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2015 South Tahoe Public Utility District CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT 2015 y00TH TAHOF 4.04-0r. 1950•W°.P IC UTILITY 001 IS MY WATER SAFE? Last year, as in years past, currently completing the Groundwater herbicides, may come from a variety of sources RESULTS OF RADON MONITORING Radon is a your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Management Plan in early 2016. You may view such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, radioactive gas that you can't see, taste or Protection Agency(EPA) and state drinking the document by visiting the District's website at and residential uses. Organic Chemical smell. It is found throughout the U.S. Radon can water health standards.The South Tahoe Public www.stpud.us or by requesting a copy by Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile move up through the ground and into a home Utility District vigilantly safeguards its water calling Customer Service at 530-544-6474. organic chemicals, are by-products of industrial through cracks and holes in the foundation. supplies and, once again,we are proud to The District has an ongoing drinking water 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 source development program that seeks potential also come from gas stations, urban stormwater maximum contaminant level or any other water drinking water well locations. Due to the volume runoff, agricultural application and septic homes. Radon can also get into indoor air when quality standard. of the average annual Sierra snowpack and systems. Radioactive contaminants, can be released from tap water from showering, DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS? Lake Tahoe itself, our aquifer has a significant naturally occurring or be the result of oil and washing dishes,and other household activities. recharge capability. The District continues to gasproduction and miningactivities. In order to Compared to radon enteringthe home through Some people may be more vulnerable to p g work diligently to protect and maintain this ensure that tapwater is safe to drink, the United soil, radon enteringthe home through tapwater contaminants in drinking water than the general 9 population. Immuno-compromised persons such precious natural resource. States Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA) will, in most cases, be a small source of radon as persons with cancer undergoing WHY ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN MY and the California Department of Public Health in indoor air. Radon is a known human chemotherapy, persons who have undergone (DPH) prescribe regulations that limit the amount 9 DRINKING WATER?Drinking water, including carcinogen. Breathing air containing radon can organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or bottled water, may reasonably be expected to of certain contaminants in water provided by lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing other immune system disorders, some elderly, contain at least small amounts of some public water systems. Food and Drug radon may also cause increased risk of stomach and infants can be particularly at risk from contaminants.The presence of contaminants Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits infections.These people should seek advice for contaminants in bottled water which must cancer. If you are concerned about radon in P p does not necessarily indicate that water poses a about drinking water from their health care health risk. More information about provide the same protection for public health. your home, test the air in your home. Testing is providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control contaminants and potential health effects can be inexpensive and easy. Fix your home if the level (CDC)CDCguidelines on appropriate means to HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?The information of radon inyour air is 4picocuries per liter of obtained by calling the Environmental Protection contained in the Consumer Confidence Report lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline air(pCi/L) or higher. There are simple ways to and other microbial contaminants are available (1-800-426-4791). The sources of drinking may not answer all the questions you may have fix a radon problem that aren't too costly. For from the USEPA's Safe Water Drinking Hotline water(both tap water and bottled water) include about the quality of the South Tahoe Public (1-800-4264791 . Utility District's drinking water supply. The additional information, call your state radon ) rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, ram or call EPA's Radon Hotline and wells.As water travels over the surface of District welcomes public participation in program WHERE DOES MY WATER COME FROM?There the land or through the ground, it dissolves developing water quality and quantity policy. If (800-SOS-RADON). are 1 1 active drinking water and 2 standby you would like more detailed scientific wells to more than 14,000 homes and naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, RESULTS OF VOLUNTARY MONITORING radioactive material, and canpick up information, please call the District Laboratory at businesses. All our drinking water is pumped 530-544-6474 extension 6231, or check our See data sheets. substances resulting from the presence of from underground aquifers. animals or from human activity. Microbial website at www.stpud.us. REGARDING ARSENIC Arsenic is a naturally No water is taken from Lake Tahoe or any other The District isgoverned byan elected five- contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may five- occurring substance that is sometimes found at surface water source. 9 come from sewage treatment plants, septic member Board of Directors. Board meetings are very low levels in drinking water, primarily SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND systems, agricultural livestock operations, and held on the first and third Thursday of each 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). We are 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 lists presented in this table is from testing done in the ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS In an effort to insure IMPORTANT DRINKING WATER all of the drinking water contaminants that we calendar year of the report.The EPA or the State the safest water possible, the State has required us to DEFINITIONS detected that are applicable for the calendar year of requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less monitor some contaminants not required by Federal MCLG Maximum Contaminant this report.The presence of contaminants in the water than once per year because the concentrations of regulations. Of those contaminants only the ones Level Goal: The level of a does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a these contaminants do not change frequently. listed on the last page under"Additional contaminant in drinking water health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data 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 VIOLATION TYPICAL SOURCE safety. OR MRDLG OR NL DATE MCL Maximum Contaminant INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS Level:The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in Arsenic(ppb) 0.004 10 3.1 ND 8.4 2015 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 0.14 2015M Mil 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 0.20 0.03 0.58 2015 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. A Act Le Sodium(ppm) NA MPL 12 4.62 30 2015 No Erosion of natural deposits;Leaching concentration on ofel:The of a contaminant RADIONUCLIIDES which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements Gross Alpha(pCi/L),minus Uranium 15 5.27 1.34 9.90 2015 No Erosion of natural deposits which a water system must follow. Uranium(pCi/L) 0.43 20 4.82 0.61 14.7 2015 No Erosion of natural deposits PHG Primary Health Goal:The Radium-226(pCi/L) 0.05 1.15 0.38 2.31 2015 No Erosion of natural deposits level of contaminant in drinking Radium-228(pCi/L) 0.019 1.56 0.21 3.97 2015 No Erosion of natural deposits watersno knownbelow below expectedwdh there to is or risk to Radium-226+Radium-228 5 2.71 0.90 6.28 2015 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 ND ND 0.5 2015 No Leaking underground fuel storage tanks MRDLG Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goal:The Total Trihalomethanes(ppb) NA 80 2.1 ND 16 2015 No By-product of drinking water disinfection level of a drinking water de HaloAcetic Acids(ppb) NA 60 0.2 ND 2.3 2015 No By-product of drinking water disinfection is nofectant below expectedwcd riskthe to known or risk to MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of Total Coliforms(%Positive each month) 5 0.2 0 1.2 2015 No Naturally present in environment disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. E.Coli(%Positive) 16 0 0 0 0 2015 No Human and animal fecal matter MRDL Maximum Residual Heterotrophic Plate Count or HPC(CFU) NA 0.3 ND 4 2015 No NA Disinfectant Level:The highest eTurbidity(NTU)The Turbidity limit for the 5 0.17 0.02 0.58 2015 No Soil runoff il of a dwnfe.The allowed highest single measurement. inn d drinking waterr.There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS MCLG/PHG AL 90TH SAMPLE #SAMPLES EXCEEDS TYPICAL SOURCE necessary for control of PERCENTILE DATE EXCEEDING AL AL microbial contaminants. Lead-action level at consumer taps(ppb) ND 15 ND 2014 0 No Corosion of household plumbing systems; MNR Monitored Not Erosion of natural deposits Regulated Copper-action level at consumer taps(ppb)LD 1,300 71 2014 0 No Internal corrosion of household plumbing MPL Maximum Permissible systems;erosion of natural deposits; Level:As determined by the leaching from wood preservatives state of California ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS UNITS STATE MCL AVERAGE VIOLATION SAMPLE DATE EXPLANATION AND COMMENT UNIT DESCRIPTIONS pg/L:Micrograms per Liter, or Alkalinity,Total ppm NA 50.1 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits parts per billion mg/L:Milligrams per liter or Aluminum ppb 1,000 21 No 2014 Erosion of natural deposits parts per million Barium ppb 2,000 11 No 2014 Erosion of natural deposits ppm: Parts per million, or milligrams per Liter (mg/L) Bromide ppm NA 0.01 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits ppb: Parts per billion, or micrograms per Liter (pg/L) Calcium ppm NA 12.4 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits ppt: Parts per trillion, or nanograms per Liter Carbon Dioxide,Free ppm NA 13.2 No 2015 I Naturally occuring ppq: Parts per quadrillion,or picograms per Liter Chloride ppm 500 9.4 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits pCi/L: Picocuries per Liter (a Chlorine,Free ppm 4 0.65 No 2015 By-product of disinfection process measure of radioactivity) MFL:Million Fibers per Liter, Chromium 6 ppb NA 0.42 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits used to measure asbestos concentration Color Units 15 5 No 2015 Naturally occurring organic materials NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measure Copper ppb NA 2 No 2015 Old plumbing/erosian of natural deposits of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it Dissolved Solids,Total ppm 1,000 94 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness Electrical Conductance pS/cm 1,600 146 No 2015 I Erosion of natural deposits of our filtration system. positive samples/month: Hardness ppm NA 45 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits The number of samples taken monthly that were Iron ppb 300 26 No 2015 • Erosion of natural deposits found to be positive positive samples/yr:The Lead ppb NA 0.5 No 2015 Old plumbing/erosian of natural deposits number of positive samples taken that year Magnesium ppm NA 2.5 No 2015 I Erosion of natural deposits %positive samples/ month: Percentage of Manganese ppb 50 2 No 2015 I Erosion of natural deposits samples taken monthly that were positive Odor-Threshold Units 3 1 No 2015 Naturally occurring organic materials CFU/ml:Colony Forming Units per milliliter ortho-Phosphate,as P ppm NA 0.04 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits NA: Not Applicable Phosphorus,Total ppm NA 0.04 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits ND: Not Detected NR: Not Required, but pH Units NA 7.78 No 2015 I Erosion of natural deposits recommended Potassium ppm NA 1.5 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits Radon pCi/L NA 203 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits Sulfate ppm 500 3.3 No 2015 Erosion of natural deposits Temperature-System °F NA 51.1 No 2015 I Erosion of natural deposits Vanadium ppb NA 3.6 No 2014 Erosion of natural deposits Zinc ppb 5,000 ND No 2015 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits ADDITIONAL MONITORING As part of an on-going evaluation CONTAMINANTS/CHEMICALS UNITS AVERAGE MINIMUM MAXIMUM SAMPLE DATE program called UCMR-3 (unregulated contaminant monitoring rule 3), the EPA has required us to monitor some additional Chlorate ppm 0.083 ND 0.440 2/2015 contaminants/chemicals. Information collected through the Chromium,Total ppb 0.52 ND 1.30 2/2015 monitoring of these contaminants/chemicals will ensure that future decisions on drinking water standards are based on sound science. Chromium-6 ppb 0.43 0.09 1.10 2/2015 The US EPA uses the UCMR to collect data for contaminants Cobalt ppb ND ND ND 2/2015 suspected to be present in drinking water to help determine if drinking water standards need to be developed in the future.The Molybdenum ppb 13.8 ND 65 2/2015 District is required to monitor 28 chemical contaminants.The first round was completed in August 2014. The second and final round Strontium ppb 124 15 330 2/2015 was conducted in February 2015. In the absence of identifiable industrial sources other than chlorate, these contaminants are Vanadium ppb 3.6 ND 13 2/2015 naturally occurring in our watersheds. Chlorate is a degradation product of the disinfectant used by STPUD for water disinfection and is a common contaminant found in water treatment facilities throughout the nation.