Warm Springs Water System (2018)

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

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?

The Warm Springs Community Water System is supplied by surface water from the Deschutes

River in Jefferson County, approximately 2.5 miles downstream from Highway 26 crossing. The

river water is treated with conventional filtration in a water treatment plant that is designed for a

maximum production of 4.3 million gallons per day.

Source water assessment and its availability

Yes - contact your water system.

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

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

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?

Contact your water system.

Description of Water Treatment Process

Your water is treated in a "treatment train" (a series of processes applied in a sequence) that

includes coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Coagulation

removes dirt and other particles suspended in the source water by adding chemicals (coagulants)

to form tiny sticky particles called "floc," which attract the dirt particles. Flocculation (the

formation of larger flocs from smaller flocs) is achieved using gentle, constant mixing. The

heavy particles settle naturally out of the water in a sedimentation basin. The clear water then

moves to the filtration process where the water passes through sand, gravel, charcoal or other

filters that remove even smaller particles. A small amount of chlorine or other disinfection

method is used to kill bacteria and other microorganisms (viruses, cysts, etc.) that may be in the

water before water is stored and distributed to homes and businesses in the community.

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.

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

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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.

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.

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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:

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

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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 water 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.

Significant Deficiencies

Water Treatment Plant: The primary coagulant Aluminum Chlorohydrate (ACH) is not being

optimized for the treatment process and the operators do not jar test so there is no accurate

measure to indicate the correct dosage of ACH.

Tee Wees Storage Tank: Hatch needs a gasket; Roof top vent has rusted through into the WST

with holes and the vent needs 24-Mesh screen to prevent insect entrance.

Kah-Ne-Ta Storage Tank: Hatch needs a gasket;

Southeast Storage Tank: Overflow lacks proper 24-mesh screen covering opening of pipe; Hatch

needs a gasket; Roof top vent has rusted through into the WST with holes.

West Hills West Storage Tank: Overflow lacks proper 24-mesh screen covering pipe opening;

Top hatch needs a gasket; 24-mesh screen is torn on vent and a hole in the roof structure was

found.

West Hills East Storage Tank: This storage tank is the oldest on the water system. The roof

access ladder is unsafe due to not having a ladder cage; The overflow lacks proper 24-mesh

screen covering opening of pipe; Unable to access top of water tank to inspect items listed.

Greely West Storage Tank: Top hatch needs a gasket; Overflow lacks proper 24-mesh screen

covering opening of pipe; Unable to access top of water tank to inspect items listed; Overflow

has flapper valve that does not fully seal.

Water Treatment Plant: Ventilation in the main service pump room is lacking and require the

operators to run portable fans and opening the doors; Sedimentation basin needs settled solids

removed. Turbidimeters are out of calibration.

Filter IFE Turbidimeter sampling pump is non-operable.

River intake air scour system inoperative. Gasket blown on screen in river reducing effectiveness

of air scour cleaning.

CFE Turbidimeter sampling delay needs to be reduced.

Out of Service Concrete WST needs to be physically disconnected from distribution system.

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

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. Warm Springs 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.

For more information please contact:

Contact Name: Steve Courtney

Job Title: Chief Operator

Address: P.O. Box 1196 – Utility Dept

Warm Springs, OR 97731

Phone: 541-553-3246

Email: Steven.Courtney@WSTribes.org

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

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.

Unit Descriptions

Term

Definition

ppm

ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)

NA

NA: not applicable

ND

ND: Not detected

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. MCLGs 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 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.

MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below

MRDLG 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 drinking

MRDL water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial

contaminants.

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

2018

Regulated Contaminants Detected

Lead and Copper

Definitions:

Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Lead and Copper

Date Sampled

MCLG

Action Level

90th

# Sites Over

Units

Violation

(AL)

Percentile

AL

Copper

09/13/2016

1.3

1.3

0.055

0

ppm

MCLG

MCL

Units

N

Likely Source of

Contamination

Erosion

of

natural

deposits;

Leaching

from

wood

preservatives;

Corrosion

of

household

plumbing systems.

Regulated Contaminants

Disinfectants and

Disinfection ByProducts

Collection

Date

Highest Level Range of Levels

Detected

Detected

Violation Likely Source of Contamination

Chlorine

2018

0.5

0.4 - 0.5

MRDLG = 4

MRDL = 4

ppm

N

Water additive

used to

control

microbes.

Haloacetic Acids

(HAA5)

2018

17

8.6 - 16.5

No goal for

the total

60

ppb

N

By-product of

drinking

water

disinfection

Not all sample results may have been used for calculating the Highest Level Detected because some results may be part of an evaluation to determine where compliance sampling should occur

in the future

Total Trihalomethanes

2018

18

13 - 18

No goal for

80

ppb

N

By-product of drinking water

(TTHM)

the total

disinfection

Not all sample results may have been used for calculating the Highest Level Detected because some results may be part of an evaluation to determine where compliance sampling should occur

in the future

Radioactive

Contaminants

Collection

Date

Combined Radium

226/228

2018

Highest Level Range of Levels

Detected

Detected

1.5

1.5 - 1.5

MCLG

MCL

Units

0

5

pCi/L

Violation Likely Source of Contamination

N

Erosion of natural deposits.

Total Organic Carbon

The percentage of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was measured each month and the system met all TOC removal requirements set, unless a TOC violation is noted in the violations section.

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report

Violations Table

Interim Enhanced SWTR

The Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule improves control of microbial contaminants, particularly Cryptosporidium, in systems using

surface water, or ground water under the direct influence of surface water. The rule builds upon the treatment technique requirements of the

Surface Water Treatment Rule.

Violation Type

MONTHLY COMB FLTR EFFLUENT

(IESWTR/LT1)

Violation Begin

Violation End

10/01/2018

10/31/2018

Violation Explanation

Turbidity levels, though relatively low, exceeded a standard for the month

indicated. Turbidity (cloudiness) levels are used to measure effective

filtration of drinking water.

Warm Springs Water System

2018 Water Quality Report