Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2019

Disclaimer: This report was transcribed by AI and may contain errors. You can view the official source PDF here to verify the data.

This report is a snapshot of your water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.

Do I need to take special precautions?

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. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

Where does my water come from?

Your water comes from 2 surface water sources.

Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?

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 Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (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 including:

• Microbial contaminants: Such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
  
• Inorganic contaminants: Such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
  
• Pesticides and herbicides: Which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses;
  
• Organic chemical contaminants: Including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems;
  
• Radioactive contaminants: Which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
  

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Water Quality Table

The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the State requires monitoring for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

Disinfection By-Products

Inorganic Contaminants

Lead and Copper Rule

Radiological Contaminants

Special Education Statements

Additional Information for Lead 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. PWS system is responsible 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 30 seconds to 2 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 at 1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/your-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.

Microbiological Testing

We are required to test your water regularly for signs of microbial contamination. Positive test results could lead to follow-up investigations called assessments and potentially the issuance of public health advisories. Assessments could lead to required corrective actions. The information below summarizes the results of those tests.

Significant Deficiencies

Sanitary deficiencies are defects in a water system's infrastructure, design, operation, maintenance, or management that cause, or may cause interruptions to the "multiple barrier" protection system and adversely affect the system's ability to produce safe and reliable drinking water in adequate quantities. The following is a listing of significant deficiencies that have yet to be corrected by 12/31/2019. Your public water system is still working to correct these deficiencies and interim milestones are shown, as applicable.

• Deficiency Title: Cable Opening in Roof
  • Date Identified: 8/8/2017
  • Overall Due Date: 9/30/2020
  • Description: Redwood tanks have openings in the roof for the target cables. These openings can allow contaminated rain water, insects, dust and other contaminants to enter the tank.
    
  • Corrective Action Plan: The target installations are of an out-of-date design and difficult to fully correct. However, NSF-certified gasket material can be used to greatly improve the situation. An appropriate sized (perhaps 3" X 3") square-shaped piece of flat gasket material should be cut and split to its center point. The gasket material should then be placed around the cable and cable opening and glued in place. In cases where the target is not functional or needed, the opening in the roof should be sealed.
    
  • Milestone completed by 3/19/2019: Funding approved by IHS to replace serval storage tanks.
    
  • Milestone completed by 10/9/2019: Geotechnical investigation is needed. Work won't start until next summer at the earliest.
    
• Deficiency Title: Substandard Hatch
  • Date Identified: 8/8/2017
  • Overall Due Date: 9/30/2020
  • Description: Redwood and HDPE tanks have manhole access openings that are poorly designed and difficult to maintain. These openings and hatch covers allow dust, insects, spiders and other contaminants to enter the tank. Without exception, inside the hatches, one will find spider webs, spiders, dust, debris and insects. Unless the tank is regularly overflowed, these items will be floating on the surface of the water too.
    
  • Corrective Action Plan: As recommended in Deficiency #1, the redwood tanks should have new manhole access openings and hinged, overlapping, gasketed and locked covers fabricated. Better and more complete sealing should be provided for the HDPE tank hatches. Methods of accomplishing this with gasket material and/or duct tape were discussed with Arnold Davis at the time of the sanitary survey.
    

Unit Descriptions

How can I get involved?

Please feel free to contact the number provided below for more information or for a translated copy of the report if you need it in another language.

For more information please contact: Linnea Jackson, General Manager, PO Box 656, Hoopa, California 95546 Phone: (530) 625-4543 Fax: (530) 625-4112