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Home My WebLink About052005 City of Port Townsend Annual Drinking Water Report Reporting In compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, the City of Port Townsend is issuing this annual report on water quality monitoring performed January 1 – December 31, 2005. The purpose of the report is to educate consumers about their drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Washington Department of Health (DOH) regulate monitoring of over 150 potential contaminants. Washington State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. The substances listed in the following tables are the only ones detected in our drinking water, however presence of these substances in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. We are pleased to report that the City’s water surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards. Water Sources Water for the City of Port Townsend (System ID # 69000R) is surface water that comes from the Big and Little Quilcene Rivers (Source # 01 and 02) in the northeast corner of the Olympic National Forest. This water is stored in Lords Lake and City Lake Reservoirs. As with all surface water sources, the Washington Department of Health rates the City’s source water as highly susceptible to contamination, however there are no known potential contaminate sources. For over 70 years the City and U.S. Forest Service have cooperated in a joint effort to manage and protect our municipal watershed. By minimizing opportunities for contaminants to enter the source water, we continue to meet the stringent criteria required to remain an unfiltered surface water system. Our water treatment consists of screening for debris such as leaves and disinfection with chlorine to provide protection from microbial contaminants. 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. Due to limited activities within our watershed there is little opportunity for contaminants to enter the water. Even so, there is always some potential for contamination. In Port Townsend’s surface water supplies, the potential sources of contamination include: • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses, protozoans, and bacteria, which may come from wildlife and people and pets visiting the watershed. • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring. • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which can come from vehicles in the watershed or which result from chlorine combining with the naturally occurring organic matter. 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. Port Townsend Annual Water Quality Analysis Disinfection Byproducts MCL MCLG Highest Detected Level Violation Typical Source of Contaminant Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) (ppb) 80 NA 27.9 No By-product of drinking water chlorination Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) (ppb) 60 NA 22.0 No By-product of drinking water chlorination 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 haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. MCL MCLG Average Value Range of Detections Violation Typical Source of Contaminant Chlorine MRDL =4 MRDLG = 4 0.53 0.32 – 1 No Water additive used to control microbes Turbidity (NTU) TT=5 NA 0.27 0.11 – 0.67 No 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. The maximum contaminant level for turbidity is 5 NTUs. Inorganic Chemicals AL MCLG 90th Percentile Value # of home sites tested above AL Sample Date Violation Typical Source of Contaminant Lead (ppb) AL=15 0 6 0 of 20 July 2004 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits Copper (ppm) AL=1.3 0 0.4 0 of 20 July 2004 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water to reduce lead content. 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. 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). 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. 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 (e.g. chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide). 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 (Φg/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 City of Port Townsend City Council. Information about scheduled meetings is available through the City Administration Office (385-5047). More Information The City of Port Townsend’s water meets or exceeds all EPA and State drinking water health standards. If you have any additional questions about our drinking water or would like a complete list of substances we test for please call Ian Jablonski at the Port Townsend Department of Water Quality (379-5001). Information is also available on the City’s web site: http://www.cityofpt.us