Drinking Water Quality Report for McNulty Water Association - September 1999

This is to supplement the "1999 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report" as provided in McNulty Water Association's Newsletter of February 1999.

 Regulations to Protect Water Quality

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act is to insure the quality and safety of the nation's drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate public water systems to protect public health. The EPA sets national drinking water standards. The Oregon Health Division (OHD) administers the drinking water regulations for the EPA in our state.

Currently there are more than 120 water quality standards for potential contaminants in public water supplies in Oregon and more standards will be added in the coming years.

Water Testing

The water is tested throughout the distribution system monthly for bacteriological analysis. The Association is required to collect two (2) samples per month and has a sampling program (routine samples collected in different sections of the system during the year).

Most waterborne diseases and illnesses have been related to the microbiological quality of drinking water. Coliform bacteria group is used as an indicator organism to determine the biological quality of your water.

For 1998, the McNulty Water Association had no contaminated samples.

The Association is also required to test for chemicals. Nitrates need to be sampled yearly from each of the wells. Inorganics, synthetic organics, and volatile organics are sampled every three (3) years. Radiological samples are collected every four (4) years.

Lead and copper inorganic chemicals were collected yearly over a four (4) year program from the tap water within a set number of Association member's homes. The results have shown that corrosion control is not required. The monitoring program is now every three (3) years.

 ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

Action Level The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers a treatment technique or other requirement which a water system must follow.

Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidium is a tiny organism that is associated with the disease cryptosporidiosis. The disease can be transmitted by swallowing the organism in contaminated water or food, person-to-person contact, or other exposure routes.

Fecal Coliform Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.

Giardia Giardia is a tiny organism that is associated with the disease giardiasis. Swallowing this organism in contaminated food or water, exposure from person-to-person contact, and other exposure routes may cause giardiasis.

Hardness Hardness is an indication of the amount of dissolved minerals in water. McNulty's water has a range of hardness values from 48 to 88 ppm, which is considered "moderate to soft."

Inorganic Chemicals Examples include things like metals, minerals, and salts.

MCL Maximum Contaminant Level. 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.

MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. 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.

Non-Detected (ND) Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

pH pH indicates whether a liquid is acidic or basic.

ppb parts per billion. One (1) ppb is approximately equal to one (1) drop of water in a 22,000 gallon swimming pool.

ppm parts per million. The same as mg/l. One (1) ppm is approximately equal to one (1) drop of water in 22 gallons.

Primary Standards Legally enforceable standards that apply to public water systems. Primary standards limit the levels of specific contaminants that can adversely affect public health and are known or are anticipated to occur in water.

Secondary Standards Non-enforceable guidelines regarding contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects such as tooth discoloration, or aesthetic effects such as taste, color, or odor in drinking water.

SOC Synthetic Organic Chemicals. Examples include weed killers and bug spray.

Total Coliform A group of bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other potentially harmful bacteria may be present.

VOC Volatile Organic Chemicals. Examples include things like petroleum based chemicals, industrial byproducts, and dry cleaning solvents.

The following substances were tested for, but not detected, in the Blaha well, Millard well, and DeShazer (Stone) No. 2 well:

Volatile Organic Chemicals:

Synthetic Organic Chemicals:

Inorganic Chemicals:

 

2,4-D

 

1,1-Dichloroethylene

2,4,5-TP

Antimony

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

Di (2-ethylhexyl)adipate

Arsenic

1,1,2-Trichloroethane

Alachlor

Barium

1,2-Dichloroethane

Atrazine

Beryllium

1,2-Dichloropropane

Benzo (a) pyrene

Cadmium

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

g-BHC (Lindane)

Chronium

Benzene

Carbofuran

Lead

Carbon Tetrachloride

Chlordane

Mercury

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene

Dalapon

Nickel

Dichloromethane

Dibromochoropropane

Selenium

Ethylbenzene

Dinoseb

Thallium

Chlorobenzene

Diquat

Nitrate

o-Dichlorobenzene

Endothall

Nitrite

p-Dichlorobenzene

Endrin

Sulfate

Styrene

Ethylene Dibromide

Cyanide

Tetrachloroethylene

Glyphosate

 

Toluene

Heptachlor Epoxide

 

Xylenes

Heptchlor

 

trans-l,2-Dichloroethylene

Hexachlorobenzene

 

Trichloroethylene

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

 

Vinyl chloride

Methoxychlor

 

 

Pentachlorophenol

 

1,1-Dichloroethane

DI (2-ethyhexyl) phthalate

 

1,1-Dichloropropene

Picloram

 

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane

PCBs

 

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

Simazine

 

1,2,3-Trichloropropane

Toxaphene

 

1,3-Dichloropropene

Vydate

 

2,2-Dichloropropane

 

 

Bromobenzene

3-Hydroxycarbofuran

 

1,3-Dichloropropane

Aldicarb

 

Bromodichloromethane

Aldicarb Sulfoxide

 

Bromoform

Aldicarb Sulfone

 

Bromomethane

Aldrin

 

Chloroethane

Butachlor

 

Chloroform

Carbaryl

 

Chloromethane

Dicamba

 

Dibromochloromethane

Dieldrin

 

m-Dichlorobenzene

Methomyl

 

o-Chlorotoluene

Metolachlor

 

p-Chlorotoluene

Metribuzin

 

 

Propachlor

 

   Detected Levels of Primary Standards:

Fluoride was detected in the testing of the Millard well at 0.8 ppm. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 to 1.2 ppm in drinking water. Known for its cavity-fighting benefits for young children, it would be a limited benefit in the Association's water system as the Millard well water is blended with water from Blaha and DeShazer (Stone) wells.

The Blaha well water had a copper level of 0.01 ppm below the MCLG of 1.3 ppm. When blended with the other well waters, it would be diluted to practially zero.

Sodium was tested in each of the wells, but EPA has only a recommendation of 20 ppm for this chemical. The well results were as follows: Blaha (10.3 ppm), Millard (114 ppm), DeShazer (Stone) #2 (7.7 ppm).

Secondary standards, as there is no contaminant level, is a guideline that is associated with aesthetic effects such as staining of plumbing fixtures or tastes and odors.

Detected Levels of Secondary Standards (Non-enforceable) :

Analysis

MCL

 

Blaha

Millard

Stone #2

 

pH

6 to 9

 

6.7

8.1

6.7

 

Chloride

250

 

10

235

ND

 

Hardness

250

 

88

48

88

 

Iron

0.3

 

ND

ND

0.18

 

Manganese

0.05

 

ND

ND

ND

 

Sulfate

250

 

ND

ND

ND

 

Total Solids

500

 

150

390

140

 

Zinc

5.0

 

0.02

ND

ND

 

Hiland Water Corporation

From August 1997 to May 1998, McNulty Water Association purchased water from Hiland Water Corporation. The well is located on Upper Barger Road and only affects water users on the north side of the Columbia County Fairgrounds (the Yankton area - Pittsburg, Sykes, Robinette, Kappler Roads).

All bacteriological samples from this system meet standards.

The volatile organic chemicals and synthetic organic chemicals were all not detected. Inorganic chemicals were not detected except arsenic (0.019 ppm/MCL 0.05 ppm) and sodium (36.8 ppm/recommended limit 20 ppm).

Detected levels of secondary standards in Hiland's well were: pH 8.9, hardness 28 ppm, iron 0.06 ppm, manganese ND, chloride ND, and total solids 97 ppm.

 END OF WATER QUALITY REPORT - September 1999