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1 PWS #4010201 Eastern Zone City of Eagle Water Department 2015 Water Quality and Consumer Confidence Report PWS #4010201 Eastern Zone Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien gue lo entienda. Dear Customer, This Water Quality Report provides important information which is specific to your drinking water. Both the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (ID DEQ) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require water suppliers to make the following water quality information available to all customers. Both agencies monitor the water quality to insure compliance with all regulations. Please read this report for important information about your drinking water. Source water assessment and its availability and contact information: If you have any questions regarding our Consumer Confidence Report, please feel free to contact the City of Eagle Water Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. 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. Last year, as in years past, your tap water was collected at four separate locations within your water service area and sent to a state certified lab for testing. As we told you at the time, during the May testing, our water temporarily exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards for total coliform. The situation was rectified with additional flushing of the water lines and subsequent testing confirmed the problem was resolved with no action required on your part. Outside of that isolated incident, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards. The City of Eagle vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that our system has not violated any additional maximum contaminant levels or any other water quality standard. Where does my water come from? The City of Eagle Eastern Water System is a pressure based, twin well system, utilizing a reservoir for pressure and volume buffering capacity. The number of wells operating at any time varies with demand and reservoir level. All of the wells produce a high quality of water with concentrations of regulated contaminants well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) limits set by the E.P.A. and our local Department of Environmental Quality. 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 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 PWS #4010201 Eastern Zone 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 and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline ([PHONE REDACTED]). 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 ([PHONE REDACTED]). 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 storm water 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 storm water runoff, and residential uses; organic chemical contaminants, including and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water 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? Please direct any and all concerns about the drinking water in your area to the City of Eagle Water Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. Description of Water Treatment Process Your water is treated by disinfection. Disinfection involves the addition of chlorine or other disinfectant to kill dangerous bacteria and microorganisms that may be in the water. Disinfection is considered to be one of the major public health advances of the 20th century. Water Conservation Tips: Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day or 100 gallons per person per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to conserve water. Small changes can make a big difference – try one today and soon it will become second nature. • Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath. • Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallons a month. • Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month. • Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month. • Water plants only when necessary. • Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 PWS #4010201 Eastern Zone the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or replacing it with a new, more efficient model can save up to 1,000 gallons a month. • Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. • 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 water bill! • Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information. 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 Source Water Protection Tips: Protection of drinking water is everyone’s responsibility. You can help protect your community’s drinking water source in several ways: • Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides – they contain hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source. • Pick up after your pets. • If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to water sources or consider connecting to a public system. • Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil to a recycling center. • Volunteer in your community. Find a watershed or wellhead protection organization in your community and volunteer to help. If there are no active groups, consider starting one. Use EPA’s Adopt Your Watershed to locate groups in your community, or visit the Watershed Information Network’s How to Start a Watershed Team. • Organize a storm drain stenciling project with your local government or water supplier. Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people “Dump No Waste - Drains to River” or “Protect Your Water.” Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind residents that storm drains dump directly into your local water body. 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 Eagle Eastern Water System 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 . Additional Information for Nitrate: ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 PWS #4010201 Eastern Zone Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider. Sanitary Survey: The City of Eagle had no violations in the latest sanitary survey. Violations and Exceedances: Coliform and Subsequent Testing As previously stated, in May of 2015 our water temporarily exceeded drinking water standards as established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for total coliform. As you know, the situation was quickly resolved with additional line flushing and confirmed through subsequent testing of the water. Following the exceedance, the additional required confirmation samples submitted was shorted by one. The missing sample was quickly submitted and further confirmed the absence of the bacteria. 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. MCLG MCL, or TT, or Your Range Sample Contaminants MRDL Water Low High Date Violation Typical Source Inorganic Contaminants Arsenic (ppb) 0 10 5 5 5 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.4 NA 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories Nitrate [measured as Nitrogen] (ppm) 10 10 1.9 1.5 1.9 2015 No Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits Radioactive Contaminants Uranium (ug/L) 0 30 25 NA 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 PWS #4010201 Eastern Zone Radium (combined 226/228) (pCi/L) 0 5 0 NA 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits Unit Descriptions Term Definition ug/L ug/L : Number of micrograms of substance in one liter of water ppm ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L) ppb ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L) pCi/L pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) NA NA: not applicable ND ND: Not detected NR 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. 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 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. Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. 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: Ken Acuff 660 E Civic Lane Eagle, ID 83616 Phone: [PHONE REDACTED] Fax: [PHONE REDACTED] Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Website: www.cityofeagle.org ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 PWS #4010222 Western Zone City of Eagle Water Department 2015 Water Quality and Consumer Confidence Report PWS #4010222 Western Zone Este informe contiene informacion importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien gue lo entienda. Dear Customer, This Water Quality Report provides important information which is specific to your drinking water. Both the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (ID DEQ) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require water suppliers to make the following water quality information available to all customers. Both agencies monitor the water quality to insure compliance with all regulations. Please read this report for important information about your drinking water. Source water assessment and its availability and contact information: If you have any questions regarding our Consumer Confidence Report, please feel free to contact the City of Eagle Water Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. 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. Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards. The City of Eagle 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. Where does my water come from? The City of Eagle Western Water System consists of two artesian ground water wells at separate sites in the system. Both wells produce very high quality water with concentrations of contaminants well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) limits set by the E.P.A and our local Department of Environmental Quality. 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 and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline ([PHONE REDACTED]). ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 PWS #4010222 Western Zone 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 ([PHONE REDACTED]). 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 storm water 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 storm water runoff, and residential uses; organic Chemical Contaminants, including and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water 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? Please direct any and all concerns about the drinking water in your area to the City of Eagle Water Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. Description of Water Treatment Process Your water is treated by disinfection. Disinfection involves the addition of chlorine or other disinfectant to kill dangerous bacteria and microorganisms that may be in the water. Disinfection is considered to be one of the major public health advances of the 20th century. Water Conservation Tips: Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day or 100 gallons per person per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to conserve water. Small changes can make a big difference – try one today and soon it will become second nature. • Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath. • Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallons a month. • Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month. • Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month. • Water plants only when necessary. • Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or replacing it with a new, more efficient model can save up to 1,000 gallons a month. • Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 PWS #4010222 Western Zone • 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 water bill. • Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information. 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 Source Water Protection Tips: Protection of drinking water is everyone’s responsibility. You can help protect your community’s drinking water source in several ways: • Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides – they contain hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source. • Pick up after your pets. • If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to water sources or consider connecting to a public system. • Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil to a recycling center. • Volunteer in your community. Find a watershed or wellhead protection organization in your community and volunteer to help. If there are no active groups, consider starting one. Use EPA’s Adopt Your Watershed to locate groups in your community, or visit the Watershed Information Network’s How to Start a Watershed Team. • Organize a storm drain stenciling project with your local government or water supplier. Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people “Dump No Waste - Drains to River” or “Protect Your Water.” Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind residents that storm drains dump directly into your local water body. 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 Eagle Western Water System 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 . Additional Information for Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 PWS #4010222 Western Zone Sanitary Survey: The City of Eagle had no violations in the latest sanitary survey. 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. MCLG MCL, or TT, or Your Range Sample Contaminants MRDL Water Low High Date Violation Typical Source Inorganic Contaminants Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.41 0.39 0.41 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories Nitrate (measured as Nitrogen) (ppm) 10 10 0.2 ND 0.2 2015 No Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits Radioactive Contaminants Radium (combined 226/228) (pCi/L) 0 5 1.51 ND 1.51 2009 No Erosion of natural deposits Unit Descriptions Term Definition ppm ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L) pCi/L pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) NA NA: not applicable ND ND: Not detected NR NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended. Important Drinking Water Definitions ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 PWS #4010222 Western Zone 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. 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 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. Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. 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: Ken Acuff 660 E Civic Lane Eagle, ID 83644 Phone: [PHONE REDACTED] Fax: [PHONE REDACTED] Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Website: www.cityofeagle.org