HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010CITY OF CHUBBUCK ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT 6�0 /v
Is my water safe?
We are pleased to present this year's Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) as required by the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This report is designed to provide details about where your water comes from,
what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. This report is a snapshot of last year's
water quality. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.
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?
Your drinking water comes from three wells drilled into the Lower Portneuf River Aquifer. They are located
throughout the city. This water is very high quality and is disinfected with chlorine before delivery to your home.
Well No. 4 does have a special treatment system. It is described below.
The only man -caused contaminant in the water is Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC). The source of PCE
contamination is unknown at this time. We are able to treat the water using an air stripping process to remove high
concentrations of PCE.
Source water assessment and its availability
The state has completed an assessment of our source water. That report is available for review at the City Offices.
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?
The City has attempted to make this report informative and readable. This report shows our water quality and what it
means. If you have questions about the report or your drinking water, please call the City Public Works offices at
(208) 237-2430, and further assistance will be provided. If you would like to have input on how your drinking water
is provided, you may either call the number above, or attend the City Council meetings. The Chubbuck City Council
meets at 7:30 P.M. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The meetings are held in the City Offices located
at 5160 Yellowstone Ave. Please feel free to participate in these meetines
Cross Connection Control Survey
The purpose of this survey is to determine whether a cross -connection may exist at your home or business. A cross
connection is an unprotected or improper connection to a public water distribution system that may cause
contamination or pollution to enter the system. We are responsible for enforcing cross -connection control regulations
and insuring that no contaminants can, under any flow conditions, enter the distribution system. If you have any of
the devices listed below please contact us so that we can discuss the issue, and if needed, survey your connection and
assist you in isolating it if that is necessary.
• Boiler/ Radiant heater (water heaters not included)
• Underground lawn sprinkler system
• Pool or hot tub (whirlpool tubs not included)
• Additional source(s) of water on the property
• Decorative pond
• Watering trough
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. CITY OF CHUBBUCK 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.
Water Quality Data Table
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of contaminants
in water provided by public water systems. The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we
detected during the calendar year of this report. Although many more contaminants were tested, only those substances
listed below were found in your water. All sources of drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants.
At low levels, these substances are generally not harmful in our drinking water. Removing all contaminants would be
extremely expensive, and in most cases, would not provide increased protection of public health. A few naturally
occurring minerals may actually improve the taste of drinking water and have nutritional value at low levels. 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 vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of
contamination. As such, some of our data, though representative, may be more than one year old. In this table you
will find terms and abbreviations that might not be familiar to you. To help you better understand these terms, we
have provided the definitions below the table.
Term
Definition
ppm
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb
ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (gg/L)
NA
Discharge from petroleum
Antimony (ppb)
6
6
0
ND
0
2010
No
refineries; fire retardants;
ceramics; electronics; solder;
est addition.
Erosion of natural deposits;
Arsenic (ppb)
0
10
3.48
1.95
3.48
2010
No
Runoff from orchards; Runoff
from glass and electronics
roduction wastes
Discharge from steel and pulp
Chromium (ppb)
100
100
7.21
ND
7.21
2010
No
ills; Erosion of natural
eposits
Erosion of natural deposits;
Water additive which
Fluoride (ppm)
4
4
0
ND
0.34
2010
No
promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories
Runoff from fertilizer use;
Nitrate [measured aseaching
10
10
4.17
4.17
5.99
2010
No
from septic tanks,
Nitrogen] m
g ] (pp )
sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Discharge from petroleum and
Selenium (ppb)
50
50
2.07
2.07
2.49
2010
No
metal refineries; Erosion of
atural deposits; Discharge
from mines
;a
is -1,2-
ichloroethylene
70
70
0
ND
0
2010
No
ischarge from industrial
(ppb)
hemical factories
Tetrachloroethylenecleaners
0
5
0.52
0.52
0.87
2010
No
is from factories and
b
Your
Sample # Samples
Exceeds
Contaminants
MCLG
AL
Water
Date Exceeding AL
AL
Typical Source
M
Lead - action level at
Corrosion of household
consumer taps (ppb)
0
15
9
2010
2
No plumbing systems; Erosion
f natural deposits
Term
Definition
ppm
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb
ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (gg/L)
NA
NA: not applicable
ND
ND: Not detected
NR
NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.
-1:
Term
Definition
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water
MCLG
below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of
safety.
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in
MCL
drinking water. MCLS are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available
treatment technology.
TT
TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant
in drinking water.
AL
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: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water
MRDLG
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: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in
MRDL
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
Contact Name: STEVEN M. SMART
Address: 5160 YELLOWSTONE AVE.
CHUBBUCK, ID 83202
Phone: 208-237-2430
Fax: 208-237-2409