2005 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT (Drinking Water Quality Report)

Transcription

1 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT (Drinking Water Quality Report) OUR DRINKING WATER MEETS OR EXCEEDS ALL FEDERAL (EPA) DRINKING WATER REQUIREMENTS Providing safe and reliable drinking water is the highest priority for the Grapevine Water Treatment Division. Our employees take pride in producing and delivering water to your tap that meets or exceeds state and federal standards. This report is a summary of the quality of the water we provide our customers. The analysis was made by using data from the most recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required tests and is presented in the following pages. We hope this information helps you become more knowledgeable about what s in your drinking water. THIS REPORT IS REQUIRED BY THE EPA FOR ALL WATER SUPPLIERS. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR THE ELDERLY, INFANTS, CANCER PATIENTS, PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS OR OTHER IMMUNE PROBLEMS Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune 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. Environmental Protection Agency EPA/ Center 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 Drinking Water Hotline ( ). En Español Este informe incluye la información importante sobre el agua para tomar. Si tiene preguntas o discusiones sobre este reporte en espanol, favor de llamar al tel (817) par hablar con una persona bilingue en espanol.

2 WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS There are many opportunities available to learn more about the Grapevine Water Treatment Department and water quality. For questions or concerns about your water quality, call Frank White at (817) Us: To request a speaker or plant tour for your group, call (817) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES For inquiries about public participation and policy decisions, call (817) AWARDS The City of Grapevine received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Award of Excellence in 1992, 1995, and 1998 for the best-maintained and operated water system for Region VI for water systems of similar size. Region VI consists of Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. In 1991, 1998, 2001, and 2004 the City of Grapevine s water was awarded the best tasting in North Central Texas, from the North Texas Laboratory Association. The City of Grapevine was awarded the Best Tasting Water in Texas in March. In 1994 the Trinity River Authority water was awarded the best tasting water in North Central Texas, from the North Texas Laboratory Association. ALL DRINKING WATER MAY CONTAIN CONTAMINANTS When drinking water meets federal standards, there may not be any health based benefits to purchase bottled water or point of use devices. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these contaminants does not indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects may be obtained by calling EPA s Safe Drinking Water Hotline ( ).

3 DOES MY WATER COME FROM LAKE GRAPEVINE OR LAKE ARLINGTON (TRA)? If you live in the southwestern section of Grapevine you receive water from Lake Arlington (TRA). If you live in the northeastern areas of Grapevine you receive water from Lake Grapevine. For questions regarding where you get your water, call (817) WHERE DO WE GET OUR WATER? Grapevine uses surface water from Lake Grapevine and purchased water from the Trinity River Authority (TRA). TRA water is pumped from Cedar Creek Reservoir and Richland-Chambers Reservoir into Lake Arlington. The TCEQ completed an assessment of our source water and results indicate that some of our sources are susceptible to certain contaminants. The sampling requirements for our water system are based on this susceptibility and previous data. Any detection of these contaminants will be found in this report. If we receive or purchase water from another system, their susceptibility is not included in this assessment. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts at our system please call Frank White at (817) or visit

4 WATER SOURCES 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. s that may be present in source water before treatment include: microbes, inorganic contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, radioactive contaminants, and organic chemical contaminants. LAKE WATER TREATMENT At the water treatment plant, the Lake water goes through several treatment processes where chemicals such as chlorine, alum, fluoride, caustic, ammonia, potassium permanganate, and polymer are added to purify the water. After the water is purified, it is pumped into your homes through more than 273 miles of distribution pipelines. THE FOLLOWING LIST EXPLAINS THE TERMS USED IN THE CHARTS (DEFINITIONS) Goal (MCLG) - 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) - 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. Residual Disinfectant (MRDL) The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. Residual Disinfectant Goal (MRDLG) The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. Treatment Technique - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Action - The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Turbidity - A measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units ppm - parts per million. One part per million is equal to one packet of artificial sweetener sprinkled into 250 gallons of ppb iced tea. - parts per billion. One part per billion is equal to one packet of artificial sweetener sprinkled into an Olympic-

5 size swimming pool. pci/l - picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity). MFL - million fibers per liter (a measure of asbestos). ppt - parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter ppq - parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter ND - Not Detected SECONDARY CONSTITUENTS Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium or iron) which are often found in drinking water can cause taste, color, and odor problems. The taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not EPA. These constituents are not causes for health concerns. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document but they may greatly affect the appearance, taste and odor of your water. ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PAGES The pages that follow list all of the federally regulated or monitored constituents, which have been found in your drinking water. U.S. EPA requires water systems to test up to 97 constituents. Regulated at the Customer s Tap The 90 th Percentile Number of sites Exceeding Action Action Source of 2004 Lead ppb 2004 Copper ppm Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits. Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives.

6 Organic s Lake Grapevine Highest T.R.A. Lake Arlington Highest MCL MCLG Source of Atrazine ppb Runoff from herbicide used on row crops. Simazine ppb Herbicide runoff. Inorganic s Lake Grapevine Highest T.R.A. Lake Arlington Highest MCL MCLG Barium ppm Source of Discharge of drilling waste; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Fluoride Nitrate Selenium ppm ppm ppb Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. Discharge from mines, petroleum, metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Gross Beta Emitters 3.8 < 4.0 ( ) (pci/l) Decay of natural and manmade deposits.

7 Turbidity Grapevine Highest Single ment Lake Grapevine Lowest Monthly % of Samples Meeting Limits T.R.A. Lake Arlington Highest Single ment T.R.A Lake Arlington. Lowest Monthly % of Samples Meeting Limits Turbidity Limits Source of Turbidity % % 0.30 NTU Soil runoff. Turbidity (NTU) has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. Unregulated s Grapevine Lake Water (1) Lake Arlington Water (T.R.A.) (2) Average (1) (1) (1) Average (2) (2) (2) Source of Chloroform ppb Bromoform ppb Bromodichloromethane ppb Byproducts of drinking water disinfection. Dibromochloromethane ppb

8 Disinfection By-Products Average of All Sampling Points MCL MCLG Source of Total TTHM s ppb Total Haloacetic Acids ppb By-product of drinking water disinfection Disinfectant Residuals Disinfectant Annual Average (high) MRDL MCLG Chloramines <4.0 ppm Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Source Disinfectant used to control microbes. Total organic carbon (TOC) no health effects. The disinfectant can combine with TOC to form disinfection by-products. Disinfection is necessary to ensure that water does not have unacceptable levels of pathogens. By-products of disinfection include Trihalomethanes (THM s) and Haloacetic acids (HAA) which are reported else where in this report. High (1) Low (1) Lake Grapevine Water (1) Lake Arlington Water (T.R.A.) (2) Average Source Water (1) High (2) Low (2) Average Source Water (2) Source Water ppm Drinking Water ppm Removal Ratio *Removal ratio is the percent of TOC removed by the treatment process divided by the percent of TOC required by TCEQ to be removed. % Removal* Source Naturally present in the environment Naturally present in the environment NA

9 Coliforms Total Coliform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy. While not disease causing organisms themselves, they are often found in association with other microbes that are capable of causing disease. Coliform bacteria are hardier than many disease-causing organisms; therefore, their absence from water is a good indication that the water is microbiologically safe for human consumption. Fecal Coliform bacteria and in particular, E.coli, are members of the coliform bacteria group originating in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals that passes into the environment through feces. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria (E.coli) in drinking water may indicate recent contamination of the drinking water with fecal material. The above tables indicates whether total coliform or fecal coliform bacteria were found in the monthly drinking water samples submitted for testing last year. Total Coliform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO COLIFORM BACTERIA Fecal Coliform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA Constituent Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated (No associated adverse health effects) Average (1) Lake Grapevine Water (1) Lake Arlington Water (T.R.A.) (2) (1) (1) Average (2) (2) (2) Limit Source of Constituent Aluminum ppb Abundant naturally occurring element. Bicarbonate NA ppm Calcium NA ppm Chloride ppm Copper NA ppm Corrosion of carbonate rocks such as limestone. Abundant naturally occurring element.. Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification; byproduct of oil field activity. Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.

10 Magnesium NA ppm Abundant naturally occurring element. ph NA units of corrosivity of water. Sodium NA ppm Sulfate NA ppm Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 Total Dissolved Solids Total Hardness as CaCO NA ppm ppm Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oil field activity. Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of oil field activity. Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts. Total dissolved mineral constituents in water NA ppm Naturally occurring calcium. PLEASE CONSERVE GRAPEVINE WATER