2018 Annual Water Quality Report

Transcription

1 2018 Water System Quick Facts: 9 Wells (5 in use; current capacity is 2,000 gpm) Water Treatment Plant has 2.0 MGD capacity 14 Distribution and Fire Pumps (each ranging from gpm) 100 Miles of pipe (ranging from 4-16 inches) 4 Storage Reservoirs (6 Million Gallons of storage) About 850 Fire Hydrants About 6,000 Water Meters Inside this report: 2017 Water Production Data Water Quality Monitoring Schedule Water Quality Sampling Results 3 Water Quality Terms and Definitions 4 Special Education Statements about Lead, Copper, and Arsenic Capital and Operations Project 5 Water Saving Tips 6 Flushing for Quality 6 This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services that the City of Ocean Shores delivers to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water at a reasonable cost. Please read this report to learn more about the City Water Department s efforts to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. As with previous years, we are pleased to report our drinking water continues to be safe and exceeds federal and state requirements. ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER The City owns a number of wells located in the center of the Cityfrom which it draws its water supply. The primary source of water comes from a shallow aquifer located approximately 95 feet below the surface. Water is treated using the City s water treatment plant, using MIEX technology to remove dissolved organic carbon, iron, and manganese from the groundwater. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amounts of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Your water is treated according to EPA and State Department of Health (DOH) regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protections for public health. For more specific information on water system requirements in Washington State, please see WAC for detailed requirements. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. 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 naturallyoccurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal and human activity. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA s Safe Contaminants that are monitored and tested for include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from wastewater 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 storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides or herbicides, which may come from a variety of agricultural or residential uses. Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring. Organic chemical contaminants, including by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. 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. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control (EPA/CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA s Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

2 Water Production Data Production (Million Gallons) % of Total Production Billed Water Consumption % Treatment Plant Process Water % Flushing Activities / Main Breaks % Fire Department Training / Response % Known Leaks Failure/Error % Distribution System Leakage % Total Water Production % 2018 Water Quality Monitoring Schedule Coliform Monitoring Requirements A minimum of 120 coliform samples will be collected throughout Ocean Shores in the calendar year Distribution Monitoring Requirements Test Panel # Samples Required Compliance Period Frequency Last Sample Date Next Sample Date Lead and Copper 20 Jan Dec 2019 standard - 3 year 09/18/2016 Sep 2019 Asbestos 1 Jan Dec 2019 standard - 9 year 04/26/2010 Apr 2019 Total Trihalomethane (THM) 2 Jan Dec 2018 standard - 1 year 09/26/2017 Sep 2018 Halo-Acetic Acids (HAA5) 2 Jan Dec 2018 standard - 1 year 09/26/2017 Sep 2018 Source Monitoring Requirements Test Panel # Samples Required Compliance Period Frequency Last Sample Date Next Sample Date Nitrate 1 Jan Dec 2018 standard - 1 year 08/09/2017 Aug 2018 Complete Inorganic (IOC) 1 Jan Dec 2019 waiver - 9 year 08/26/2015 N/A Arsenic 1 Jan Dec 2019 standard - 3 year 08/26/2015 May 2019 Iron 1 Jan Dec 2019 standard - 3 year 08/26/2015 Oct 2019 Volatile Organics (VOC) 1 Jan Dec 2019 waiver - 6 year 02/12/2015 Oct 2018 Herbicides 1 Jan Dec 2022 waiver - 9 year 02/12/2015 Oct 2022 Pesticides 0 Jan Dec 2019 waiver - 3 year 02/12/2015 N/A Soil Fumigants 0 Jan Dec 2019 waiver - 3 year N/A N/A Gross Alpha 1 Jan Dec 2019 standard - 6 year 05/22/2012 May 2018 Radium Jan Dec 2019 standard - 6 year 05/22/2012 May 2018 Page 2

3 Water Quality Sampling Results Coliform Monitoring Contaminant Violation Y/N Level Detected Unit Measurement Common Source (s) of Contamination 1. Total Coliform Bacteria N None PA in 5% of monthly samples Naturally present in the environment 2. Fecal Coliform and E. coli Inorganic Contaminants - Primary s Contaminant N None PA Violation Y/N Level Detected Unit Measurement routine sample and repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive 18. Nitrate (as Nitrogen) N 0.2 mg/l 10 Human and animal fecal waste Common Source (s) of Contamination Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits Disinfection By-Products Contaminant TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) - North Sample Violation Y/N Level Detected Unit Measurement N 41 ppb 80 Common Source (s) of Contamination By-product of drinking water disinfection TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) - South Sample N 78.5 ppb 80 By-product of drinking water disinfection HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) - North Sample HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) - South Sample N 2.6 ppb 60 N 1.2 ppb 60 By-product of drinking water disinfection By-product of drinking water disinfection Page 3

4 2018 Water Quality Terms and Definitions Data Table Key: Unit Descriptions mg/l ppm ppb ppt pci/l NA ND NR mg/l: number of milligrams of substance in one liter of water ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter ppt: parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter pci/l: picocuries per liter ( a measure of radioactivity) NA: not applicable ND: not detected NR: monitoring not required, but recommended Important Drinking Water Definitions G TT AL Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. Gs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Contaminant Level: This highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. s are set as close to the G as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water systems must follow. Special Education Statements Lead, Copper, and Arsenic Lead and Copper: 2016 testing indicated lead and copper samples were well below EPA s action levels. However, 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. The City of Ocean Shores is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing compo- nents. 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 Page 4 Arsenic: Drinking water produced by the City of Ocean Shores currently meets EPA s standard for arsenic, which is 10 ppb. However, it does contain low levels of arsenic (7 ppb). There is a small chance that some people who drink water containing low levels of arsenic for many years could develop circulatory disease, cancer, or other health problems. Most types of cancer and circulatory disease are due to factors other than exposure to arsenic. EPA s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic s health effects against the cost of removing arsenic from drinking water. More information on arsenic can be found at: CommunityandEnvironment/Contaminants/Arsenic

5 2017 Capital & Operations Projects 2018 The City of Ocean Shores continues to work towards implementing the Capital Improvement Plan identified in the approved Water System Plan. A brief summary of some of our larger activities are shown below. Water Treatment Plant Process Building As many are aware, our proximity to the Pacific Ocean results in rapid deterioration of anything not inside an enclosed space. The majority of the process equipment included in the 2011 Treatment Plant Upgrade was located outside. After saving for a number of years, we were able to construct a building to enclose and protect the process equipment to maximize the useful life expectancy of the equipment included in the Upgrade. Construction activities were started in 2016 and were physically completed in July. Water Treatment Plant Process Building Well 14 The City began the work to install a new well in The new well was identified in the Water System Plan as a high priority to allow for resting of other source wells to protect both the sources and equipment from over use, resulting in an increased life expectancy of all existing wells. The well was located in an area capable of easily sustaining 750 gallons per minute of production, exceeding our expectations by 25%. The new source was approved by the Department of Health and has been in use since June of Leak Detection In 2017 the City hired a consultant utilizing sonic listening technology to inspect over 90 miles of the distribution system in an effort to identify distribution system leaks. Along with the water mains, almost 3,000 appurtenances were inspected as well. A total of 25 leaks were pinpointed resulting in approximately 15 gallons per minute of distribution system leakage. Distribution staff repaired approximately 25% of the noted deficiencies in 2017 and is continuing to address the remaining deficiencies. Commercial Meter Replacements As mechanical water meters age and deteriorate, meters begin to inaccurately report lower consumption figures than a customer actually uses. If left unaddressed, these meters can stop registering consumption completely. This can result in artificially inflating our annual estimate of distribution system leakage. Depending on the severity and quantity of meter deterioration, this can also result in an economic impact to all customers. As a result of these facts, it is essential to focus on large meter accuracy. Over the past few years, Ocean Shores has been working towards replacing the large meters that in some cases have been in service for over 40 years, We are proud to say that we have completed this work in 2017, dramatically reducing our risk in this category. We will continue to monitor these services to ensure reliability so that we can reduce the risk to all our customers. Hydrant Replacements City of Ocean Shores has 841 fire hydrants throughout the distribution system. Many of these hydrants have been in service for over 40 years. As part of the 2017 Budget, we began a 40-year cycle to replace our existing hydrants. This translates to an average of 21 hydrants that need to be replaced annually through this program. In 2017, staff was able to replace 8 hydrants. It is important to note that some hydrant replacements take more effort than others, specifically those supplied by 4-inch waterlines. In those cases, we are replacing the 4-inch line with a 6-inch supply line to meet current standards. Page 5

6 Water Saving Tips Ocean Shores Water Department Water System ID: 63008H 165 Ocean Lake Way SE PO Box 909 Ocean Shores, WA Phone: (360) C HECK US OUT AT WWW. OS G OV.COM Looking for quick and easy ways to save water? The home waterworks website ( -tips/home) has a large amount of information to help reduce both residential and commercial water use. A quick summary of information is shown below: Laundry When doing laundry, always wash full loads. Conventional washers built before 2011 typically use about 40 gallons per load; current washers may use as little as 15 gallons per load. Dishwashing If washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with water rather than continually running the tap. Only wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher. Avoid using running water to thaw frozen food. Faucets A faucet leaking 60 drops per minute will waste 192 gallons per month Install efficient faucets and/or faucet aerators. Turn off the faucet when lathering hands, shaving, or brushing teeth. Showers If it takes a long time for the hot water to reach the shower, use it as an opportunity to collect water for other uses, such as watering house plants. Replace showerheads that have a flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute. Toilets Replace toilets installed before 1994 with high efficiency toilets. Verify the toilet is working properly; a running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day. Other Check your water bill. Abnormally high water billing is generally an indicator of a leak somewhere after the meter (generally toilets, faucets, and piping). As part of our Water Use Efficiency program, we have water conservation kits available for purchased at our Utility Billing Office (located at 800 Anchor Avenue). Kits include: One 1.5 gpm shower head One 1.5 gpm kitchen aerator Two 1.0 gpm bath aerators One toilet tank bank One leak detection kit (two tablets) Flushing for Quality From time to time, you will see members of our staff flushing the water mains through fire hydrants. This process is used to circulate the water throughout the distribution system. Areas with lower flow rates are especially prone to discoloration of water resulting from stagnant water conditions as well as a lack of chlorine residual. Flushing water throughout our distribution remains the most cost effective method to maintain quality drinking water. Our goal is to flush the entire distribution system annually until we are able to maintain delivery of the highest quality water in Ocean Shores. Flushing a Water Main