2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT - OLYMPIAWA.GOV/WATERQUALITY - MCALLISTER WELLFIELD - THE CITY OF OLYMPIA
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2020 Water Quality Report
McAllister Wellfield
Olympia’s Main Water Source
olympiawa.gov/waterquality
2020 Water Quality Report
Water System #: 634506 March 2020
The City of Olympia is required by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide this information
annually to our customers. The EPA refers to this report as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). In 2019, the City’s
water met all State and Federal drinking water requirements.
Within the 2020 Water Quality Report, customers will find important information about the City of Olympia’s
drinking water.
Table of Contents Page Number(s)
Test Result Tables 1–5
What Contaminants Does the City Test For? 5
Testing for PFAS in Drinking Water 5
Definition of Terms 6
Water Source Information 7
How to Get Involved 7
Important Health Information 8
Contaminants and Health Concerns 8
Required Statement Regarding Lead 8
Program Information: 9
• Groundwater Protection
• Cross Connection Control
Staff Contact Information 10
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport
Refer to page 7 for acronyms and definitions.
Water Supply System (Tap Water) After Chlorination (2019)
Range of Amount
Typical Source of
Contaminant (Units) MCL MCLG Detected Testing Frequency
Contamination
(Low-High)
95% of samples
70 times per month Naturally occurring in
Total Coliform Bacteria must have zero Zero Zero
detections
at a minimum the environment
Disinfectant in the
Metered
Chlorine residual (ppm) 4 ppm 4 ppm 0.42 – 1.93 ppm water treatment
continuously
process
Disinfection By-products
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb) 60 ppb ZeroRefer to page 7 for acronyms and definitions.
Drinking Water Source Inorganic Test Results
McAllister Allison Springs Allison Springs
Contaminant Wellfield Well #13 Well #19 Units SRL Trigger Level MCL
(2019 Test Results) (2014 Test Results) (2014 Test Results)
Arsenic 0.001Refer to page 7 for acronyms and definitions.
Drinking Water Source Inorganic Test Results (2014)
Shana Park Well Indian Summer
Contaminant Hoffman Well #8 Units SRL Trigger Level MCL
#11 Well #20
Arsenic 0.002Refer to page 7 for acronyms and definitions.
In 2019, the City of Olympia completed the 4th Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR) sampling event. The EPA is required
by the Safe Drinking Water Act to choose contaminates of concern and have them sampled for by water utilities. Based on the results, the
EPA will decide whether a contaminant needs to be regulated.
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) – Test Results 2019
The UCMR only requires the City to report detects, which are listed in this table.
Range of Amount
Contaminant Detected Units Method Reporting Limit Source Name
(Low-High)
Allison Springs and Shana
Bromide* 20 – 25 ppb ppb 20 ppb
Park
Allison Springs, Shana Park
Manganese**Refer to page 7 for acronyms and definitions.
Continued - 2019 UCMR4 with none detects
Contaminant Method Reporting Limit (ppb) Result Uses
O-Toluidine 0.007 None detect Production of dyes, rubber, pharmaceuticals and pesticides
Oxyfluorfen 0.05 None detect An herbicide
Permethrin, Total 0.04 None detect An insecticide
Profenofos 0.3 None detect An insecticide and acaricide
Quinoline 0.02 None detect A pharmaceutical (anti-malarial) and flavoring agent
Tebuconazole 0.2 None detect A fungicide
Total Organic Carbon 1000 None detect Indicator for increased disinfection by-products
Tribufos 0.07 None detect Insecticide and cotton defoliant
What Contaminants Does the City Test For?
Please follow this link to view the list of all contaminants that the City of Olympia is required to test. The contaminants in the list are tested at
a frequency of every one to nine years. olympiawa.gov/waterquality
Testing for PFAS in Drinking Water
Per-and-Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) have been in the news lately and of concern to health officials and communities.
PFAS are widely used as coatings in common consumer products such as food packaging, outdoor clothing, carpets, leather goods, ski and
snowboard waxes, and firefighting foam. PFAS chemicals are very persistent in the environment. They do not break down or go away easily.
In 2013, under the UCMR 3 rule the City of Olympia sampled for select PFAS compounds and all were “non detect” (below 0.01 - 0.09 parts
per billion).
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water decided PFAS contaminants need to be regulated in the State of
Washington and is in the process of finalizing the action levels and other components for regulating this contaminant. When the new rule is
finalized, the City may be required to sample for PFAS chemicals in drinking water at lower detection levels. The possible date of resampling
for PFAS is unknown.
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport 5Definition of Terms
Action Level (AL) The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements that a water system must follow.
Inorganic Contaminants Salts and metals, which can occur naturally or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial
or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, and farming.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk
to health. MCLG allows for a margin of safety.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) 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.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that
(MRDL) the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Microbial Contaminants Viruses, parasites, and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems,
agricultural livestock operations, or wildlife.
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) Unit by which turbidity is measures.
Organic Chemical Contaminants Includes synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial
processes and petroleum production. They can also come from gas stations, urban
stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
Parts Per Billion (ppb) A part per billion is a unit of measurement. It is equivalent to about one dissolved aspirin
tablet (or 326 mg) in a 25-meter swimming pool (about 100,000 gallons), one minute in 2,000
years, or a single penny in $10,000,000. This unit is interchangeable with micrograms per liter
(ug/L).
Parts Per Million (ppm) Parts per million is a unit of measurement. One part per million is equivalent to about half of a
dissolved aspirin tablet (or 162 mg) in a full bathtub of water (about 50 gallons), one minute in
two years, or a single penny in $10,000. This unit is interchangeable with milligrams per liter
(mg/L).
Pesticides and Herbicides May come from various sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential
uses.
Radioactive Contaminants Occurs naturally or results from oil and gas production and mining activities.
State Reporting Level (SRL) The minimum reporting level required by the State of Washington Department of Health
(DOH).
Trigger Level A level set by Washington State DOH that if compounds are detected above this level will
trigger additional sampling.
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport 6Water Source Information
In 2019, City of Olympia drinking water was supplied by McAllister Wellfield and three additional groundwater sources. The McAllister
Wellfield provided 71% of our drinking water. To help meet demands, the City used three other wells (Shana Park Well #11, Allison Springs
Wells #13 and #19) to supply 29% of the water supply. Hoffman Well #3 and Indian Summer Well #20 are on standby as additional water
sources. Kaiser Well #1 is an emergency well.
Olympia’s water sources and locations (source numbers in parentheses):
Nisqually Basin West Olympia East Olympia
• McAllister Wellfield (S16) • Allison Springs Well #13 (S09) • Shana Park Well #11 (S10)
• Allison Springs Well #19 (S11) • Hoffman Well #3 (S08)
• Kaiser Well #1 (S03) • Indian Summer Well #20 (S12)
The City uses two types of water treatment: 1) chlorination, and 2) air strippers.
• Chlorination disinfects the drinking water.
• Air strippers (used at Shana Park, Allison Springs and McAllister Wellfield) increase the pH of the drinking water, which helps to decrease
the possibility of leaching lead and copper from household plumbing.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water assessed the susceptibility of Olympia’s water sources to risk of
contamination. DOH determined the McAllister Wellfield, Hoffman, and Indian Summer wells as having low risk; the Allison Springs wells as
having moderate risk; and the Shana Park well as being at a high risk of contamination. Our wells are at risk of contamination from such things
as road spills, stormwater, septic systems and hazardous materials, including pesticides and fertilizers. Maps of our Drinking Water Protection
Areas can be viewed at: www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/sw
DOH grants the City of Olympia waivers for certain monitoring requirements if previous monitoring results conclude that the risk of
contamination by a specific substance is very low.
How To Get Involved
The Olympia City Council meets Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at Olympia City Hall, 601 4th Avenue E.
The Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) meets the first Thursday of each month (except January, July and August) at 5:40 p.m. in Room 207 at
Olympia City Hall 601 4th Avenue E. Please note: the November 2020 UAC meeting will be held at the Olympia Maintenance Center, located
at 1401 Eastside Street SE.
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport 7Important Health Information
To ensure the tap water you drink is safe, the DOH and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set regulations that limit the amount of
certain contaminants in drinking water. The Food and Drug Administration and the Washington Department of Agriculture set limits for
contaminants in bottled water and both must provide the same protection for public health.
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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1.800.426.4791).
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 for infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water
from their health care providers. 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1.800.426.4791).
Contaminants and Health Concerns
As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive
material. It also picks up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in
source water includes microbial contaminants, inorganic contaminants, organic chemical contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, and
radioactive contaminants.
Required Statement Regarding 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. The City of Olympia 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 drinking 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 EPA Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (1.800.426.4791) or at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lead
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport 82020 Water Quality Report
Program Information
Groundwater Protection Cross Connection Control
The City routinely collects water samples from Olympia residents enjoy safe, reliable drinking
monitoring wells in our drinking water water every day thanks to our conscientious
protection areas to test for nitrates. Nitrates in customers and the dedicated City staff that
groundwater come primarily from septic tanks operate and maintain our water system. As a
and lawn fertilizer. In some wells, we have City of Olympia customer, your diligence in
detected low levels of nitrates. The levels are annual backflow testing helps protect the City’s
well below the state threshold for human water system.
health and we work hard to keep them in check.
Nitrates can also degrade streams by increasing Many people assume the water supply only
plant growth that depletes oxygen. flows in one direction due to always being
under pressure. Actually, water can flow in both
If you want to fertilize your lawn, it’s important directions in water mains and service lines,
to pick the right time and use the right amount potentially causing disastrous effects. Water
of an organic or slow-release fertilizer for long- will always flow towards the path of least
lasting results that also protect our water resistance. For example, if there is a water main
resources. For a spring application, wait until break or fire requiring heavy water use that
mid-May or early June when heavy rains have lowers the pressure in the water main,
passed so that less fertilizer will leach away. contaminants can get siphoned back into the
Fertilizing at this time also helps avoid a growth water supply.
surge when the lawn is already growing
vigorously. In the fall, September or early To prevent this from happening, State-approved
October is a good time to fertilize, before the backflow assemblies shall be installed on
heavy rain starts. customers’ plumbing systems, where there is a
potential of hazard such as irrigation systems,
Slow-release forms of fertilizer feed plants over private wells and commercial buildings; to
a longer time, so less nutrients are wasted or prevent water from flowing back into the water
lost as pollutants. To learn more about caring system. All backflow assemblies must be tested
for your lawn, visit our Natural Yard Care annually to ensure they are working properly
webpage for videos to help you grow a naturally per Washington Administrative Code 246-290-
beautiful and safe lawn – one that’s also safe 490.
for our water supply.
For more information regarding the City’s Cross
For more information on the City’s Connection Control Program, contact Jacob
Groundwater Protection Program, contact Larson, 360.753.8161 or email
Donna Buxton at 360.753.8793 or by email at jlarson@ci.olympia.wa.us
dbuxton@ci.olympia.wa.us
Visit the City’s website to learn more:
Visit the City’s website to learn more: olympiawa.gov/backflow
olympiawa.gov/groundwater
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport 92020 Water Quality Report
If you have questions, or would like to request a copy of this report, please contact:
Cheri Reimers
Water Quality Specialist
City of Olympia, Public Works Department
Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia WA 98507-1967
Phone: 360.709.2774
creimers@ci.olympia.wa.us
To access this report online, visit: olympiawa.gov/wqreport
You can also visit the City of Olympia’s Water Quality webpage for more information on Olympia’s drinking
water: olympiawa.gov/waterquality
City staff take water samples throughout
the system at sample stations.
City of Olympia | 2020 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport 10You can also read
