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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Illustrated 2008 CS Water ReportWater Illustrated Make Every Drop Count - Get Have some WaterWise H Fun! WATER QUALITY REPORT City of College Station, Texas Home of Texas A &M University - How Safe is our water Where does my water come from? How is it treated? College Station relies entirely on groundwater for its drinking water supply. Water is pumped from seven deep wells drilled in the Simsboro Sand, which is approximately 3,000 feet deep in the Carrizo - Wilcox Aquifer group. Because of this depth, the water temperature is 118° Fahr- enheit when it is pumped from un- derground. Cooling towers at the Sandy Point Pump Station reduce the temperature to about 85° Fahrenheit. The groundwater travels approxi- mately 13 miles from Sandy Point Pump Station to the Dowling Road Pump Station, where we add chlorine to disinfect the water and fluoride for dental health. Ground storage tanks at Dowling Road provide a total of 8 million gallons of water storage for high demand periods. After the water is disinfected, it is ready to go into the distribution sys- tem, which includes two elevated storage tanks. The elevated storage tanks are what provides water pres- sure and provide additional water storage for peak demand periods and for fire protection. I have a weakened immune system.What should I know about drinking water? If you have a weakened immune system, you may be more vulner- able than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drink- ing water. Infants, some elderly, or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have under- gone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with ste- roids; and people with HIV /AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from infec- tions.You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or local health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800 - 426 -4791 or online at www.eoa.gov /safewater What are other sources of drinking water? The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include COLLEGE STATIO1�,• • WATER ILLUSTRATED • 7 II Get answers to these common mon questions 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, radioac- tive material, and can pick up sub- stances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. If my water looks dirty or " rusty," is it safe to drink? Contaminants may be found in drink- ing water that may cause taste, color, or odor problems. Occasionally wa- ter may become discolored due to a water line break. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. If you experience discolored water, please report it to Utility Dispatch (24 hours) at 764- 3638 so that we may promptly cor- rect the problem. For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact College Station Utilities at 979 - 764 -3660. A Note About Bottled Water... Drinking water; including bottled water; may reasonably be expected to con- tain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of con- taminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. For more information about contami- nants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426 -4791. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health as the EPA's limits. When drinking water meets all Federal and State standards, as it does in College Station, there may not be any health -based benefits to purchasing bottled water or point -of -use devices. ittUrfn COLLEGE STATION UTILITIES WATER SERVICES David Coleman Director Jennifer Nations Water Resource Coord. CITY COUNCIL* Ben White Mayor John Crompton Place James Massey Place 2 Dennis Maloney Place 3 Lynn Mcllhaney Place 4 Lawrence Stewart Place 5 David Ruesink Place 6 Glenn Brown City Manager Kathy Merrill Assistant'City tanager David Neeley Assistant City Manager *as of May 2009 What substances are tested for in my water? The State of Texas requires College Station to monitor your drinking water for over 100 different contaminants. Depending on the contaminant and regulations for that contaminant, the monitoring schedule could be monthly, quarterly, annually and in some cases less frequently. Below are some of the substances College Sta- tion's water is monitored for and how often. Contaminant Schedule Total Coliform Bacteria Monthly 2008 2009 Disinfectant Residual Disinfection Byproducts Nitrates, Minerals, Radioactivity Lead & Copper Every 3 years 2007 2010 The table below lists amounts of other substances for which College Station's water is tested.The Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL) are not enforced, but rather are intended as guidelines. Substance Alkalinity (Bicarbonate) Alkalinity (Carbonate) Alkalinity (Phenolphthalein) Alkalinity (Total) Chloride Fluoride pH Diluted Conductance Sulfate Total Dissolved Solids COLLEGE STATION•.' WATER ILLUSTRATED 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 Quarterly Annually Every 3 years Last Sample Next Sample <1 mg /L <I mg/L 2008 2008 2008 353 mg /L 51 mg/L 0.32 mg /L 8.3 882 pmhos /cm 12 mg /L 489 mg /L 2009 2009 2011 Date Sampled Detected Levels Limit 431 mg/L No recommendation No recommendation No recommendation No recommendation 250 2.00 > 7.00 No recommendation 300 1,000 Assessing College Station's Source Water A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for College Station's drinking water sources is currently being updated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and will be provided to Col- lege Station later this year. The report will describe the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with your drinking water source based on human activities and natural conditions.The information contained in the assessment will allow us to focus our source water protection strategies. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts in College Station, please contact Jennifer Nations at 979 - 764 -6223 or jnationslacstx.gov. How much sodium is in my drinking water? College Station's drinking water has approximately 200 milligrams of sodium per liter. Sodium is a naturally - occurring characteristic of our source water. What is the hardness of my water. and why can't I get the soap out of my hair!? Hardness in water is caused by the presence of calcium and magnesium. College Station's water has a hardness of 8.14 mg/L (0.48 grains per gallon) and is considered "soft" (0 to 75 mg/L CaCO Soft water makes suds and cleans very easily, so you can get by with using a lot less soap and detergent Wouldn't a fixed rate increase for all College Station water customers be more fair? The City of College Station reviewed the option of a straight rate increase, and in the past this is how rate in- creases were implemented. In order to bring in revenue required for op- erations, maintenance, additional ca- pacity, and debt service, a 14% rate increase would have been needed. More than half of College Station's residential single family water custom- ers use 15,000 gallons of water or less each month.These customers will have a very minimal increase, if at all, Make ro Cou under the inclining rate structure. By contrast, fewer than 1,000 residential single - family accounts consistently use 26,000 gallons or more each month.A flat across the board increase would disproportionately affect customers with lower water usage. What happens if the new water rates bring in more revenue than expected? The rate structure is expected to increase water revenues up to ap- proximately $12.2 million. This in- crease is needed for capital cost of additional water supply capacity. If the rate structure brings in more revenue COLLEGE STATION In an effort to conserve our limited drinking water, the City of College Station has introduced new water conservation rates and incentives. In October 2008, inclined block water rates were implemented to encourage efficient water consumption. The City has also adopted a watering schedule based on the last digit in a customer's address.The schedule is broken into three groups: commercial/ multi - family properties, residential -even numbered addresses, and residential -odd numbered addresses. Customers Commercial / Multi- family Residential -Even Numbered Residential -Odd Numbered To learn more, go to www,cstx.gov /water or contact Water Resource Coordinator Jennifer Nations at 979 - 764 -6223 • jnationsna cstx.eov or Water Auditor Camden White at 979 - 764 -6344 • cwhite(dcstx.gov. WATER ILLUSTRATED Recommended Watering Day(s) Monday and /or Friday Tuesday and /or Saturday Thursday and /or Sunday than expected, the recommended use for additional revenue is to pay down existing debt. This will mitigate the ef- fect of future rate increases. What about my homeowners association requirements? Many homeowners associations (HOAs) in College Station do require homes to have in- ground sprinkler systems and have certain standards for yard maintenance. However, with proper management and sustainable landscaping practices, it's possible to have a beautiful yard without an ex- cessive water bill. (next page) What about my business? The inclined block rate schedule only applies to residential single - family and duplex customers. HOA common ar- eas, apartment complexes, and busi- nesses pay the $2.44 per 1,000 gal- lons rate. Aren't there other sources of water available? A recent study completed by HDR Engineering for College Station concluded that the most cost - effective and feasible source of water continues to be groundwater, and conservation of that groundwater. Our 7th groundwater well is now in service and we have submitted permit applications to the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District for two more wells. Other alternative water sources, such as river water or surface reservoir, are either not available to College Station or prohibitively expensive when compared with other alternatives. Large scale reductions in the demand for drinking water will be achieved through the City's reclaimed water project, which will bring recycled water to Veterans Park and other large irrigation users. Regardless of which water source is used, efficient use of that resource is essential to ensuring a long -term, viable water supply in College Station. We've had rain.Why do the rates still need to be increased? Several factors combine to increase the cost to operate and maintain the water system. Increased security requirements, fuel and material cost increases, Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District regulations, as well as general inflation, all contribute to rising operating costs. Capital costs to increase water system capacity to meet peak water demand during irrigation season have also risen dramatically Groundwater sources in our region are nearly at their maximum level of permitted withdrawal, and conservation is essential to keep demands within our system capabilities. The residential rate structure of inclined block rates is designed to promote water conservation. How do the conservation rates work? The table below shows the rate per 1,000 gallons for all customer classes. Type Residential Commercial Service Fees The table below shows costs for a residential water bill of 12,000 and 30,000 gallons. Usage (Gallons) Rate per 1,000 Gallons Usage (Gallons) 0 to 10,000 11,000 to 15,000 16,000 to 20,000 21,000 to 25,000 26,000 and up All Usage 0 to 10,000 $2.22 $2.22 x 10 $22.20 $2.22 X 10 $22.20 11,000 to 15,000 $2.88 $2.88 x 2 $5.76 $2.88 X 5 $14.40 16,000 to 20,000 $3.54 $3.54 x 0 $0.00 $3.54 X 5 $17.70 21,000 to 25,000 $4.20 $4.20 x 0 $0.00 $4.20 X 5 $21.00 26,000 and up $4.86 $4.86 x 0 $0.00 $4.86 X 5 $24.50 COLLEGE STATION... WATER ILLUSTRATED Sample Bill: 12,000 Gallons Water Rate as of October I, 2008 $2.22 $2.88 $3.54 $4.20 $4.86 $2.44 (I 0% increase) 10% increase Sample Bill: 30,000 Gallons Meter Charge: $9.99 $9.99 Total Water Bill: $37.95 $109.59 2007 Lead How safeisourwater ??? College Station water is VERY safe! Independent laboratories certified by the EPA and State ofTexas perform all required testing. All substances detected in routine testing are detailed below. All are below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and do not exceed the health -based standards for drinking water. INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS Year Contaminant Average Sampled Level Minimum Maximum MCL Level Level MCLG Violation Possible Source of Contaminant (Y or N) 2008 Fluoride 0.32 ppm 0.32 ppm 0.32 ppm 4 ppm 2 ppm 2008 Nitrate 0.05 ppm 0.05 ppm 0.05 ppm N Water additive to promote strong teeth; erosion of natural deposits 10 ppm 10 ppm N Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; erosion of natural deposits DISINFECTANT RESIDUAL Year Disinfectant Sampled Minimum Maximum Average Level Level Level MRDL MRDLG Violation Source of Disinfectant (Y or N) 2008 Chlorine 1.66 ppm 1.21 ppm 2.17 ppm 4 ppm N/A DISINFECTION BY- PRODUCTS Year Contaminant Sampled Average Level Minimum Maximum Level Level MCL MCLG Violation Source of Contaminant (Y or N) 2008 Total Triha- 18.2 ppb 18.2 ppb 18.2 ppb lomethanes 2008 Haloacetic 1.7 ppb 1.7 ppb 1.7 ppb Acids 2008 Total Coliform Bacteria 1.82 *presence of Total Coliform Bacterial in a 5% of samples in one month 2.1 ppb 2007 Copper 0.127 ppb 2 0 80 ppb N/A 60 ppb N/A I5 ppb 1.3 ppm COLLEGE STATION. h WATER ILLUSTRATED ** The Lead and Copper results in this year's report are based on 30 samples collected for the last monitoring, in August 2007. The next round of lead and copper sampling will occur in 2009.The 90th Percentile based on these samples is 2.1 ppb for lead and 0.127 ppm for copper. 90% of College Station tap water samples collected were at or below these levels. EPA consid- ers the 90th percentile the same as an "average" value for other contaminants. If more than 10% of tap water samples collected exceed the action level for lead or copper, water systems must take additional treatment measures. N Water additive to control microbes N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection COLIFORMS Year Contaminant Sampled Highest Monthly % of MCL Positive Samples MCLG Violation Possible Sources of Contaminant (Y or N) N Naturally present in the environment LEAD AND COPPER ** Year Contaminant Sampled 90th Percentile Sites Exceeding Action Level Action Level Violation Possible Source of Contaminant (Y or N) N Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits N Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives - Vab These activities are part of theTexas Water Development Board's "Major Rivers" water education curriculum.To bring this FREE curriculum to your 4th or 5th grade classroom, contact Jennifer Nations at 979 - 764 -3660 or jnations(cstx.gov. Directions: Read each item. Fill in the blank spaces with the words listed below. • surface water • water treatment plants • pipelines • reservoirs • wastewater treatment plants • groundwater • recycled water e .--v Directions: Trace Major Rivers and Aquifer through the maze. Stop at each water distribution point and unscramble the words to show where Major Rivers is. ecafrus wraet I'm Major Rivers! mohe 5. etsawretaw rtntaetme pntla 6. 1. Dirt and germs are removed from water at 2. Water is delivered to homes through 3. Large amounts of surface water are stored in 4. Sewage is cleaned at 5. Cleaned wastewater that is used to water grass and some crops is called 6. Water we pump out of aquifers is called 7. Water from rivers, reservoirs and lakes is called rrreesiov tawre ttrnaetme tnalp 2. 3. epipsenil 4. COLLEGE STATION , „WATER ILLUSTRATED e • S.' College Station Utilities Reliable, Affordable, Community Owned P.O. Box 9960 1601 Graham Road College Station,TX 77842 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Quick Reference Guide CITY SECRETARY Birth /Death Certificates, Public Records Requests (979) 764 -3500 NOTICE of MEETINGS City Council - 2nd & 4th Thursday each month, Planning & Zoning, Committees (979) 764 -3500 www.cstx.gov UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE Bill pay, connect / disconnect utilities (979) 764 -3535, 1- 800 - 849 -6623 www.epay.cstx.gov Line breaks, sewer backups, power outages (979) 764 -3638 [24 -hrs] WATER CONSERVATION Presentations, field trips, conservation tips (979) 764 -6223 EN ESPANOL: Este reporte incluye in formacion importante sobre el agua Para tomar. Para asistancia en espanol, favor de Ilamar al tele fono (979) 764 -3502. Parts per million (ppm): One milligram per liter (mg /L). PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Delucia Mail Service 77801 W ater Words &definitions Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements a water system must follow. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the maximum contaminant level goals 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. Micromhos per centimeter: A measure of the electrical conductivity of a water sample. Pure water has a conductivity of 0.005 micromhos per centimeter at 25° Celsius. Parts per billion (ppb): One microgram per liter. pH: The pH scale extends from 0 - -very acidic, to 14- -very alkaline or basic. A pH of 7 is neutral. Most natural waters fall within the range of 4 to 9. Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL): The level of a contaminant that represents reasonable goals for drinking water quality. SMCLs pertain to contaminants that primarily affect the aesthetic qualities relating to drinking water.