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Donala Water and Sanitation District
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2011 DRINKING WATER
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2010
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HOW SAFE IS YOUR WATER?
Public Water System ID: CO0121175
Esta es información importante. Si no la pueden leer, necesitan que alguien se la traduzca.
We are pleased to present to you this year’s water quality report. (Click HERE for a downloadable PDF.) Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.
Please contact Dana Duthie at 719-488-3603 or use our contact page on the website at www.donalawater.org with any questions about the Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report or for public participation opportunities that may affect the water quality.
General Information About Drinking Water
All 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 the 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 (1-800-426-4791).
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 of infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, or to receive a copy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and microbiological contaminants call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (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 activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
•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, that may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
•Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
•Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also may come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.
Lead in Drinking Water
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems (especially for pregnant women and young children). It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. 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. Additional information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
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Terms and Abbreviations
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Term
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Abbreviation
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Definition
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Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
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MCLG
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The 'Goal' is 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.
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Maximum Contaminant Level
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MCL
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The 'Maximum Allowed' is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
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Treatment Technique
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TT
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A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
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Action Level
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AL
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The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
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Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal
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MRDLG
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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.
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Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
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MRDL
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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.
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Average of Individual Samples
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No Abbreviation
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The typical value. Mathematically it is the sum of values divided by the number of samples.
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Range of Individual Samples
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No Abbreviation
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The lowest value to the highest value.
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Number of Samples
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No Abbreviation
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The number or count of values.
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Gross Alpha, Including RA, Excluding RN & U
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No Abbreviation
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This is the gross alpha particle activity compliance value. It includes radium-226, but excludes radon 222 and uranium.
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Microscopic Particulate Analysis
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MPA
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An analysis of surface water organisms and indicators in water. This analysis can be used to determine performance of a surface water treatment plant or to determine the existence of surface water influence on a ground water well.
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Variance and Exemptions
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V/E
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Department permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.
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Parts per million = Milligrams per liter
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ppm = mg/L
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One part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
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Parts per billion = Micrograms per liter
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ppb = ug/L
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One part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
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Parts per trillion = Nanograms per liter
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ppt = nanograms/L
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One part per trillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000.
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Parts per quadrillion = Picograms per liter
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ppq = picograms/L
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One part per quadrillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000,000 years or one penny in $10,000,000,000,000.
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Picocuries per liter
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pCi/L
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Picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
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Nephelometric Turbidity Unit
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NTU
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Nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
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Not Applicable
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N/A
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Not Applicable
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Violation
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No Abbreviation
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A failure to meet a Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulation.
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Formal Enforcement Action
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No Abbreviation
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An escalated action taken by the State (due to the number and/or severity of violations) to bring a non-compliant water system back into compliance by a certain time, with an enforceable consequence if the schedule is not met.
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Our Water Source(s)
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has provided us with a Source Water Assessment Report for our water supply. You may obtain a copy of the report by visiting http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/sw/swapreports/swapreports.html, clicking on El Paso County and selecting 121175; Donala WSD or by contacting
Dana Duthie at 719-488-3603 or use our contact page on the website at www.donalawater.org . For general information about Source Water Assessment please visit http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/sw/swaphom.html. Potential sources of contamination in our source water area come from: Industry, gas station/underground storage tanks, septic systems, storm drains or any source where contaminates might leach into the ground water. However, since our drinking water wells are hundreds to thousands of feet deep, the chances of contaminates reaching them and being of harmful consistency when they do, are very remote.
The Source Water Assessment Report provides a screening-level evaluation of potential contamination that could occur. It does not mean that the contamination has or will occur. We can use this information to evaluate the need to improve our current water treatment capabilities and prepare for future contamination threats. This can help us ensure that quality finished water is delivered to your homes. In addition, the source water assessment results provide a starting point for developing a source water protection plan.
Please contact Dana Duthie at 719-488-3603 or use our contact page on the website at www.donalawater.org to learn more about what you can do to help protect your drinking water sources, any questions about the Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report, to learn more about our system, or to attend scheduled public meetings. We want you, our valued customers, to be informed about the services we provide and the quality water we deliver to you every day.
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Water Sources
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Source Type
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Water Type
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WELL NO 1 A
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 2 A-R
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 2 D-R
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 3 A
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 3 D
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 4 A
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 7 D
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 8 A
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 9 A
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 10 EMERGENCY
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 11 D
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 12 A
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 13 D
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Groundwater
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WELL NO 14A
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Groundwater
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Detected Contaminants
Donala WSD routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The following table(s) show all detections found in the period of January 1 to December 31, 2010 unless otherwise noted. The State of Colorado requires us to monitor for certain contaminants
less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamination. Therefore, some of our data, though representative, may be more than one year old. Violations and Formal Enforcement Actions, if any, are reported in the next section of this report. Any additional information may be found in the final section of this report.
Note: Only detected contaminants sampled within the last 5 years appear in this report. If no tables appear in this section, that means that Donala WSD did not detect any contaminants in the last round of monitoring.
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Lead and Copper Sampled in the Distribution System
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Analyte Name
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Monitoring Period
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90th Percentile
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Number of Samples
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Unit of Measure
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Action Level
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Sample Sites Above Action Level
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AL or TT Violation?
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Typical Sources
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Potential Health Effects from Long-Term Exposure Above the Action Level (unless specified as short-term)
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COPPER
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01/01/2008
to
12/31/2010
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0.248
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22
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ppm
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1.3
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0
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No
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Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
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Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount 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.
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LEAD
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01/01/2008
to
12/31/2010
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4
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22
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ppb
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15
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0
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No
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Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
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Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
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Disinfection By Products (TTHMs, HAA5, and Chlorite) Sampled in the Distribution System
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Analyte Name
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Year
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Average of Individual Samples
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Range of Individual Samples
(Lowest - Highest)
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Number of Samples
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Unit of Measure
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MCL
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MCLG
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MCL Violation?
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Typical Sources
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Potential Health Effects from Long-Term Exposure Above the MCL (unless specified as short-term)
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TTHM
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2009
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3.04
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0.6 - 5.68
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4
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ppb
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80
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N/A
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No
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Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
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Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
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Regulated Contaminants Sampled at the Entry Point to the Distribution System
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Analyte Name
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Year
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Average of Individual Samples
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Range of Individual Samples
(Lowest - Highest)
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Number of Samples
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Unit of Measure
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MCL
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MCLG
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MCL Violation?
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Typical Sources
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Potential Health Effects from Long-Term Exposure Above the MCL (unless specified as short-term)
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BARIUM
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2008
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0.037
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0.027 - 0.044
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7
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ppm
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2
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2
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No
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Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits.
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Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure.
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FLUORIDE
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2008
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1.18
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0.46 - 1.5
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7
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ppm
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4
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4
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No
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Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive that promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
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Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or more may cause mottling of children's teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums.
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NITRATE
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2010
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0.006
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0 - 0.024
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4
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ppm
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10
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10
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No
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Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.
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Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.
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NITRATE-NITRITE
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2007
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0.005
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0 - 0.025
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5
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ppm
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10
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10
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No
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Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.
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Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate-nitrite in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.
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Radionuclides Sampled at the Entry Point to the Distribution System
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Analyte Name
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Year
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Average of Individual Samples
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Range of Individual Samples
(Lowest - Highest)
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Number of Samples
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Unit of Measure
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MCL
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MCLG
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MCL Violation?
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Typical Sources
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Potential Health Effects from Long-Term Exposure Above the MCL (unless specified as short-term)
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COMBINED RADIUM (-226 & -228)
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2009
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3.175
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2.9 - 3.7
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4
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pCi/L
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5
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0
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No
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Erosion of natural deposits.
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Some people who drink water containing radium -226 or -228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
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GROSS ALPHA, EXCL. RADON & U
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2009
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3.625
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2.2 - 5.4
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4
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pCi/L
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15
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0
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No
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Erosion of natural deposits.
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Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water containing alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
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GROSS BETA PARTICLE ACTIVITY*
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2008
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3.375
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2.9 - 4
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4
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pCi/L*
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50
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0
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No
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Decay of natural and man-made deposits.
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Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation known as photons and beta radiation. Some people who drink water containing beta particle and photon radioactivity in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
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*The MCL for Gross Beta Particle Activity is 4 mrem/year. Since there is no simple conversion between mrem/year and pCi/L EPA considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for Gross Beta Particle Activity.
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Secondary Contaminants**
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Analyte Name
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Year
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Average of Individual Samples
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Range of Individual Samples
(Lowest - Highest)
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Number of Samples
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Unit of Measure
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Secondary Standard
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SODIUM
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2008
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13.786
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9.5 - 18
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7
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ppm
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N/A
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TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
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2009
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139
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127 - 168
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4
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ppm
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500
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**Secondary standards are non-enforceable guidelines for contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor or color) in drinking water. EPA recommends these standards but does not require water systems to comply.
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Violations
No Violations Occurred in the Calendar Year 2010
There are no additional required health effect violations to note.
Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs)
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)
There was significant press in 2008 about endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water. Donala WSD has published information on the subject in our April 2008 and June 2008 newsletters and will continue to inform our customers on any changes that could affect drinking water quality. The District did test for 88 (EDCs)/ (PPCPs) constituents on 3/25/2008 and all were well below the current maximum residual level (MRL).
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