Blog

Siletz 2017 Consumer Confidence Report

Posted by:

Is my water safe?

Last year, as in years past, your tap water met U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards. Local Water vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that our system has never violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard.

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. EPA/Center 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 Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Where does my water come from?

The City of Siletz is supplied by surface water from the Siletz River with Tangerman Creek as our back-up water source.

Source Water Assessment and its availability…

The City of Siletz has completed its Source Water Assessment. The full report is available for review at Siletz City Hall.

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 possesses a health risk. More information about contaminants and other potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). The source of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) includes 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 form the presence of animals or from human activity. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria 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 storm water run-off, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming. Pesticides and herbicides, may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water run-off, 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 storm water run-off, and septic systems. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of gas and oil 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 the public health.

How can I get Involved?        Contact Siletz City Hall at 541-444-2521

Water Quality TABLE  2017

Contaminants Tested Units MCLG MCL 90th Percentile Major Sources
Lead 7/11/16 ppm 1.3 AL=0.015 ND plumbing
Copper 7/11/16 ppm 1.3 AL=1.3 0.15 plumbing

The 90th Percentile is the highest result found in 90% of the samples when they are listed in order from the lowest to the highest results. EPA requires testing for lead and copper at the consumer’s tap most likely to contain these substances based on when the house was built. The EPA determined that if the sample results exceeded the Action Level (AL), the city must take action in reducing the risk of leaching lead and/or copper. As you can see by the table above, your water was well below the Action Level on our last round of testing in 2013. No homes exceeded the Action Level. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and children. Lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and house plumbing. The City of Siletz is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but the city 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 using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water and you desire 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 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Total Trihalomethanes Tested Units MCLG MCL Results  
  11/3/17 Mg/l N/A AL=0.08 0.0344  
Total Haloacetic Acids Tested Units MCLG MCL Results  
  11/3/17 Mg/l N/A AL=0.060 0.0295  

Trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts (DBP’s). These byproducts include trihalomethanes (THM’s) and haloacetic acids (HAA’s). Drinking water containing these byproducts in excess of MCL may lead to adverse health effects, liver or kidney problems, or nervous system effects and may lead to an increased risk of cancer.

Total Organic Carbons Tested Units MCLG MCL Reporting Limit Major Sources
Highest Report 10/23/17 mg//l none TT 0.598  
Lowest Report 1/24/17 mg//l none TT 0.198  
Yearly Average  2017 mg//l none TT 0.389  

Total Organic Carbon is naturally present in the environment. These are detections of chemicals above a certain threshold, anything greater than -0- for SOC and VOC groups, and greater than ½ the MCL for the IOC group. That there was a single detect does not mean that a problem exists; some reason for “single hits” includes the use of solvents in the area, for example: WD-40, gasoline operated machines, deodorant blocks/devises in restrooms, or painting in the vicinity while collecting the sample. The tests for SOC and VOC groups are very sensitive and can have a detection from something wafting in the air.

Turbidity Tested Units MCLG MCL Reporting Limit
Daily NTU 0.3 0.3 0.02  100%    0.3 or less

The major source of turbidity is soil runoff. Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness of the water. It is daily monitored because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the City of Siletz water filtration system. There were no violations.

Abbrev. Keys

AC = Action Level

MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level                MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal

ppm = parts per million                                  mg/l = milligrams per liter

n/a = not applicable

0

About the Author:

  Related Posts
  • No related posts found.

Add a Comment