2011 2011ConsumerConfidenceReport:Layout 1 6/19/12 10:52 AM Page
IS MY WATER SAFE?Last year,as in least small amounts of some contaminants. 6231,or check our website at IMPORTANT DRINKING WATER
years past,your tap water met all U.S. The presence of contaminants does not www.stpud.us DEFINITIONS
MCLG:Maximum Contaminant Level
Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) necessarily indicate that water poses a The District is governed by an elected Goal:The level of a contaminant in
and state drinking water health standards. health risk.More information about five-member Board of Directors. Board drinking water below which there is no
The South Tahoe Public Utility District contaminants and potential health effects meetings are held on the first and third known or expected risk to health.
vigilantly safeguards its watersu lies can be obtained bycallingthe MCLGsallowmra tamin ntof sefel:
g Y g pp Thursday of each month at 2 p.m.at the MCL:Maximum Contaminant Level:The
and,once again,we are proud to report Environmental Protection Agency's(EPA) Customer Service Facility located at 1275 highest level of a contaminant that is
that our system has not violated a Safe Drinking Water Hotline(1-800-426- Meadow Crest Drive.All open are meetingsallowed in drinking water.MCLs are set
as close to the MCLGs as feasible using
maximum contaminant level or any other 4791).The sources of drinking water to the public and the District encourages our the best available treatment technology.
water quality standard. (both tap water and bottled water) include customers to attend and become involved PDWS:Primary Drinking Water
rivers, lakes,streams, ponds, reservoirs, in the policymakingprocess.
Standards:MCLs for contaminants that
DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL springs,and wells.As water travels over P affect health along with their monitoring
PRECAUTIONS?Some people may be the surface of the land or through the RESULTS OF RADON MONITORING treatmeand nt requirements..requirements,and water
more vulnerable to contaminants in ground, it dissolves naturallyoccurringRadon is a radioactivegas thatyou can't
drinkingwater than the general
AL:Action Level:The concentration of a
g minerals and, in some cases, radioactive see,taste or smell. It is found throughout contaminant which,if exceeded,triggers
population. Immuno-compromised persons material,and canpick upsubstances the U.S. Radon can move upthrough the treatment or other requirements which a
such as persons with cancer undergoing g water system must follow.
resulting from the presence of animals or ground and into a home through cracks PHG:Primary Health Goal:The level of
chemotherapy, persons who have from human activity.Microbial and holes in the foundation. Radon can contaminant in drinking water below
undergone organ transplants, people with below which there is no known or
contaminants,such as viruses and build up to high levels in all types of expected risk to health.PHGs are set by
HIV/AIDS or other immune system bacteria, may come from sewage homes. Radon can also get into indoor air the California Environmental Protection
disorders,some elderly,and infants can treatmentplants,septic systems, Agency.
P Y when released from tap water from
be particularly at risk from infections. MRDLG:Maximum Residual
agricultural livestock operations,and showering,washing dishes,and other Disinfection Level Goal:The level of a
These people should seek advice about wildlife. Inorganic contaminants,such as household activities.Compared to radon drinking water disinfectant below which
drinking water from their health care salts and metals,can be naturallythere is no known or expected risk to
entering the home through soil, radon
providers. EPA/Centers for Disease health.MRDLGs do not reflect the
occurring or result from urban stormwater entering the home through tap water will, benefits of the use of disinfectants to
Control (CDC)guidelines on appropriate runoff, industrial,or domestic wastewater control microbial contaminants.
means to lessen the risk of infection byin most cases, be a small source of radon
discharges,oil and gas production, MRDL:Maximum Residual Disinfectant
in indoor air. Radon is a known human
Cryptosporidium and other microbial mining,or farming. Pesticides and Level:The highest level of a disinfectant
contaminants are available from thees, maycomerom carcinogen. Breathing air containing allowed in drinking water.There is
USEPA's Water Drinking Hotline sources as agriculture,f arbanvariety of radon can lead to lung cancer. Drinking disinfectant ionvincing s necessaryfor ence that dcontol of
ition of a
(1-800-426-4791).Safe water containing radon may also cause microbial contaminants.
stormwater runoff,and residential uses. increased risk of stomach cancer. If you MNR:Monitored Not Regulated
WHERE DOES MY WATER COME Organic Chemical Contaminants, are concerned about radon in your home, MPL:Maximum Permissible Level as
FROM?The District's service area is including synthetic and volatile organic test the air in your home.Testing is determined by the state of California
organized into 16 pressure zones serving chemicals,are by-products of industrial inexpensive and easy. Fix your home if
over 2.4 billion gallons annually from 16 processes and petroleum production,and the level of radon in your air is 4 UNIT DESCRIPTIONS
active drinkingwater wells to nearlycan also come from gas stations, urban ug/L Parts per billion
14,000 homes and businesses.All our stormwater runoff,agricultural application picocuries per liter of air(pCi/L)or mg/L:Number of milligrams of
and septic systems. Radioactive higher.There are simple ways to fix a substance in one liter of water
drinking water is pumped from P Y ppm:Partsper million,or milligrams per
radon problem that aren't too costly. For g
underground aquifers. No water is taken contaminants,can be naturally occurring liter Img/LI
or be the result of oil and gas production additional information,call your state ppb:Parts per billion,or micrograms per
from Lake Tahoe or any other surface
water source. and mining activities. In order to ensure radon program or call EPA's Radon liter INg/L)
that tap water is safe to drink,the United Hotline(800-SOS-RADON). ppt Parts per trillion,or nanograms per
liter
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND States Environmental Protection Agency RESULTS OF VOLUNTARY ppq:Parts per quadrillion,or picograms
PROTECTION The District's Groundwater (USEPA)and the California Department ofIcipi
MONITORING See data sheets. per liter
Management Plan (California Water Public Health (DPH) prescribe regulations pCi/L•Picocuries per liter la measure of
Code Section 10750)was adopted on that limit the amount of certain REGARDING ARSENIC Arsenic is a adioactivity)
December 21,2000 and is on file with contaminants in waterprovided bypublic naturallyoccurringsubstance that is mreof Millirems per year la measure
of radiation absorbed by the body)
the California Department of Public water systems. Food and Drug sometimes found at very low levels in MFL:Million Fibers per Liter,used to
Health (CDPH).You may view the Administration (FDA) regulations establish drinking water, primarily groundwater. measure asbestos concentration
document by visiting the District's website limits for contaminants in bottled water The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NTiJ:Nephelometric Turbidity Units.
Turbidity is a measure of the
at www.stpud.us or by requesting a which must provide the same protection (EPA)was required by the Safe Drinking cloudiness of the water.We monitor
copy by calling Customer Service at for public health. Water Act Amendments of 1996 to it because it is a good indicator of
530-544-6474. finalize a new drinkingwater standard for the effectiveness of our filtration
The District has an ongoing drinkingHOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? system.
g g The information contained in the arsenic in 2001 based on good scientific positive samples/month:The number of
water source development program that information and data. samples taken monthly that were
seekspotential drinkingwater well Consumer Confidence Report may not found to be positive
answer all thequestionsyou mayhave Of the District's fourteen active
locations. Due to the volume of the positive samples/yr:The number of
about the quality of the South Tahoe drinking water wells,two exceeded the positive samples taken that year
average annual Sierra snowpack and
Public Utility District's drinking water new standard. Of those two wells,one %positive samples/month:Percentage
Lake Tahoe itself,our aquifer has a has been disconnected from the water of samples taken monthly that were
significant recharge capability.The District supply.The District welcomes public positive
continues to work diligently to protect and participation in developing water quality distribution system, but could be placed %killed or inactivated:Percentage of
maintain thisprecious natural resource. and quantity policy. For more information, into service in the event of an emergency, viruses/bacteria killed or inactivated
please call the District Information Office such as wildfire. On the remaining well,a by treatment method
WHY ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS at 530-544-6474 extension 6208. DPH-approved treatment facility has been CFU/ml:Colony Forming Units per
milliliter
IN MY DRINKING WATER?Drinking If you would like more detailed scientific operational since October 2009.The NA:Not Applicable
water, including bottled water, may information, please call the District District is in full compliance with both state ND:Not Detected
reasonably be expected to contain at Laboratory at 530-544-6474 extension and federal standards. NR:Not Required,but recommended
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT 201 1
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SPANISH(ESPANOL)Este informe contiene information muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua beber.Traduscalo o hable con alguien que to entienda bien.
2011ConsumerConf idenceReport:Layout 1 6/19/12 10:52 AM Page
WATER QUALITY DATA TABLE The table to the the data presented in this table is from testing done ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS In an effort to
right lists all of the drinking water contaminants that in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the insure the safest water possible the State has required
we detected that are applicable for the calendar State requires us to monitor for certain us to monitor some contaminants not required by
year of this report. The presence of contaminants in contaminants less than once per year because the Federal regulations. Of those contaminants only the
the water does not necessarily indicate that the concentrations of these contaminants do not ones listed at the bottom of the page under
water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, change frequently. "Additional Contaminants"were found in your water.
CONTAMINANTS MCLG/PHG MCL OR MRDL AVERAGE MIN MAX SAMPLE DATE VIOLATION TYPICAL SOURCE
OR MRDLG OR NL
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
Aluminum(ppb) 600 1,000 ND ND 20.3 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Arsenic 1ppbl 0.004 10 3.2 ND 8.0 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits;Runoff
from orchards;Runoff from glass and
electronics production wastes
Barium 1ppbl 2,000 1,000 10 ND 35 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Chromium 1ppbl 50 ND ND 1.0 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride(ppm) 1 2 0.09 ND 0.16 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits;Water
additive which promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum
factories
Nitrate[measured as Nitrogen](ppm) 10 10 0.25 0.03 0.79 2011 No Runoff from fertilizer use;Leaching from
septic tanks,sewage;Erosion of natural
deposits
Sodium(optional)1ppbl NA MPL 11.3 4.43 25.6 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits;Leaching
RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTSIII
Gross Alpha(pCi/L),minus Uranium 15 2.44 0.02 6.15 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Uranium(pCi/L) 0.5 20 5.26 1.06 12.14 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Radium-226(pCi/L) 0.05 0.42 0.22 0.59 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Radium-228(pCi/L) 0.019 0.96 0.00 1.95 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
Radium-226+Radium-228 5 1.38 0.41 2.30 2011 No Erosion of natural deposits
VOLATILE ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
MTBE[Methyl Tert Butyl Ether](ppb) 5 13 ND ND 0.4 2011 No Leaking underground fuel storage tanks
TTHMs[Total Trihalomethanes](ppb) NA 80 1.1 ND 4.0 2011 No Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
HaloAcetic Acids NA 60 ND ND 1.0 2010 No Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS
Total Coliforms(%Positive each month) 5 0 0 0 2011 No Naturally present in environment
E.Coli 1%Positive) 0 0 0 0 2011 No Human and animal fecal matter
Heterotrophic Plate Count or HPC(CFU) NA 0.4 ND 12.4 2011 No NA
i),
Turbidity(NTU)The Turbidity limit for the - 5 0.3 0.1 1.6 2011 , Soil runoff
highest single measurement.
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS MCLG/PHG AL 90TH PERCENTILE SAMPLE DATE #SAMPLES EXCEEDS AL TYPICAL SOURCE
EXCEEDING AL
Lead-action level at consumer taps(ppb) ND 15 ND 2011 0 No Corosion of household plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural deposits
Copper-action level at consumer taps 1ppbl ND 1,300 634 2011 0 No Internal corrosion of household plumbing
systems;erosion of natural deposits;
leaching from wood preservatives
ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS STATE MCL AVERAGE VIOLATION SAMPLE DATE EXPLANATION AND COMMENT
Alkalinity,Total(ppm) NA 52.5 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Bromide(ppm) NA 0.014 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Calcium(ppm) NA 12.6 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Carbon Dioxide,Free(ppm) NA 5.4 mg/L No 2011 Naturally occuring
Chloride(ppm) 500 9.1 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Chlorine,Free(ppm) 4 mg/L 0.59 mg/L No 2011 Byproduct of disinfection process
Chromium 6(ppb) NA 0.53 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Color(Units) 15 5 No 2011 Naturally occurring organic materials
Copper(ppm) NA 2 No 2011 Old plumbing/erosian of natural deposits
Dissolved Solids,Total(ppm) 1,000 mg/L 100 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Electrical Conductance(umhos/cm) 1,600 142 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Hardness(ppm) NA 41.7 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Iron(ppb) 300 ND No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Lead(ppb) NA 0.5 No 2011 Old plumbing/erosian of natural deposits
Magnesium(ppm) NA 2.6 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Manganese(ppb) 50 3 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Odor-Threshold(Units) 3 1 No 2011 Naturally occurring organic materials
Organic Carbon,Total(ppm) NA 0.31 mg/L No 2011 Naturally occurring organic materials
ortho-Phosphate,as P(ppm) NA 0.035 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Phosphorus,Total(ppm) NA 0.042 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
pH NA 8.03 Units No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Potassium(ppm) NA 1.44 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Radon pCi/L) NA 676 pCi/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Silica(ppm) NA 27 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Sulfate(ppm) 500 3.28 mg/L No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Temperature-System('Fl NA 49` No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Vanadium(ppb) NA 3.4 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits
Zinc(ppb) 5,000 20.7 No 2011 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits