# Warm Springs Water System (2018) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_warm_springs%3Ac17b4f156b9807b2 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text 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          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.       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       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 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_warm_springs%3Ac17b4f156b9807b2. Public record. Not legal advice.