired the Donner Lake System at the end
of May 2001, we have aggressively made extensive improvements to the Donner Lake water system in
an effort to minimize water outages and protect public health. The District has identified and
prioritized additional system improvements that must be completed over the next two years before we
can be confident that essential public water service can be reliably provided to our customers in
Donner Lake. Once these improvements are completed, the District will abandon the lake and spring
sources and provide water from the Districts main system that meets all State and Federal treatment
requirements and water quality standards.
In 1993, treatment requirements were established by the State of California for all surface water
sources used for domestic purposes. Customers within the Donner Lake area primarily receive
unfiltered chlorinated surface water from Donner Lake and spring sources that are under the direct
influence of surface water. These surface water sources are not in compliance with State and Federal
surface water treatment requirements. Until the lake and spring sources within the Donner Lake
System are abandoned, we are required to issue a public notice on a quarterly basis to all of our
customers in the Donner Lake System that the surface water sources are not in compliance with State
treatment requirements.
Although no disease causing organisms have been found in the chlorinated drinking water, we
recommend that consumers should consider taking individual protective measures. Consumers that
should take special precautions include pregnant women, elderly persons, and those people that may
have an abnormally sensitive immune system. Examples of these immuno-compromised individuals
include people infected with the HIV virus, organ transplant patients, and cancer patients who are
receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments. Parents and guardians should also take special
precaution with infants, young children, and all others who may not be capable of comprehending the
significance of this notice.
The District is required to provide this notice to its customers in the Donner Lake System and to
include the following language, which is written and mandated by the State to be included in this
notice.
"The State of California Department of Health Services (DHS) sets drinking water
standards and has determined the presence of microbiological contaminants are a
health concern at certain levels of exposure. If water is inadequately treated,
microbiological contaminants in that water may cause disease. Disease symptoms
may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated
headaches and fatigue. These symptoms, however are not just associated with
disease-causing organisms in drinking water, but also may be caused by a number of
factors other than your drinking water. DHS has set enforceable requiremT'7t- for
treating drinking water to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Treatment
such as filtering and disinfecting the water removes or destroys microbiological
contaminants. Drinking water which is treated to meet DHS requirements is
associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe."
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact Mark Thomas at (530) 582-3957.