2020 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
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2020 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
PAWNEE TRIBAL COMPLEX
PWS ID# 064026001
Released: June 2021
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, we conducted tests for over 80 contaminants.
We only detected 11 of those contaminants and found only 1 at a level higher than the EPA allows. As
we informed you at the time, our water temporarily exceeded drinking water standards. (For more
information see the section labeled Violations at the end of the report.)
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?
Groundwater is located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock
formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable
quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in the rock become
completely saturated with water is called the water table. Groundwater is recharged from, and eventually
flows to the surface naturally. Natural discharge often occurs at springs to form oases or wetlands.
Groundwater is also withdrawn for agricultural, municipal, and industrial use by constructing and
operating wells.
Source water assessment and its availability
The Source Water Assessment for Pawnee Nation Water Supply Wells was conducted in September
2010 and received a low susceptibility for contamination rating. A copy of this assessment can be
obtained or reviewed at the Division of Tribal Operations, 361 Clinic Road, Pawnee, Oklahoma, on the
Pawnee Nation Tribal Reserve.
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 (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 byproducts 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?
Information about meetings of the Pawnee Nation Utility Authority will be posted on the website at
www.pawneenation.org and posted in the main administrative building at 881 Little Dee Drive, Pawnee,
OK 74058, and at the Division of Tribal Operations, 361 Clinic Road, Pawnee, OK; on the Pawnee
Nation Tribal Reserve.
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.
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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.
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. Pawnee Tribal Complex 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 Arsenic
While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA's
standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of
removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of
arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other
health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
Water Quality Data Tables
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.
Detected Regulated Contaminants
Contaminants
MCLG MCL,
or
TT, or
MRDLG MRDL
Detected Range
In
Your
Sample
Water Low High Date Violation
Typical Source
Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products
(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants)
Chlorine (as Cl2)
(ppm)
4
4
2.9 Avg
0.2
4.7
2020
Yes
Water additive used to control
microbes
Inorganic Contaminants
Arsenic (ppb)
0
10
6.3
NA NA
2018
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff
from orchards; Runoff from glass and
electronics production wastes
Barium (ppm)
2
2
0.12
NA NA
2018
No
Discharge of drilling wastes;
Discharge from metal refineries;
Erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride (ppm)
4
4
0.19
NA NA
2018
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Water
additive which promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories
Nitrate [measured
as Nitrogen] (ppm)
10
10
2.45
NA NA
2020
No
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching
from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of
natural deposits
Selenium (ppb)
50
50
5.2
NA NA
2018
No
Discharge from petroleum and metal
refineries; Erosion of natural
deposits; Discharge from mines
15
7.43
NA NA
2020
No
Erosion of natural deposits
Radioactive Contaminants
Alpha emitters
(pCi/L)
0
MCLG MCL,
or
TT, or
MRDLG MRDL
Contaminants
Detected Range
In
Your
Sample
Water Low High Date Violation
Typical Source
Beta/photon
emitters (pCi/L)
0
50
5.59
NA NA
2020
No
Decay of natural and man-made
deposits.
Radium (combined
226/228) (pCi/L)
0
5
0.62
NA NA
2020
No
Erosion of natural deposits
Exceeds
AL
Typical Source
90th Percentile
# Samples
in Your
Sample Exceeding
Contaminants ALG AL
Water
Date
AL
Inorganic Contaminants (Lead and Copper)
Copper (ppm)
1.3 1.3
0.054
2020
0
No
Lead (ppm)
0
0.0045
2020
0
No
15
Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Unit Descriptions
Term
Definition
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
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
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
Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking
water.
AL
Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements which a water system must follow.
ALG
Action Level Goal: 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.
90th Percentile
A value at which 90% of all samples collected tested at or below this value
Variances and
Exemptions
State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.
MRDLG
MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below
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.
Important Drinking Water Definitions
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
2020 Violations
SDWA Rule
RTCR – Major
Monitoring and Reporting
Violation
Begin
3/1/2020
End
3/31/2020
Violation Explanation
We failed to test our drinking water for the contaminant and
period indicated. Because of this failure, we cannot be sure
of the quality of our drinking water during the period
indicated. We sampled and resolved the violation on the
Violation End date.
Uncorrected Significant Deficiencies at Pawnee Tribal Complex PWS
Significant Deficiency
Date
identified
Due Date
The open electrical conduit 3/24/2021
in the well house must be
repaired to maintain a
sanitary seal.
The Standpipe was last
3/24/2021
inspected 5 years ago.
Tanks need to be inspected
every five years and
cleaned based on the tank
inspection report.
Lines in the distribution
3/24/2021
system are not properly
disinfected and flushed
when installing new lines
or repairing existing lines.
7/22/2021
For more information please contact:
Contact Name: Jimmy Jestes
Address: Po Box 470
Pawnee, ok 74058
Phone: 918-762-3621
Anticipated What is being done?
Correction
Date
For tribe to For tribe to fill out.
fill out.
7/22/2021
For tribe to For tribe to fill out.
fill out.
7/22/2021
For tribe to For tribe to fill out.
fill out.
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.