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2002
WATER-QUALITY REPORT
What is a WATER-QUALITY Report?
It is the PUD’s goal
to provide you with high-quality, safe drinking water that exceeds every
federal and state standard. As mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA),
this annual WATER-QUALITY REPORT provides information about the source
of the water you drink, the results of our water quality tests, and
provides you with important drinking water information.
Asotin County’s drinking water meets or surpasses all
federal and state drinking-water standards. You can count on the
PUD for Quality on Tap!
Where Does Your
Drinking Water Come From?
We rely on groundwater for our drinking water. This groundwater is
pumped from a deep aquifer by PUD wells and stored in reservoirs located
throughout our service territory. An aquifer is a deep underground reservoir or lake of
water.
As water is pumped from
the wells, disinfectant is added to protect you from microbial
contaminants. The quality of water
from this aquifer is EXCELLENT.
How Often Does the PUD Test Water
Quality?
Our water is tested weekly to assure that it is safe and healthy. The
PUD performs over 250 water quality tests per year. We test regularly
for microbiological substances. Microbiological substances are bacteria
that are naturally present in the environment and those produced by
humans and animals. Every three years the PUD tests for organic and
inorganic compounds that may be present in the water. We are happy to
say that of the hundreds of regulated and unregulated compounds we
tested, only a few compounds showed detectable levels in our water and
they were well below the maximum contaminant level (MCL).
(see table below)
How to Read the Table Below
Its Easy! First we identify the substance that was tested; then identify
the amount detected; show what the EPA identifies as the MCL
or maximum contaminant level and the MCLG or maximum contaminant level
goal; what is the source of this substance; and whether or not there was
a required action or AL. Test results are for the calendar year 2002
unless otherwise noted. The state requires the PUD to monitor for
certain contaminants less than once per year.
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Keys to
the Table and Definitions You Need to Know.
·
MCL
Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of contaminant
that is allowed in drinking water.
·
MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of contaminant in
drinking water below which there is no known or expected
health risk.
·
AL
Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant,
which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements
a water system must follow.
·
PPM
Parts Per Million. These units describe the levels of
detected contaminants. 1 PPM is like 1 minute in 2 years.
·
PCi/l
Picocuries per liter. This is a measure of radiation. |
RESULTS OF SOURCE WATER
MONITORING
| SUBSTANCE |
PUD
Water |
Maximum
Contamination Level (MCL) |
Maximum
Contamination Level Goal (MCLG) |
Sample Date
|
Source
of Substance |
Required
Action Level (AL) |
| Nitrate (ppm) |
.80 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
June 2000 |
Erosion of
natural Deposits: sources may include farms, septic systems and
animal wastes |
NO |
| Fluoride (ppm) |
.80 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
June 2000 |
Erosion of
natural Deposits |
NO |
|
Arsenic (ppm) |
.002 |
.05 |
0 |
|
Erosion of
natural deposits |
NO |
|
Radionuclides |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beta emitters (pCi/l) |
10.0 |
50.0 |
n/a |
June 2000 |
Decay of natural
and man-made deposits |
NO |
|
Alpha emitters (pCi/l) |
1.0 |
15.0 |
n/a |
June 2000 |
Erosion of
natural deposits |
NO |
We encourage public
interest and participation in decisions affecting the water you
drink. Regular Board meetings occur at 5:30 PM on the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month at the PUD office located at 1500 Scenic
Way. Everyone is welcome!
We’ll be happy to
answer any questions you may have regarding this WATER-QUALITY Report
and the HIGH QUALITY of drinking water that PUD delivers to you.
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