Water Quality Report Data Sheet

What''s In My Water?
For your information, we have compiled a list in the table below showing what substances were detected in our drinking water during 2000. Although all of the substances listed below are under Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by U.S. EPA, we feel it is important that you know exactly what was detected and how much of the substance was present in the water. The state requires us to monitor for certain substances less than once per year because the concentrations of these substances do not change frequently. In these cases, the most recent sample data are included, along with the year in which the sample was taken.

Regulated Substances
Vallejo System Treated Water
Lakes System Treated Water
NBA Raw Water
SID Raw Water
Lake Frey Raw Water
     
Substance (Units)
MCL
PHG (MCLG)
Highest Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Highest Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Highest Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Highest Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Highest Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Violation
Typical Source
Primary Drinking Water Standard (Monitoring of these substances is regulated to protect against possible adverse health effects.)
Alpha emitters (pCi/L)
15
0
NA
NA
NA
NA
2.11
ND-2.5
3.692
0.53-3.69
1.201
ND-1.20
No
Erosion of natural deposits
Aluminum (ppb)
1000
NA
73
73-73
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
No
Erosion of natural deposits; residue from surface water treatment processes
Fluoride (raw water) (ppm)
2
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
0.19
0.09-0.19
0.15
0.07-0.15
0.05
ND-0.05
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Fluoride (treated water) (PPM)
AL=1.5
1
5.30
0.40-5.30
0.12
DN-0.12
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
No3
Erosion of natural deposits Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Nitrate (PPM)
10
10
0.50
ND-.050
0.51
ND-0.51
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
No
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits
Total Coliform Bacteria (% positive monthly samples)
5% positive samples
0
1.2
ND-1.2
14
ND-1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
No
Naturally present in the environment
Tritium (pCi/l)
20,000
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
2,2862
831-2,286
NA
NA
No
Decay of natural and man-made deposits
TTHMs [Total trihalomethanes] (ppb)
100
NA
445
11-53
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
No
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Turbidity (NTU)6
TT
NA
0.33
0.01-0.33
0.17
0.02-0.17
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
No
Soil runoff

Regulated Substances
Vallejo System Treated Water
Lakes System Treated Water
 
The Fleming Hill Water Treatment Plant participated in an 18-month EPA monitoring program called the Information Collection Rule (ICR) between July 1997 and December 1998. Data collected under the ICR will be used to write future microbial and disinfection byproduct regulations for drinking water. The table below represents some of our finds in treated water:
Substance (Units)
Average
Detected
Range Low-High
Chloral Hydrate (ppb)
3.6
3-4
Aldehydes (ppb)
6
5.4-7.9
Haloacetilnitriles (ppb)
2.7
1.9-3.7
Total Organic Halides (ppb)
96
78-115
Chlorine (PPM)
1.3
0.9-1.8
Substance (Units)
MCL
MCLG
Average Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Average Amount Detected
Range Low-High
Violation
Typical Source
Secondary Drinking Water Standard (Monitoring of these substances is regulated to protect the odor, taste and appearance of drinking water.)
Aluminum (ppb)
200
NS
73
73-73
NA
NA
No
Erosion of natural deposits; residue from surface water treatment processes
Chloride (PPM)
250
NS
13.5
7.4-21.5
17.7
12.5-36.0
No
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Foaming Agents (MBAS) (ppb)
500
NS
55
55-55
72
72-72
No
Household and industrial laundering and other cleansing operations
Odor (Threshold Units)
3
NS
1.2
ND-2
2
1-2
No
Naturally occurring organic materials
Specific Conductance (umhos/cm)
900
NS
309
235-372
257
113-377
No
Substances that form ions when in water
Sulfate (PPM)
500
NS
36.3
3.2-60.5
24.6
7.2-59.0
No
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Total Dissolved Solids
500
NS
193
147-233
160
71-236
No
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits

Lead And Copper (Tap water samples were collected from 50 homes in the Vallejo System and 20 homes in the Lakes System.)
  
Vallejo System Treated Water
Lakes System Treated Water
  
Substance (Units)
Action Level
MCLG
Amount Detected (90th %ile)
Sites Above AL
Amount Detected (90th %ile)
Sites Above AL
Violation
Typical Source
Copper (ppb)
1300
170
95
0
210
0
No
Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives

Other Substances
Vallejo System Treated Water
Lakes System Treated Water
Substance (Units)
Average Detected
Range Low-High
Average Detected
Range Low-High
Calcium (PPM)
31.2
20.8-49.2
24.6
3.0-41.2
Magnesium (PPM)
12.2
3.2-22.4
10.9
0.7-24.6
pH (Std. Units)
7.8
6.6-8.7
7.7
6.0-9.1
Potassium (PPM)
1.2
NA
2.6
NA
Sodium (PPM)
14.0
NA
23.0
NA
Total Hardness (as CaC03) (PPM)
125
80-161
106
15-166
HAA5 (ppb)
12
4-26
NA
NA

1Sampled in 1999.
2Sampled in 1998.
3On June 7, 2000, due to a transfer pump failure, fluoride solution leaked into the containment area at Fleming Hill Treatment Plant. It was transferred to a backwash pond, where it could be recycled through the treatment plant. It is very difficulty to control dosage levels using this process. As a result, the action level was exceeded for a few hours ranging from 1.8 to 5.3 PPM While no violation occurred, we felt that the situation warranted an explanation in this report.
4The MCL for total coliforn bacteria for the Lakes System is more than one positive monthly sample. Amount detected represents one single positive sample
5Quarterly running average
6Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. The turbidity rule requires that 95% or more of the monthly samples must be below 0.5 NTU. During the reporting year, 100% of all samples taken to measure met water quality standards.

Table Definitions

AL (Action-Level): the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs (2nd MCL) are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

umhos/cm (micromhos per centimeter): A measure of electrical conductance.

NA: Not applicable.

NS: No standard established.

ND: Not detected. (Detection limits available upon request).

NTU (nephelometric turbidity units): Measurement of the clarity, or turbidity, of water.

PHG (Public Health Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

pCi/L (picocuries per liter): A measure of the natural rate of radioactive disintegration.

ppb (parts per billion): One part per billion (or micrograms per liter).

PPM (parts per million): One part per million (or milligrams per liter).

Primary Drinking Water Standard or PDWS: MCLs for contaminants that affect health along with the monitoring and reporting requirements and water treatment requirements.

TT (Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.