HomeMy WebLinkAbout May 20132012 Port Townsend
Annual Drinking Water Report
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 De-
partment of Health (DOH) rates the City’s
source water as highly susceptible to contamina-
tion. The City and U.S. Forest Service continue
to cooperate in a joint effort to manage and pro-
tect the municipal watershed to maintain high
quality drinking water as we have for the past 85
years.
System Operation and Treatment
By minimizing opportunities for contaminants to enter the source water we continue to meet the stringent crite-
ria required to remain an unfiltered surface water system. Water treatment consists of the addition of chlorine
gas to provide protection from microbial contaminants. Our water system is operated and maintained by trained
personnel certified by the State. Water quality sampling results are for the monitoring performed January 1 –
December 31, 2012. We are pleased to report that the City’s drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and
state health standards.
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 891,000 gallons of water per day was delivered
to 9,900 customers as well as thousands of visitors. Total
City consumption was 326 million gallons with residential
consumption averaging 58 gallons per person per day.
Of the total consumption, 6% or 20 million gallons was
unaccounted for by customer meters or other measure-
ment, while the 3 year average loss was 4.7%. Unaccount-
ed for water is lost through such things as under-
registering meters, use of fire hydrants, and leaking under-
ground pipes. Port Townsend has an ongoing leak detec-
tion program to inspect the water system for leaks to re-
duce unaccounted for water. During 2012, 19 miles of
distribution system piping was surveyed for leaks.
Top Right—City Lake Reservoir
Bottom Left—City Lake drained for construction
Potential Contaminants
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contami-
nants. 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 activ-
ity. 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 visit-
ing 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 trans-
plants, 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 Wash-
ington Department of Agriculture regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the
same protection for public health. While the City tests for more than eighty different contaminants, the substances listed in
the following tables are the only ones detected in our drinking water. 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. All
data shown were collected during the last calendar year unless otherwise noted in the tables.
Inorganic
Constituents
(Source Water) MCL MCLG Port Town-
send Water Range of
Detections Year
Sampled Meets
Standards Typical Source of
Contaminant
Arsenic (ppb) 10 0 1 One sample 2011 Yes Erosion of natural deposits
Barium (ppm) 2 2 0.003 One sample 2011 Yes Erosion of natural deposits
Copper (ppm) NA 0 0.170 0.11-0.17 2011 NA Erosion of natural deposits
Lead (ppb) NA 0 22 6-22 2011 NA Erosion of natural deposits
Port Townsend Annual Water Quality
Your drinking water currently meets EPA’s standard for arsenic. However, it does contain low levels of arsenic. There is a
small chance that some people who drink water containing low levels of arsenic for many years could develop circulatory
disease, cancer, or other health problems. Most types of cancer and circulatory disease are due to factors other than expo-
sure to arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s health effects against the cost of removing
arsenic from drinking water.
Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in
their blood pressure.
Public water systems must monitor for lead and copper levels in drinking water. Unlike other contaminants, lead and cop-
per do not commonly occur in source water but result from corrosion of building plumbing, faucets, and water fixtures.
Monitoring is used to determine if the water system is distributing corrosive water. Regulatory compliance is based on wa-
ter samples from a number of representative homes most vulnerable to lead and copper corrosion, generally, those built be-
tween 1982 and 1987 with copper pipes.
Residential Testing MCL MCLG Port Townsend
Water
(90th Percentile)
Number of
Samples
Exceeding AL
Year
Sampled Meets
Standards Typical Source of
Contaminant
Copper (ppm) AL=1.3 0 0.64 0 of 20 2010 Yes Corrosion of household
plumbing systems
Lead (ppb) AL=15 0 7 1 of 20 2010 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 re-
sponsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When
your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for thirty seconds
to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. 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.
Disinfection Constituents MCL MCLG Range of
Detections Testing
Frequency
Meets
Standards Typical Source of Contaminant
Chlorine (ppm) MRDL=4 MRDLG=4 0.18-0.97 Continuous Yes Water additive used to control microbes
Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) (ppb) 60 NA 16.9 Once a year Yes By-product of drinking water
chlorination
Total Organic Carbon (mg/L) TT NA 0.51-1.01 Quarterly NA Naturally present in the environment
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) (ppb) 80 NA 26.2 Once a year 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 ex-
cess of the MRDL could experience stomach discomfort.
Total organic carbon (TOC) has no health effects. However, total organic carbon provides a medium for the formation of disinfection
byproducts. These byproducts include trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Drinking water containing these byprod-
ucts in excess of the MCL may lead to adverse health effects, liver or kidney problems, or nervous system effects and may lead to an
increased risk of getting cancer.
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.
Microbiological
Constituents MCL MCLG Range of
Detections
Testing
Frequency Meets
Standards Typical Source of Contaminant
Turbidity TT = 5 NTU 0 Continuous Yes Soil runoff 0.14-0.96
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. We operate the system to ensure water delivered to customers is below 5 NTU .
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 sam-
pled, 9 were at or below this level.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a con-
taminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to
the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technolo-
gy.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a con-
taminant in drinking water below which there is no known or ex-
pected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest lev-
el 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 contami-
nants.
NA: Not Applicable
ND: Not Detected or below State Reporting Limit.
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units - a measure of the cloudi-
ness 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 Coun-
cil. Information about scheduled meetings is available through the City Administration Office (379-5047) or via the City’s
web site: http://www.cityofpt.us/calendar/events.asp?action=week&calendar=1. If you have any additional questions about
the drinking water or would like a complete list of substances we test for please call Ian Jablonski at the Port Townsend De-
partment of Water Quality (379-5001). Information is also available on the City’s web site: http://www.cityofpt.us/
waterquality.htm.
New Water Treatment Requirement
Design of the new ultraviolet (UV) water treatment plant is underway. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in Janu-
ary 2014 near 20th and Baker Street and be operational by mid 2015. UV treatment is the City’s preferred method of comply-
ing with the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) which mandates that surface water sup-
plies either be filtered or disinfected to inactivate Cryptosporidium, an infectious protozoan. Chlorine, our current water dis-
infectant, does not effectively treat for Cryptosporidium. Disinfection with UV light inactivates microorganisms by a photo-
chemical reaction between the light and pathogen DNA. Chlorine will be added to the City’s water after UV treatment to
maintain the required disinfection residual throughout the distribution system.
City Lake Outlet Pipe Replacement
City Lake is the primary reservoir for the
Olympic Gravity Water System with a storage
capacity of 144 million gallons. The outlet
pipeline replacement project consists of re-
placement of aging outlet and overflow pipes
at the reservoir with new pipe and other im-
provements at the facility. Phase 1 of the pro-
ject, which included installation of isolation
valves and replacement of flow control valves,
was completed in February 2013. Phase 2,
replacement of pipelines and construction of
the outlet control shaft, began in January
2013. In order to replace the pipeline it was
necessary to drain City Lake. The lake was
drained in February and after installation of
pipe in the lake, refilling began in April. The
reservoir is expected to be operational again
by August.
Installing concrete outlet control shaft at City Lake