HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 May Newsletter844-330-2020
2020census.gov
Message from the City Manager and Mayor Sandoval
In this challenging �me, it’s even more important for us to stand up and be counted.
We urge you to par�cipate in the 2020 Census – it’s easy, it’s fast and it can make a
tangible difference for our community in many ways, including being be�er able to
respond to and recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
Grants, financial assistance, tax credits, and other federal investments are made on
the basis of our County popula�on count. By not doing your part, we all lose out. An
es�mated 20% of Jefferson County didn’t respond to the 2010 Census. That means
we lost about $12 million in federal funding over the past decade.
Let’s all commit to complete a Census form as one way we can work together to
recover from the devasta�ng impacts of COVID-19. Look to the next page to see
how you can complete the form online, by phone or by mail. Thanks for your help.
Follow the City of Port Townsend on Facebook: �.me/CityofPT
Everyone Counts
Every ten years, The United States Census Bureau counts every person
living in the United States. The U.S. Cons�tu�on mandates that
everyone in the country is counted, and this has happened since
1790. It’s your civic duty to complete the Census and responses
directly benefit Jefferson County. Appor�onment popula�ons counts
must be completed by December 31, 2020, and delivered to the
president.
Complete a Census form at 2020census.gov. Census forms also may be mailed. Informa�on may be phoned in,
or you can request a paper Census by calling 844-330-2020. The deadline for self-repor�ng is extended to
October 31.
Ten – Ten – Ten
It takes about ten minutes to complete the census form. There are only ten ques�ons: name, sex, age, date of
birth, whether a person is of Hispanic, La�no or Spanish origin, race, whether a person lives at the address or
stays somewhere else, rela�onship to one central person in the household, the number of people living at the
address, whether you own or rent the dwelling, and a phone number in case there is a ques�on about your
response. Ci�zenship is not asked. Your responses are valid for ten years and have a las�ng impact on Jefferson
County.
Secure Response
Your privacy is protected. Your responses are used for sta�s�cal purposes only. Your personal informa�on will
not be shared with other government agencies or court for any reason. In fact, it is against the law. (Title 13 of
the U.S. Code).
Census Enumerators
The Census Bureau will send several le�ers asking for your par�cipa�on through April. Beginning in May,
creden�aled enumerators will go door-to-door to count those who have not responded. Refusal to respond can
result in a fine, however, no one has been prosecuted for failing to respond since 1970.
72 Years
To support historical research, Title 44 of the U.S. Code allows the Na�onal Archives and Records Administra�on
to release Census records only a�er 72 years. This means the 1950 Census data will be released in April, 2022;
the 2020 Census will be released in 2092.
$12 Million
It is es�mated that Jefferson County lost $2,319 for every person not counted during the 2010 Census. In fact,
20 percent of the county did not respond. Given our popula�on of around 30,000, that undercount equals $12
million dollars over ten years that did not come back to us in the form of grants and services.
What it means for Jefferson
The Census provides a snapshot of our community. It forms the basis of financial assistance programs, tax credit
programs, planning, and procurement. Think educa�on, school lunches, Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, senior
programs, highway planning, and construc�on and the Federal Pell Grant program. Seats are reappor�oned in
the U.S. House of Representa�ves. Congressional, state and local legisla�ve district boundaries are drawn. Data
contributes to economic development, employment opportuni�es, and private sector investment.
Help us help you
Census data will be used to distribute more than half a trillion dollars per year in federal funds to states and
local governments. Jefferson County should get its share.
The City of Port Townsend is honored to directly provide utility services of water, sewer, and stormwater to the
residents and businesses of Port Townsend. These utilities are enterprise business units that operate in a financially
sustainable way through collection of rates that cover operating costs. The following report describes how the
water utility’s complex system and staff provides safe drinking water to the City. As part of this service and in
compliance with Federal and State regulations, the City provides a report annually to all customers to share
information about the system and water quality. We hope you enjoy reading about your City’s water system and
please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
Thank you!
A special note about 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19): Port Townsend’s State certified water
system operators work every day to ensure safe drinking water is provided to the community. The City’s multi-
barrier water treatment process utilizes ultra-filtration membranes and chlorine as a disinfectant to kill viruses and
other pathogens. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has concluded that standard filtration and disinfection
processes for potable water systems should protect against the spread of COVID
– 19 in drinking water. Our drinking water is regularly tested throughout the
distribution system to verify that the water remains safe. Drinking water quality
continues to meet or exceed all federal and state health standards. For more
information about the COVID-19 virus please refer to the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html
Water Quality Testing: Water quality sampling results are for the monitoring
performed January 1 – December 31, 2019, unless otherwise noted in the tables.
Sampling for certain contaminants occurs less than once per year because
concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from
year to year. While the City tests for more than eighty regulated contaminants,
the substances listed in the following tables are the only ones detected in our
drinking water.
Water Sources: The City of Port Townsend’s water supply (System ID # 69000R) is surface water from the Big
Quilcene and Little Quilcene Rivers (Source # 01 and 02) in the northeast corner of the Olympic National Forest.
Water is stored in Lords Lake and City Lake Reservoirs. As with all surface water sources, the Washington
Department of Health (DOH) rates the City’s source water as highly susceptible to contamination. The City and U.S.
Forest Service continue to cooperate in a joint effort to manage and protect the municipal watershed to maintain
high quality source water and minimize treatment requirements.
Water Use Efficiency Report: Efficient water use benefits the environment, water system operations, and our
customers by maintaining more water in the streams and lowering operating costs. Last year an average of 904,981
gallons of water per day was delivered to our 10,371 customers and many visitors. Total City consumption was 365
million gallons with residential consumption averaging 59 gallons per person per day.
2019 Port Townsend
Annual Drinking Water Report
Of the total consumption, 8.2% or 29.9 million gallons was unaccounted for by customer meters or other
measurement, while the 3-year average loss was 7.5%. Unaccounted for water is lost through such things as
under- registering meters, use of fire hydrants, and leaking underground pipes. Port Townsend has an ongoing
leak detection program to inspect the water system for leaks and reduce unaccounted for water.
Potential Contaminants: 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
EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
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. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses, protozoans, and bacteria, which may come from wildlife,
people and pets visiting the watershed.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from sources such as forestry management.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which can come from
vehicles in the watershed or that result from chlorine combining with naturally occurring organic matter.
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/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial
contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
In order to ensure tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Health and EPA prescribe regulations that limit the
amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and the Washington Department of Agriculture regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which
must provide the same protection for public health.
Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses,
and parasites that can cause symptoms such as, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
Lead & Drinking Water: Lead does not commonly occur in source water but may come from corrosion of building
plumbing and water fixtures. The City of Port Townsend did not use lead service lines, however homes built before
1987 were often constructed with copper pipes and lead based solder. Faucets, valves, and other components
made of brass also typically contained a small amount of lead. Congress banned the use of pipes, solder or flux that
were not “lead free” for drinking water system components in 1986.
In order to determine if water the City serves is causing corrosion of a home’s plumbing and lead leaching, the City
regularly tests water at a number of houses identified as having copper plumbing with lead-based solder. Since
sampling began in 1992, lead test results have always been below the EPA regulatory action levels.
To minimize the chance of lead exposure, it is recommended to flush faucets when they have gone unused for
more than a few hours. It takes time for lead to dissolve in water, so the first water drawn from the tap in the
morning or after a long period of non-use can contain higher levels of lead. Flushing clears standing water from
your plumbing fixtures and home service lines to ensure you are getting drinking water from water distribution
mains, where lead is not likely to be present. Let the water run from the tap until it is noticeably colder (this may
take a minute or two) before using it for cooking or drinking. Remember to flush any faucet used for drinking after
long periods of non-use. Lead leeches more easily into hot water than cold water so use only cold water for
cooking or drinking.
Port Townsend Annual Water Quality Analysis
Residential Testing MCL MCLG 90th
Percentile
No. of Samples
Exceeding AL Year
Sampled
Meets
Standards
Typical Source of
Contaminant
Copper (ppm) AL=1.3 0 0.36 0 of 30 2019 Yes Corrosion of household
plumbing systems
Lead (ppb) AL=15 0 4 1 of 30 2019 Yes Corrosion of household
plumbing systems
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. Port Townsend is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the
variety of materials used in plumbing components. 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.
Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level
over a relatively short period of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water
containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with
Wilson’s disease should consult their personal doctor.
Microbiological
Constituents MCL MCLG Range of
Detections
Testing
Frequency
Meets
Standards
Typical Source of
Contaminant
Turbidity (NTU) TT NA 0.010-0.270 Continuous Yes Soil runoff
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water
quality. High turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants.
Disinfection
Constituents MCL MCLG Range of
Detections
Testing
Frequency Meets
Standards
Typical Source of
Contaminant
Chlorine (ppm) MRDL=4 MRDLG=4 0.36-1.92 Continuous Yes Water additive used to
control microbes
Haloacetic Acids
(HAAs) (ppb) 60 NA
ND-42.4
LRAA
31.6
Quarterly Yes
By-product of drinking
water
Chlorination
Total
Trihalomethanes
(TTHMs) (ppb)
80
NA
19.4-46.4
LRAA
46.0
Quarterly Yes By-product of drinking
water Chlorination
Chlorine is used for microbiological disinfection of the drinking water. Some people who use water containing
chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people
who drink water containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience stomach discomfort.
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may
experience problems with liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of
getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing halo acetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
Inorganic
Constituents
(Source Water)
MCL
MCLG
Port
Townsend
Water
Range of
Detections
Year
Sampled
Meets
Standards
Typical Source of
Contaminant
Barium (ppm) 2 2 0.003 1 sample 2013 Yes Erosion of natural
deposits
Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an
increase in their blood pressure.
Definitions:
• Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements which a water system must follow.
• Lead and Copper 90th Percentile: Out of every 10 homes sampled, 9 were at or below this level.
• Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): Highest quarterly average of four samples taken at the four
sampling locations.
• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): 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.
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): 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.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): 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.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): 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.
• NA: Not Applicable
• ND: Not Detected or below State Reporting Limit.
• NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units - a measure of the cloudiness of the water.
• ppb: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/L).
• ppm: Parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L).
• Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking
water.
Public Comment: The public is invited to participate in decisions that affect drinking water through comment to
the Port Townsend City Council. Information about scheduled meetings is available through the City
Administration Office (379-5047) or via the City’s web site: https://cityofpt.us/calendar. If you have any additional
questions about the drinking water or would like a complete list of substances for which we test, please call Ian
Jablonski at the Port Townsend Department of Water Quality (360-379-5001). Information is also available on the
City’s web site: http://www.cityofpt.us/Water/