2018 water r quality report - abcwua drinking water/2018_abcwua_… · the water authority has been...
TRANSCRIPT
• Whereyourwatercomesfrom
• Howyourwaterismadesafetodrink
• ResultsofEPA-requiredsamplingandtesting
• Understandingwaterqualityregulations
• Wheretofindmoreinformation
2018 WATER QUALITY REPORT
PREPARED FOR CUSTOMERS OF THE
Outperforming ALL Federal Standards for Safe Drinking Water
WHERE IT COMES FROMWaterAuthoritycustomersrelyonlocallypumpedgroundwaterplussurfacewaterimportedfromtheColoradoRiverbasinviatheSanJuan-ChamaProject.Surfacewatercomprisesabout70percentofthelocalsupply.TheutilityworkswiththeNewMexicoEnvironmentDepartment(NMED)andotheragenciestoconductperiodicsourcewaterassessmentstodeterminethesusceptibilityoflocaldrinkingwatertocontamination.Thelatestassessmentisavailableonlineatwww.abcwua.org/source-water-protection-program.aspx
YOUR DRINKING WATER
NEW MEXICO
COLORADO
COCHITI RESERVOIR
WATER TREATMENT
PLANT
AZOTEA TUNNEL
ABIQUIURESERVOIR
EL VADORESERVOIR
HERONRESERVOIR
San Juan Rive r
Navajo River
Wil low C
reek
Rio Blanco
Little Navajo
Rio Grande
Rio Chama
Rio
Grande
NORTH
ALBUQUERQUE / BERNALILLO
COUNTY
Surface water and groundwater
combined for distribution
Excess surface water
stored in aquifer
AQUIFER
LEGEND
Tunnel/Channel
Diversion FacilitySurface Water
Groundwater
Makingsurethattreatmentprocessesareworkingcorrectlyrequirescarefulmonitoringbyafull-timestaffoftrainedwaterqualityengineers,scientists,andtechnicians.In2018theWaterAuthoritycollectedandtestedmorethan5,500watersamplesfromwells,storagetanks,customertaps,andthesurface-watertreatmentplant.SomeofthetestingisrequiredbytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andsomeofitisvoluntary,butit’salldonetoensurethatAlbuquerqueandBernalilloCountyhaveamunicipalwatersupplythat’ssecondtononeintermsofquality.
HOW IT’S MONITORED
& TESTED
Groundwaterrequireslittletreatmentotherthandisinfectionviachlorination,andinsomecasesundergoesadditionalfilteringforarsenicremoval.Surfacewater,however,requiresextensivepurificationbeforedistribution,usingaseriesofmechanicalandchemicalprocesses,asshownbelow.TreatmentoccursattheSanJuan-ChamaDrinkingWaterProjectsurface-watertreatmentplantnearAlbuquerque’sRenaissanceCenter.
HOW IT’S MADE SAFE
TO DRINK
SEE THE 2018 TEST RESULTS
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SUBSTANCE Source Sample Year Detection Limit Range of Results*** Maximum LRAA
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) Disinfection by-products are regulated based on the LRAA
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
Total Trihalomethanes By-productofchlorination 2018 0.50PPB 11-62PPB 50PPB 80PPB NotApplicable
Haloacetic Acids By-productofchlorination 2018 0.50PPB 3.4-21.0PPB 14.3PPB 60PPB NotApplicable
SUBSTANCE Source Sample Year Detection Limit 90th Percentile
Number of Samples that Exceed Action Level
Maximum Detected
Action Level (Compared to the concentration detected in the 90th percentile sample.)
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
Lead See Common Concerns on page 4 Corrosionofhouseholdplumbing
2018 1.0PPB 1PPB Zero 3PPB 15PPB ZeroPPB
Copper Corrosionofhouseholdplumbing
2018 0.01PPM 0.25PPM Zero 0.36PPM 1.3PPM ZeroPPM
SUBSTANCE OR CONDITION Source
Sample Year(s)
Detection LimitLowest amount that can be detected with available technology
Minimum Detected
Average Detected System-wide
Average Detected at San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Plant Maximum Detected
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
Arsenic See Common Concerns on page 4
Erosionofnaturalvolcanicdeposits
2017-2018
1PPB ZeroPPB 2PPB ZeroPPB 9PPB 10PPB ZeroPPB
Barium Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2017-2018 0.1PPM ZeroPPM 0.017PPM ZeroPPM 0.2PPM 2PPM 2PPM
Chromium Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2017-2018 1PPB ZeroPPB 1PPB ZeroPPB 7PPB 100PPB 100PPB
Fluoride* Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2017-2018 0.10PPM 0.25PPM 0.48PPM 0.35PPM 1.18PPM 4PPM 4PPM
Nitrate Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2018 0.05-0.10PPM ZeroPPM 0.38PPM 0.17PPM 3.04PPM 10PPM 10PPM
Total Xylenes Dischargefrompetroleumorchemicalfactories
2018 0.0005PPM ZeroPPM ZeroPPM ZeroPPM 0.00059PPM 10PPM 10PPM
Gross Alpha Particle Activity
Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2014-2018 0.7-0.9pCi/L ZeropCi/L 0.8pCi/L ZeropCi/L 2.5pCi/L 15pCi/L ZeropCi/L
Radium 226 + 228
Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2014-2018 0.01-0.21pCi/L 0.02pCi/L 0.17pCi/L 0.05pCi/L 0.41pCi/L 5pCi/L ZeropCi/L
Uranium Erosionofnaturaldeposits 2014-2018 1.0PPB ZeroPPB 2PPB ZeroPPB 9PPB 30PPB ZeroPPB
Bromate By-productofdrinkingwaterdisinfection
2018 1.0PPB ZeroPPB NotApplicable 1.3PPB 2.6PPB 10PPB ZeroPPB
Chlorine Disinfectant(sodiumhypochlorite)
2018 0.1PPM(distributionsystem) 0.3PPM 0.9PPM NotApplicable 1.5PPM 4PPM(MRDL) 4PPM(MRDLG)
0.03PPM(surfacewater) 0.6PPM NotApplicable 1.4PPM 1.9PPM 4PPM(MRDL) 4PPM(MRDLG)
0.03PPM(groundwater) TTmetat100%ofsites TT=Maintainrequiredchlorinelevelorrestorewithin4hours
NotApplicable
Cryptosporidium (in untreated water)
Humanandanimalfecalwaste
2015-2017 1Oocyst ZeroOocysts/L
NotApplicable 0.004Oocysts/L 0.093Oocysts/L TT ZeroOocysts/L
Turbidity(cloudiness; indicates effectiveness of filtration and disinfection)
Soilrunoff 2018 0.002NTU 0.02NTU NotApplicable NotApplicable 0.16NTU 1NTUinallfinishedwatersamples,95%ofthefinishedwatersamplesmustbelessthan0.3NTU
ZeroNTU
100%ofsamplestakenineachmonthwerelessthan0.3NTU
Total Organic Carbon
Naturallypresentintheenvironment
2018 1.0PPM ZeroPPM NotApplicable 0.6PPM 1.3PPM TT NotApplicable
Total Coliform Coliformsarebacteriathatarenormallypresentintheenvironment
2018 NotApplicable NotApplicable
NotApplicable NotApplicable 1of245samplesor0.41%ofsamplestakeninamonthhaddetectabletotalcoliformbacteria.Nototalcoliformbacteriawasdetectedinanyrepeatsampleatanylocation.
Presenceofcoliformbacteriain5.0%ormoreofsamplesinanymonth
0%ofsampleswithdetectablecoliformbacteria
Cr
F-
NO3-
BrO3-
HAA5
TTHM
C8H10
Ba
As
U
Ra
C
Cl
Pb
Cu
SAFE TO DRINK PER EPA
2018 COMPLIANCE MONITORING RESULTS(AlbuquerqueWaterSystem,NM35-10701;seepage3fordefinitions)
(Seefootnotesonpage4) 2
STANDARDS OF QUALITYYOUR DRINKING WATERToprotectpublichealthandsafety,theEPAlimitstheamountofcertainsubstances,knownascontaminants,indrinkingwater.ThetableontheprecedingpageshowsthelatesttestresultsfortheseregulatedsubstancesindrinkingwaterdistributedbytheWaterAuthoritytoitscustomersinAlbuquerqueandBernalilloCounty.
YOUR WATER AUTHORITYTheWaterAuthorityhasbeennationallyrecognizednotonlyforitshighlysuccessfulconservationprogram,butforthequalityandaffordabilityofitsdrinkingwaterandforitseffortstopreserveandmanagethecommunity’spreciouswaterresources.In2018itearnedaAAAbondratingfromS&P.
RECENT AWARDSPlatinum Award for Utility Excellence (2018)AssociationofMetropolitanWaterAgencies
Exemplary Source Water Protection Award (2018) AmericanWaterWorksAssociation
Renewable Energy Project of the Year (2017, drinking water treatment plant solar array) N.M.AssociationofEnergyEngineers
Utility of the Future Today (2016)NationalAssociationofCleanWaterAgencies&theWaterEnvironmentFederation
Third Place, National Drinking Water Taste Test (2015) AmericanWaterWorksAssociation
DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS: WHAT EPA SAYSDrinkingwater,includingbottledwater,mayreasonablybeexpectedtocontainatleastsmallamountsofsomecontaminants.Thepresenceofcontaminantsdoesnotnecessarilyindicatethatwaterposesahealthrisk.MoreinformationaboutcontaminantsandpotentialhealtheffectscanbeobtainedbycallingtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)SafeDrinkingWaterHotline(800-426-4791).
Contaminantscomeinmanyforms,bothnaturalandmanmade,andcanenterthesourcesofourdrinkingwaterinanumberofways,includingdissolutionofnaturallyoccurringminerals.Contaminantsindrinkingwatersourcesmayincludemicrobial contaminants(e.g.,virusesandbacteria);inorganic contaminants,suchassaltsandmetals;pesticides and herbicides;organic chemical contaminantsfromindustrialprocesses,gasstations,septicsystems,etc.;andradioactive contaminants,bothnaturallyoccurringandasaresultofhumanactivity.
Inordertoensuredrinkingwatersafety,EPAprescribesregulationslimitingtheamountofcertaincontaminantsinwaterprovidedbypublicwatersystems.TheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)establisheslimitsforcontaminantsinbottledwaterthatprovidethesameprotectionsforpublichealth.
DEFINITIONSAction Level: Theconcentrationofacontaminantwhich,ifexceeded,triggerstreatmentorotherrequirementswhichawatersystemmustfollow.
CryptosporidiumisamicrobialpathogenfoundinsurfacewaterthroughouttheU.S.WemonitortheriverforCryptosporidium.TheSanJuan-ChamaDrinkingWaterPlantwasdesignedtoprovideamulti-barrierapproach(pre-sedimentation,clarification,andfiltration)toremovingCryptosporidiuminordertomeettheEPArequirements.
Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA):Theaverageofanalyticalresultsforsamplestakenataparticularmonitoringlocationduringthepreviousfourcalendarquarters.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): Thehighestlevelofacontaminantthatisallowedindrinkingwater.MCLsaresetasclosetotheMCLGsasfeasibleusingthebestavailabletreatmenttechnology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG):Thelevelofacontaminantindrinkingwaterbelowwhichthereisnoknownorexpectedrisktohealth.MCLGsallowforamarginofsafety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL):Thehighestlevelofadisinfectantallowedindrinkingwater.Thereisconvincingevidencethatadditionofadisinfectantisnecessaryforcontrolofmicrobialcontaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG):Thelevelofadrinkingwaterdisinfectantbelowwhichthereisnoknownorexpected
risktohealth.MRDLGsdonotreflectthebenefitsoftheuseofdisinfectantstocontrolmicrobialcontaminants.
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU):Ameasureofcloudinessorhazinesscausedbysuspendedsolids.
Parts Per Billion (PPB): Partsperbillionormicrogramsperliter(ug/L).1PPB=0.001PPM.Example:onedropofwaterinanOlympic-sizeswimmingpool.
Parts Per Million (PPM): Partspermillionormilligramsperliter(mg/L).1PPM=1,000PPB.Example:fourdropsofwaterina55-gallonbarrel.
picoCuries per liter (pCi/L): Ameasureofradioactivity.
Treatment Technique (TT): Arequiredprocessintendedtoreducethelevelofacontaminantindrinkingwater.
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Should I be concerned about lead?AlthoughtheWaterAuthorityhasremovedallknownleadcomponentsfromitswaterdistributionsystem,leadmaystillbepresentinhomeplumbing–especiallyinolderhomes.TheWaterAuthorityoffersfreeleadandcoppertestingforconcernedcustomers.Justvisitourwebsiteandfilloutarequestform(www.abcwua.org/lead-survey.aspx)orcall289-3653toscheduleasamplecollection.
RESULTS OF 2018 CUSTOMER- REQUESTED TESTING (41 SAMPLES)
Here’swhattheEPAhastosayaboutlead:Ifpresent,elevatedlevelsofleadcancauseserioushealthproblems,especiallyforpregnantwomenandyoungchildren.Leadindrinkingwaterisprimarilyfrommaterialsandcomponentsassociatedwithservicelinesandhomeplumbing.YourlocalWaterAuthorityisresponsibleforprovidinghighqualitydrinkingwater,butcannotcontrolthevarietyofmaterialsusedinhomeplumbingcomponents.Whenyourwaterhasbeensittingforseveralhours,youcanminimizethepotentialforleadexposurebyflushingyourtapfor30secondsto2minutesbeforeusingwaterfordrinkingorcooking.Ifyouareconcernedaboutleadinyourwater,youmaywishtohaveyourwatertested.Informationonleadindrinkingwater,testingmethods,andstepsyoucantaketominimizeexposureisavailablefromthefederalSafeDrinkingWaterHotline(800-426-4791)orathttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Is there arsenic in my drinking water?AllofAlbuquerque’sdrinkingwatermeetsEPAstandardsforarsenic,whichhavebecomemuchmorestringentsince2006.Allowablelevelsofarsenicarepresentinsomelocations,however,mainlyduetotheerosionofnaturalgeologicdeposits.EPAcontinuestoresearchthehealtheffectsoflowlevelsofarsenic,whichisametalknowntocausecancerinhumansathighconcentrationsandislinkedtootherhealtheffectssuchasskindamageandcirculatoryproblems.
What if I am immuno-compromised?Somepeoplemaybemorevulnerabletocontaminantsindrinkingwaterthanthegeneralpopulation.Immuno-compromisedpersonssuchaspersonswithcancerundergoingchemotherapy,personswhohaveundergoneorgantransplants,peoplewithHIV/AIDSorotherimmunesystemdisorders,someelderly,andinfantscanbeparticularlyatriskfrominfections.Thesepeopleshouldseekadviceaboutdrinkingwaterfromtheirhealthcareproviders.EPA/CentersforDiseaseControlguidelinesonappropriatemeanstolessentheriskofinfectionbyCryptosporidiumandothermicrobialcontaminantsareavailablefromtheSafeDrinkingWaterHotline(800-426-4791).
What about sodium?SodiumlevelsforallWaterAuthoritydistributionzonesrangefrom20to99PPM.Thesystem-wideaverageis37PPM.Formoreinformation,pleasevisittheWaterAuthoritywebsiteatabcwua.organdclickontheYourDrinkingWatertabonthehomepage.
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COMMON CONCERNS
SUBSTANCE Minimum Maximum 90th Percentile Action Level
Lead ZeroPPB 12.3PPB 0.8PPB 15PPB
Copper ZeroPPM 0.4PPM 0.2PPM 1.3PPM
WHAT ABOUT UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS? SomesubstancescommonlyfoundindrinkingwaterarenotregulatedbytheEPA.UndertheUnregulatedContaminantMonitoringRule(UCMR),theagencyseekstolearnmoreaboutsuchcontaminantsbyrequiringwatersystemstotestforthem.Itusesthedatageneratedtodevelopbetterunderstandingandnewregulationsovertime.
SUBSTANCESample Year
Minimum Reporting Level
Range of Results
Average of Results
Total HAA5 2018 0.2ug/L 1.6-17.0ug/L 7.8ug/L
Total HAA6Br 2018 0.2ug/L 2.4-17.0ug/L 9.1ug/L
Total HAA9 2018 0.2ug/L 3.1-27.0ug/L 14.9ug/L
Source Water TOC
2018 0.2-0.3mg/L 2.2-3.7mg/L 2.9mg/L
Source Water Bromide
2018 5ug/L 26.0-45.5ug/L 35.0ug/L
2018 UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING RESULTS**
*Samplescollectedthroughoutthedistributionsystemshowedanaveragefluorideconcentrationof0.63mg/Laftersupplementalfluoridation.TheWaterAuthoritycontinuesworkingtomeetatargetfluoriderangeof0.65to0.72mg/L.MoreinformationonsupplementalfluoridationcanbefoundontheWaterAuthoritywebsiteatwww.abcwua.org.
**SamplingforallotherUCMR4substancesisscheduledtobecompletedin2019.ResultsfortheUCMR3samplingeventareavailableonlineatwww.abcwua.org.LocaldrinkingwaterremainsprotectedfromcontaminantsincludingthemanmadechemicalsknownasPer-andPolyfluoroalkylSubstances(PFASs).AllwatersystemsourcesweretestedaspartofUCMR3withnodetectionsofPFASs.
***Therangerepresentstheminimumandmaximumofallquarterlyanalyticalresultsatall12locations.
Pb
Cu
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The Water Authority is the largest water and sewer utility in the state of New Mexico and is governed by a board of elected officials. Board members for 2019: Debbie O’Malley, Bernalillo County Commissioner, Chair; Klarissa Peña, Albuquerque City Councilor, Vice Chair; Maggie Hart Stebbins, Bernalillo County Commissioner; Trudy E. Jones, Albuquerque City Councilor; Timothy M. Keller, Mayor of Albuquerque; Steven Michael Quezada, Bernalillo County Commissioner; Ken Sanchez, Albuquerque City Councilor. Pablo Rael serves as a non-voting member from the Village of Los Ranchos. Executive Director: Mark S. Sanchez.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
GET INVOLVED!Wanttodomoretohelpprotectlocaldrinkingwatersupplies?Youcanstartbystayinginformed!Linkstoup-to-dateinformationaboutwatershedandsource-waterprotectioncanbefoundatwww.NMSourceWaterProtection.com.
Otheropportunitiesforinvolvementincludeattendanceatoneofourmonthlyboardmeetings,whereissuesconcerningwaterqualityarediscussed.MeetingsareopentothepublicandheldintheVincentE.GriegoCouncilChambersinthebasementoftheCity/CountyGovernmentCenteratOneCivicPlaza.Meetingschedulesandagendasareavailableatwww.abcwua.org. You’llalsofindmeetingschedulesforthecommunity’sWaterProtectionAdvisoryBoard.
Thisreporthasbeenre-designedforeasierreadabilitywithinputfromcustomerslikeyou!TheWaterAuthoritywishestothankeveryonewhogotinvolvedandcontributedsuggestionsviatheCustomerConversationsprocess.
En Español: Estereportecontieneinformacionmuyimportanteacercadelacalidaddelagua.Pararecibirunacopiaenespañol,llamenal505-842-9287ovisitalapagina:www.abcwua.org/Download_Report.aspx
• Reportawaterorseweremergency
• Payabilloverthephone
• Makebillinginquires
• Reportwaterwaste
• Reportunusualactivityatwaterfacilities
CONTACT THE WATER AUTHORITY
Call 842-WATR (9287)to
Call289-3653(theWaterQualityInformationLine)withquestionsaboutyourwaterquality,[email protected].
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
WaterAuthoritywebsite:www.abcwua.org
U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency:www.epa.gov/safewater
NewMexicoEnvironmentDepartmentDrinkingWaterBureau:www.env.nm.gov/dwb
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