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1999 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. Test results reported are for the year 1999.
PUD
No. 1 of 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! |
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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 (see map). An aquifer is a deep underground
reservoir or lake of water. The aquifer we pump from is very large and
is located within Asotin and Garfield Counties, Washington and Nez Perce
County, Idaho. Water quality 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 nearly 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 hundreds of regulated and unregulated compounds we tested,
only 2 compounds showed detectable levels in our water and they were
well below the maximum contaminant level (MCL). (See
table).
Who Regulates Water
Quality?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the standards for our
drinking water quality. These standards are regulations that EPA sets to
control the level of acceptable contaminants in the nation’s drinking
water. These standards for water protection include assessing and
protecting drinking water sources; protecting wells and collection
systems; making sure water is treated by qualified operators; ensuring
the integrity of water distribution systems; and making information
available to the public on the quality of their drinking water. The PUD
is also regulated by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
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PUD Serviceman taking routine water sample
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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. 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
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disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from
bacterial infections and other pollutants infections. These people
should seek advice about drinking water from their health care
providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of
infection from Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants
are available by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791.
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PUD No. 1 of Asotin
County Water System Map
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.
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Keys to
the Table and Definitions You Need to Know.
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MCL
Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of
contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
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MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of contaminant
in drinking water below which there is no known or expected
health risk.
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AL
Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant which, if
exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements a water
system must follow.
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PPM
Parts Per Million. These units describe the levels of detected
contaminants. 1 PPM is like 1 minute in 2 years.
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RESULTS OF MONITORING
FOR REGULATED SUBSTANCES
| SUBSTANCE |
Maximum
Level Detected |
Maximum
Contamination Level (MCL) |
Maximum
Contamination Level Goal (MCLG) |
Source
of Substance |
Required
Action Level (AL) |
| Nitrate |
.79 ppm |
10.0 ppm |
10.0 ppm |
Erosion of
natural Deposits: sources may include farms, septic systems and
animal wastes |
NO |
| Fluoride |
.97 ppm |
4.0 ppm |
4.0 ppm |
Erosion of
natural Deposits |
NO |
| Microbiological
Contaminants (Coliform Bacteria) |
15% of
routine samples detected coliform bacteria |
Actional
Level (AL) required if coliform bacteria found in more than 5% of
samples |
Action
Level (AL) required if coliform bacteria found in more than 0% of
samples |
Found
throughout environment |
YES |
Action Level
Explanation: The coliform bacteria detected in the 15% of routine
samples represents 3 routine samples in July. The PUD takes 20
routine samples per month. For the year, only 3.8% of all
routine samples showed the presence of coliform bacteria, well below the
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). When routine samples show the
presence of contaminants, the PUD takes further samples at points
upstream, downstream and at the original sample point. If samples
continue to show the presence of contaminants, the PUD will take action
by chlorinating sources of water such as reservoirs and begin flushing
this chlorine through the distribution system. Chlorine works as
an agent to reduce or eliminate potential contamination.
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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