Newsletter June 2000 page three

June 2000

Results of 1999 Drinking Water Quality Tests

The tables below list all the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the most recent sampling. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. The State Health Department allows us to monitor for certain contaminants

SAMPLING RESULTS SHOWING THE DETECTION OF LEAD AND COPPER

Lead and Copper (and reporting units)

Number of samples collected

90th percentile level detected

Number of sites exceeding AL

PHG

Typical Source of Containment

Copper (PPM)

0.179

1.3

0.17

Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.

SAMPLING RESULTS FOR SODIUM AND HARDNESS

Chemical or Constituent
(and reporting units)

Sample date

Level detected

Range of detections

MCL

PHG

Typical Source of Containment

Sodium (PPM)

5-20-99

42.3

28.6-56.0

none

Generally found in ground and surface water

Hardness (PPM)

5-20-99

45.5

28.6-56.0

none

Generally found in ground and surface water

DETECTION OF CONTAINMENTS WITH A PRIMARY DRINKING WATER STANDARD

Aluminum (PPM)

5-20-99

0.0975

<0.050-0.145

<0.05

Erosion of natural deposits. Residue from some surface watr treament processes.

Flouride (PPM)

5-20-99

0.275

0.10-0.45

1.4-2.4

Erosion of natural deposits.

DETECTION OF CONTAINMENTS WITH A SECONDARY DRINKING WATER STANDARD

Odor (TON)

5-20-99

2.0

1.0-3.0

3.0

none

Natural mineral and organic content

SAMPLING RESULTS SHOWING TREATMENT OF SURFACE WATER SOURCES

Treatment technique: The District uses contact clarification filtration in its treatment plant. This is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Turbidity Performance Standards: Turbidity, measured in NTU, is a measurement of the cloudiness of water and is a good indicator of water quality and filtration performance. Turbidity results which meet performance standards are considered to be in compliance with filtration requirements.

Turbidity of the filtered water must:
1. Be less than or equal to 0.50 NTU in 95% of measurements in a month
2. Not exceed 1.0 NTU for more than eight consecutive hours
3. Not exceed 5.0 NTU at any time

• 100% of the District’s samples met the Turbidity Performance Standard
• The highest single turbidity measurement during the year was 0.36
• The District had no violations of any surface water treatment requirement

More Information To Help You Read the Chart:
AL    Regulatory Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
MCL    Maximum Contaminant Level—The "Maximum Allowed" is the highest level of a contaminant that is permitted in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the PHGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
ND    Not detectable at the testing limit.
NTU     Nephelometric Turbidity Unit—Measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
PDWS Primary Drinking Water Standards. MCLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.
PHG    Public Health Goal—The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. The California Environmental Protection Agency sets PHGs.
PPB Parts Per Billion or micrograms per liter (ug/l)—One part per billion corresponds to one drop in 17,000 gallons of water.
PPM    Parts Per Million or milligrams per liter (mg/l)—One part per million corresponds to about one drop in 17 gallons.
SDWS Secondary Drinking Water Standards. MCLs for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance of the drinking water. Contaminants with SDWS do not affect health at the MCL levels.
TON    Threshold Odor Number, a measurement of odor.

A Comprehensive Sanitary Survey of the watershed was conducted in December 1995. Because Montecito’s principal surface water sources, Lake Cachuma and Jameson Lake, are relatively insulated from agriculture and industry, they are rated low for risk of contamination. Copies of the Sanitary Survey are available by calling the District at 969-2271.

What's In Your Drinking Water? 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 before we treat it may 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, that 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, that are byproducts 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.
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