Water Quality Report 2008

City of Sand Point Water Treatment Plant 2008

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2008

City of Sand Point

249 Main St.

Sand Point, AK 99661

Public Water System I.D. # 260294

Spanish (Espanol)

Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua potable. Por favor lea este informe o comuniquese con alguien que pueda traducir la informacion.

Is my water safe?

Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards. Local Water vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that our system has not violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard.

Do I need to take special precautions?

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/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

Where does my water come from?

Our water source is Humboldt Reservoir, located south of Sand Point.

Source water assessment and its availability

The State of Alaska has completed a source water assessment. To obtain a copy please contact the Department of Public Works Water/wastewater section located at the new water plant.

Water/Wastewater - Ph# 907-383-6365

Public Works - Ph# 907-383-5427

City Office - Ph# 907-383-2696

Administrator - Ph# 907-274-7561

Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?

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. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). 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:

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, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater 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 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 can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and 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. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

How can I get involved?

If there are any questions or concerns about this report or your water utility, please contact Allen Hill at 383-6365, Howard Smith at 383-5427, or Paul Day (City Administrator) at 907-274-7561. We strive to inform the community about their water utility with accurate and complete information. We also encourage the public to visit the new water plant to see first hand how your water is processed into a quality product.

Conservation Tips

Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 350 gallons of water per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost or no-cost ways to conserve water. Water your lawn at the least sunny times of the day. Fix toilet and faucet leaks. Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth and shaving; 3-5 gallons go down the drain per minute. Teach your kids about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month's utility bill!

Other Information

Infants and young children are more vulnerable than adults to lead in drinking water. The maximum level for children is 10 mg/l, and 20 mg/l in adults. We are scheduled to perform Lead and Copper tests for 10 households before 12/31/2010. If anyone wants their home tested for lead and copper, please Contact Allen Hill at 383-6365. Our next sanitary survey is required by 12/31/2009.

Additional Information for Lead

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Public Water System I.D. #260294 is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, 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. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead 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. Safe Drinking Water Hotline Ph# 1-800-426-4791

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Explanation

The gross amount of organic matter(carbon not removed by the IC removal step) found in natural water.

Water Quality Data Table

The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

MCLGMCL,

TT, or

Your

Range

Sample

Contaminants

MRDLG

MRDL

Water

Low

High

Date

Violation

Typical Source

Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products

(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.)

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb)

12.5

2008

By-product of drinking water chlorination

Total Organic Carbon

1.07

2008

Naturally present in the environment

TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb)

15.5

2008

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Inorganic Contaminants

Arsenic (ppb)

0.428

2008

Erosion of natural deposits

Nitrate [measured as Nitrogen] (ppm)

0.211

2008

Erosion of natural deposits

Undetected Contaminants

The following contaminants were monitored for, but not detected, in your water.

MCLG

MCL

Your

Contaminants

MRDLG

MRDL

Water

Violation

Typical Source

Volatile Organic Contaminants

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (ppb)

200

Discharge from metal and machinery sites

Benzene (ppb)

Discharge from factories; Leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills

Ethylbenzene (ppb)

700

Discharge from petroleum refineries

Unit Descriptions

Term

Definition

ppm

ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)

ppb

ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L)

NA: not applicable

ND: Not detected

NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.

Important Drinking Water Definitions

Term

Definition

MCLG

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MCL

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.

TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Variances and Exemptions

Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.

MRDLG

MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. 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.

MRDL

MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. 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.

MNR

MNR: Monitored Not Regulated

MPL

MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level

For more information please contact:

Paul Day (City Administrator) at 907-274-7561

Submitted By: Howard Smith - Public Works Director - City of Sand Point