2018 WATER QUALITY REPORT
monitors for numerous contaminants to ensure your water Samples are collected from the water s source, as fresh snowmelt in the mountains, all the way to the tap at residents homes. These samples are analyzed to determine a variety of characteristics such as corrosivity and mineral content. Most importantly, microbiological tests are performed to detect for the presence of dangerous pathogens. In 2017, water quality personnel collected more than 2,600 water samples and performed more than 26,000 analytical tests. issafe to drink. This report summarizes the testing for the year and presents other information that is important to know. This report is intended to present a broad overview of s drinking water. Please contact s Water Quality Division if you have more specific questions, or would like to know more recent and localized water quality data. s Water Sources Farmers High Line SWAP: Croke S t a n d l e y L a k e C l e ar Cr e e k Plant St andle y FHL Lake P ipeli ne S o u 25 LCC th P l a t t e The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment conducted a Source Water Assessment for s water sources in 2002. The report identifies potential sources of contaminants such as gasoline R i v e r Ê 70 Ê S o u th P l at t e i ve r R G r a v e l L a k e s Wes Brown Plant Burlington s drinking water starts as snowmelt in the mountains. ³ B a r r L a k e The city diverts snow melt from the South Platte River in northern Denver, and from Clear Creek, primarily in Golden. South Platte water is stored in a network of gravel lakes before treatment. The majority of Clear Creek water is stored in Standley Lake, while a smaller portion is diverted into the gravel lakes in. Source Water Assessment and Protection Report storage tanks, wastewater plant discharges, mine drainages and others. These sites do not necessarily pose a threat but were identified only as potential sources of contamination. View the report at www.cityofthornton.net/swap.
Health All 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 the water poses a health risk. However, some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 of infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) such as rivers, lakes and streams, contain naturally occurring minerals, including radioactive material, that are not completely removed at the water treatment plant and can pose a human health risk if present at a concentration above the safe levels set by the EPA. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewer 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. Lead, if present at elevated levels, 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. is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. Information 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 two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. does not install lead service lines and elevated lead levels have not been detected in the city. However, you may wish to have your water tested if you are concerned about lead in your water. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa. gov/safewater/lead. 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, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also may come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Water In 2017, no state or federal drinking water standards were exceeded. There were no state or federal drinking water standards exceeded in 2017. Range of Detection Contaminant MCL MCLG (min - max) Units Typical Sources Barium 2,000 2,000 32-46 ppb Erosion of natural deposits, drilling wastes, metal refineries Chromium 100 100 1.2 ppb Erosion of natural deposits Fluoride 4 4 0.52-1.02 ppm Erosion of natural deposits; does not fluoridate Nitrite 1 1 0.05-0.08 ppm Fertilizer, septic tanks, sewer plant discharges, naturally Nitrate 10 10 0.10-0.62 ppm occurring deposits Sodium n/a n/a 19-95 ppm Erosion of natural deposits Lead 0.52-320 AL >15 0 90% samples 1.7 90% samples 15 One site above AL ppb Copper Disinfectants Chlorine (as Chloramine) Organic Chemicals Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Turbidity AL >1,300 90% samples 1,300 RAA 4 4 Removal Ratio RAA 1 25-760 90% samples 560 1.35-3.5 RAA = 2.6 ppm n/a RAA = 1.0 n/a All samples <0.3 No samples >1.0 ppb Added in the water treatment process Naturally occurring in plants and the environment, sewer treatment plant discharges Produced as a byproduct of chlorination at the water treatment plant Haloacetic Acids LRAA 60 0 LRAA = 16-18 ppb Trihalomethanes LRAA 80 0 LRAA = 36-41 ppb Radioactive Material Gross Beta Decay of natural and manmade deposits 50 0 5.86 pci/l Particle Activity Uranium 30 0 2 ppb Erosion of natural deposits Micro Organisms 99.9% free of coliform Human and animal waste, 95% samples free of Coliform Bacteria 0 Two positives in 1,516 % stormwater run-off, sewer coliform bacteria samples plant discharges Turbidity Definitions 95% samples <0.3 No samples >1.0 1,300 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 water treatment technology. 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. Removal Ratio: A value greater than or equal to one indicates that the required amount of TOC is being removed. AL: Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant, which if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements a water system must follow. n/a: not applicable NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units, used in the measurement of clarity. 0 NTU Household plumbing, battery manufacturing, erosion of natural deposits Household plumbing, wood preservatives, erosion of natural deposits Particles and sediment present in natural water sources and storm run-off pci/l: Picocuries per Liter. A picocurie is one tenthousandth the energy emitted from one gram of radium. ppm: Parts per Million. A unit used to express the concentration of an element or compound in a liquid. One part per million is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt in 2,000 gallons of water. ppb: Parts per Billion. A unit used to express the concentration of an element or compound in a liquid. One part per billion is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt in two million gallons of water (more than three Olympic-sized swimming pools). RAA: Running Annual Average, the average value over the last 12 months. LRAA: Locational Running Annual Average, the average value over the last 12 months taken at one specific site. Hardness of Water Hardness is a measure of the mineral content in water. Water naturally dissolves minerals as it comes in contact with rocks and soil in the environment. Hard water is associated with certain problems like mineral build-up on dishes, fixtures, and in pipes. s water hardness can vary greatly during the year and by location within the city. Hardness varied between 120 mg/l and 252 mg/l in 2017. These values are typical of water systems in the western United States. Contact the Water Quality Division if you would like to know the hardness at your specific residence or business. Water Sample Collection - Each week, Water Quality staff sample at over 30 sites within the Water service area. For the most recent test results in your area, call the Water Quality Information Line at 303-255-7770.
Looking Ahead Big and exciting water projects are planned in the coming years for the city. This year, the city began construction of a new water treatment plant that will have an increased ability to remove taste and odor compounds and treat all of s water sources. This plant, slated to commence operations in 2020, will replace the 62 year old Water Treatment Plant. The city has also begun the planning and design of a 75-mile pipeline from northern Colorado that will deliver higher quality water to all customers in addition to meeting the consumption needs of our growing population. Public Notice: Sanitary Survey Violation During a routine sanitary survey performed in 2017, the State Health Department discovered that the city of had not completed an annual, written backflow prevention and cross-connection control report for the calendar year 2016. The issue was soon corrected. There were no indications that this incident posed any direct threat to the city s population so consumers do not need to seek alternative water supplies or take any further actions. You may contact the city s Water Quality laboratory at 9500 Civic Center Drive,, CO 80229, or 303-255-7770 for additional information regarding this public notice. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). For Water Quality Information W - www.cityofthornton.net/waterinfo E - waterquality@cityofthornton.net P - 303-255-7770