2013 South Tahoe Public Utility District
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT 2013
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IS MY WATER SAFE? Last year, as in years past, view the document by visiting the District's herbicides, may come from a variety of sources RESULTS OF RADON MONITORING Radon is a
your tap water met all U.S. Environmental website at www.stpud.us or by requesting a such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, radioactive gas that you can't see, taste or
Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking copy by calling Customer Service at 530-544- and residential uses. Organic Chemical smell. It is found throughout the U.S. Radon can
water health standards. The South Tahoe Public 6474. Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile move up through the ground and into a home
Utility District vigilantly safeguards its water The District has an ongoing drinking water organic chemicals, are by-products of industrial through cracks and holes in the foundation.
supplies and, once again,we are proud to source development program that seeks potential processes and petroleum production, and can Radon can build up to high levels in all types of
report that our system has not violated a drinking water well locations. Due to the volume also come from gas stations, urban stormwater
maximum contaminant level or any other water of the average annual Sierra snowpack and runoff, agricultural application and septic homes. Radon can also get into indoor air when
quality standard. Lake Tahoe itself, our aquifer has a significant systems. Radioactive contaminants, can be released from tap water from showering,
recharge capability.The District continues to naturally occurring or be the result of oil and washing dishes, and other household activities.
DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?
work diligently to protect and maintain this gas production and mining activities. In order to Compared to radon entering the home through
Some people may be more vulnerable to
precious natural resource. ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the United soil, radon entering the home through tap water
contaminants in drinking water than the general
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) will, in most cases, be a small source of radon
population. Immuno-compromised persons such WHY ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN MY and the California Department of Public Health
as persons with cancer undergoing DRINKING WATER?Drinking water, including p in indoor air. Radon is a known human
(DPH) prescribe regulations that limit the amount carcinogen. Breathingair containingradon can
chemotherapy, persons who have undergone bottled water, may reasonably be expected to of certain contaminants in water provided by g
organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or contain at least small amounts of some lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing
public water systems. Food and Drug
other immune system disorders, some elderly, contaminants. The presence of contaminants radon may also cause increased risk of stomach
Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits
and infants can be particularly at risk from does not necessarily indicate that water poses a for contaminants in bottled water which must cancer. If you are concerned about radon in
infections. These people should seek advice health risk. More information about provide the same protection for public health. your home,test the air in your home. Testing is
about drinking water from their health care contaminants and potential health effects can be inexpensive and easy. Fix your home if the level
providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control obtained by calling the Environmental Protection HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?The information of radon in your air is 4 picocuries per liter of
(CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1- contained in the Consumer Confidence Report air(pCi/L) or higher.There are simple ways to
lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium 800-426-4791).The sources of drinking water may not answer all the questions you may have
and other microbial contaminants are available (both tap water and bottled water) include about the quality of the South Tahoe Public Utility fix a radon problem that aren't too costly. For
from the USEPA's Safe Water Drinking Hotline rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, District's drinking water supply. The District additional information, call your state radon
(1-800-426-4791). and wells. As water travels over the surface of welcomes public participation in developing program or call EPA's Radon Hotline (800-SOS-
WHERE DOES MY WATER COME FROM?There the land or through the ground, it dissolves water quality and quantity policy. If you would RADON).
naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, like more detailed scientific information, please
are 13 active drinking water wells to nearly radioactive material, and can pick up call the District Laboratory at 530-544-6474 RESULTS OF VOLUNTARY MONITORING See
14,000 homes and businesses.All our drinking substances resulting from the presence of extension 6231, or check our website at data sheets.
water is pumped from underground aquifers. No
animals or from human activity. Microbial www.stpud.us. REGARDING ARSENIC Arsenic is a naturally
is taken from Lake Tahoe or any other
contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may The District is governed by an elected five-
surface water source. occurring substance that is sometimes found at
come from sewage treatment plants, septic member Board of Directors. Board meetings are
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND systems, agricultural livestock operations, and held on the first and third Thursday of each
very low levels in drinking water, primarily
PROTECTION The District's Groundwater wildlife. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts month at 2 p.m. at the Customer Service Facility groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Management Plan (California Water Code and metals,can be naturally occurring or result located at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive. All Agency(EPA)was required by the Safe Drinking
Section 10750)was adopted on December 21, from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or meetings are open to the public and the District Water Act Amendments of 1996 to finalize a
2000 and is on file with the California domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas encourages our customers to attend and become new drinking water standard for arsenic in 2001
Department of Public Health (CDPH).You may production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and involved in the policy making process. based on good scientific information and data.
SPANISH(ESPANOL)Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua beber.Traduscalo o hable con alguien que to entienda bien.
WATER QUALITY DATA TABLE The table below noted, the data presented in this table is from ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS In an effort to insure IMPORTANT DRINKING WATER
lists all of the drinking water contaminants that testing done in the calendar year of the report. the safest water possible, the State has required us to DEFINITIONS
we detected that are applicable for the calendar The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for monitor some contaminants not required by Federal MCLG Maximum Contaminant
year of this report. The presence of contaminants certain contaminants less than once per year regulations. Of those contaminants only the ones Level Goal:The level of a
in the water does not necessarily indicate that because the concentrations of these contaminants listed on the last page under"Additional contaminant in drinking water
the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise do not change frequently. Contaminants"were found in your water. below which there is no known
or expected risk to health.
MCLGs allow for a margin of
CONTAMINANTS MCLG/PHG MCL OR MRDL AVERAGE MIN MAX SAMPLE DATE VIOLATION TYPICAL SOURCE safety.
OR MRDLG OR NL MCL Maximum Contaminant
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS Level:The highest level of a
contaminant that is allowed in
Arsenic(ppb) 0.004 10 3.5 ND 9.4 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits;Runoff drinking water. MCLs are set as
from orchards;Runoff from glass and close to the MCLGs as feasible
electronics production wastes using the best available
Fluoride(ppm) 1 2 0.09 ND 0.19 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits;Water treatment technology.
additive which promotes strong teeth; PDWS Primary Drinking Water
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum Standards: MCLs for
factories contaminants that affect health
Nitrate[measured as Nitrogen](ppm) 10 10 0.21 0.02 0.77 2013 No Runoff from fertilizer use;Leaching from along with their monitoring and
septic tanks,sewage;Erosion of natural reporting requirements, and
deposits water treatment requirements.
Sodium(ppm) NA MPL 12 4.5 27 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits;Leaching AL Action Level: The
concentration of a contaminant
RADIONUCLIIDES which, if exceeded,triggers
treatment or other requirements
Gross Alpha(pCi/L),minus Uranium 15 3.34 0.1 10.2 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits which a water system must
follow.
Uranium(pCi/L) 0.43 20 4.18 0.99 12.7 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits
PHG Primary Health Goal: The
Radium-226(pCi/L) 0.05 1.06 ND 1.89 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits level of contaminant in drinking
Radium-228(pCi/L) 0.019 1.11 ND 1.83 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits water below below which there
is no known or expected risk to
Radium-226+Radium-228 5 2.17 0.90 3.08 2013 No Erosion of natural deposits health. PHGs are set by the
California Environmental
VOLATILE ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS Protection Agency.
MTBE[Methyl Tert Butyl Ether](ppb) 5 13 0.2 ND 0.5 2013 No Leaking underground fuel storage tanks MRDLG Maximum Residual
Disinfection Level Goal:The
Total Trihalomethanes(ppb) NA 80 1.7 ND 12 2013 No By-product of drinking water disinfection level of a drinking water
HaloAcetic Acids(ppb) NA 60 0.4 ND 2.6 2013 No By-product of drinking water disinfection disinfectant below which there
is no known or expected risk to
MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS health. MRDLGs do not reflect
the benefits of the use of
Total Coliforms(%Positive each month) 5 0.08 0 1 2013 No Naturally present in environment disinfectants to control
E.Coli(%Positive) 0 0 0 0 2013 No Human and animal fecal matter microbial contaminants.
Heterotrophic Plate Count or HPC(CFU) NA ND ND 30 2013 No NA MRDL Maximum Residual
Disinfectant Level:The highest
Turbidity(NTU)The Turbidity limit for the 5 0.06 0.05 0.12 2013 No 1 Soil runoff level of a disinfectant allowed
highest single measurement. in drinking water. There is
convincing evidence that
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS MCLG/PHG AL 90TH PERCENTILE SAMPLE DATE #SAMPLES EXCEEDS AL TYPICAL SOURCE addition of a disinfectant is
EXCEEDING AL necessary for control of
Lead-action level at consumer taps(ppb) ND 15 ND 2011 0 No Corosion of household plumbing systems; microbial contaminants.
Erosion of natural deposits MNR Monitored Not Regulated
Copper-action level at consumer taps(ppb) ND 1,300 634 2011 0 No Internal corrosian of household plumbing MPL Maximum Permissible
systems;erosion of natural deposits; Level:As determined by the
leaching from wood preservatives state of California
UNIT DESCRIPTIONS
ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS UNITS STATE MCL AVERAGE VIOLATION SAMPLE DATE EXPLANATION AND COMMENT
pg/L:Micrograms per Liter, or
Alkalinity,Total ppm NA 51 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits parts per billion
— mg/L: Number of milligrams
Aluminum ppb 1,000 ND No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits of substance in one liter of
Barium ppb 2,000 10 No 2011 I Erosion of natural deposits water
ppm: Parts per million, or
Bromide ppm NA 0.01 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits milligrams per Liter (mg/L)
Calcium ppm NA 11.2 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits ppb: Parts per billion, or
micrograms per Liter(Ng/L)
Carbon Dioxide,Free ppm NA 7.6 No 2013 Naturally occuring ppt: Parts per trillion, or
nanograms per Liter
Chloride ppm 500 8.2 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits
ppq: Parts per quadrillion, or
Chlorine,Free ppm 4 0.72 No 2013 By-product of disinfection process picograms per Liter
pCi/L: Picocuries per Liter(a
Chromium 6 ppb NA 0.53 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits measure of radioactivity)
Color Units 15 ND No 2013 Naturally occurring organic materials mrem/yr:Millirems per year
(a measure of radiation
Copper ppm NA ND No 2013 Old plumbing/erosian of natural deposits absorbed by the body)
Dissolved Solids,Total ppm 1,000 91 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits MFL:Million Fibers per Liter,
used to measure asbestos
Electrical Conductance pS/cm 1,600 134 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits concentration
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity
Hardness ppm NA 41.6 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits Units. Turbidity is a measure
of the cloudiness of the
Iron ppb 300 180 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits water. We monitor it
Lead ppb NA ND No 2013 Old plumbing/erosian of natural deposits because it is a good
indicator of the effectiveness
Magnesium ppm NA 2.3 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits of our filtration system.
positive samples/month:
Manganese ppb 50 ND No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits The number of samples
Odor-Threshold Units 3 1 No 2013 Naturally occurring organic materials taken monthly that were
found to be positive
Organic Carbon,Total ppm NA 0.31 No 2012 Naturally occurring organic materials positive samples/yr:The
number of positive samples
ortho-Phosphate,as P ppm NA 0.04 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits taken that year
Phosphorus,Total ppm NA 0.04 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits %positive samples/
month: Percentage of
pH Units NA 7.87 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits samples taken monthly that
were positive
Potassium ppm NA 1.4 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits % killed or inactivated:
Radon pCi/L NA 424 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits Percentage of viruses/
bacteria killed or inactivated
Silica ppm NA 27 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits by treatment method
I
CFU/ml:Colony Forming Units
Sulfate ppm 500 3.2 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits per milliliter
Temperature-System °F NA 49.8 No 2013 Erosion of natural deposits NA: Not Applicable
Vanadium ppb NA 3.4 No 2011 Erosion of natural deposits ND: Not Detected
NR: Not Required, but
Zinc ppb 5,000 11 No 2012 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits recommended