HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 CTSUD Water Quality ReportChisholm Trail Special Utility District
2014 Annual Drinking
Water Quality Report
2014 Consumer Confidence Report
This information is provided to you by: Chisholm Trail Special Utility District
P.O. Box 249, Florence, Texas 76527, Tel. (512) 930-3640
Protect Your Drinking Water
The use of drinking water in many industrial processes requires the use of a functioning and properly-tested backflow
prevention device. These devices prevent the inadvertent introduction of hazardous materials into the drinking water
system by preventing flow of material in the reverse direction. Each device must be tested at least annually with the
test results reported to CTSUD. Please visit the District website at www.ctsud.org for further information.
Water Quality Data
The table in this report lists all the drinking water contaminants we detected during tests conducted from the previous
calendar year, unless otherwise noted. The state 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.
Therefore, some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old.
Where Do We Get Our Drinking Water?
Our drinking water is obtained from both surface and groundwater sources. Surface water comes from Lake
Stillhouse and groundwater comes from the Edwards Aquifer. A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for our
drinking water source(s) is currently being updated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The report
will describe the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with our drinking water source
based on human activities and natural conditions. The information contained in the assessment will allow us to focus
our source water protection strategies. Some of this source water assessment information is available on Texas
Drinking Water Watch at http://dww.tceq.texas.gov/DWW/ and for information regarding our source water protection
efforts please call Georgetown Utility Systems Customer Care Center at (512) 930-3640.
Special Population Advisory
You may be more vulnerable than the general
population to certain microbial contaminants, such as
Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some
elderly or immunocompromised persons such as those
undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have
undergone organ transplants; those who are
undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with
HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be
particularly at risk from infections. You should seek
advice about drinking water from your physician or
health care provider. Additional guidelines on
appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Our Drinking Water Meets or Exceeds All Federal
(EPA) Drinking Water Requirements
This report is a summary of the quality of the water we
provide our customers. The analysis was made by using
the data from the most recent U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) required tests and is presented in
the following pages. We hope this information helps you
become more knowledgeable about what is in your drinking
water. Should you have questions or need additional
copies of this report, please call the Georgetown Utility
Systems Customer Care Center at (512) 930-3640. The
report is also available on our website at www.ctsud.org.
Water Sources:
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 treatment include: microbes, inorganic
contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, radioactive
contaminants, and organic chemical contaminants.
En Español
Este informe incluye información importante
sobre el agua potable. Si tiene preguntas o
comentarios sobre éste informe en español, favor de
llamar al tel. (512) 930-3640 para hablar con una
persona bilingüe en español.
Public Participation Opportunities
Learn more about your water utility on the Chisholm Trail
Special Utility District website www.ctsud.org, or by
attending a CTSUD Board meeting. See www.ctsud.org for
more details.
All Drinking Water May Contain Contaminants
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. Sources
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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence
of animals or from human activity. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained
by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). Contaminants that may be present in source
water before we treat it include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic
systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Turbidity, which has no health effects, can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth.
Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water
runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
Pesticides & herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff
and residential use.
Radioactive contaminants, which are 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 by-products of
industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also, come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff,
and septic systems.
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 District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of
materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been setting for several hours you can minimize the
potential lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.
If you are concerned about lead in your 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 Safe Drinking Water Hotline
at (800) 426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
About The Following Pages
The pages that follow list all of the federally regulated or monitored contaminants which have been found in your
drinking water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires water systems to test up to 97
constituents.
Definitions
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water
system must follow.
Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
ALGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to
the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or
expected health risk. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing
evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): 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 contamination.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Abbreviations
MFL - million fibers per liter (a measure of asbestos)
N/A - not applicable
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units
ppq - parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter
ppt - parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter ppm - parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)
pCi/L - picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) ppb - parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l)
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
Year Disinfectant & Unit
of Measure
Average
Level
Minimum
Level
Maximum
Level MRDL MRDLG Violation
(Y or N) Source of Disinfectant
2014 Chloramine Residual
(ppm) 2.16 0.59 4.0 4.00 <4.00
N Disinfectant used to control
microbes.
Inorganic Contaminants
Year Contaminant &
Unit of Measure
Highest
Level
Detected
Range of
Levels
Detected
MCL MCLG Violation
(Y or N) Source of Contaminant
2011 Barium
(ppm) 0.0529 0.0529 -
0.0529 2.00 2.00
N
Discharge of drilling wastes;
Discharge from metal refineries;
Erosion of natural deposits.
2014 Fluoride
(ppm) 0.79 0.79 -0.79 4 4 N
Erosion of natural deposits; Water
additive which promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum
factories.
2014 Nitrate
(ppm) 2.48 0.1 – 2.48 10.0 10.0 N Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of
natural deposits.
2011 Selenium
(ppb) 3.4 3.4 – 3.4 50 50 N
Discharge from petroleum and metal
refineries; Erosion of natural deposits;
Discharge from mines.
Radioactive Contaminants
Year Contaminant &
Unit of Measure
Highest
Level
Detected
Range of
Levels
Detected
MCL MCLG Violation
(Y or N) Source of Contaminant
2011
Combined Radium
226 & 228
(pCi/L)
2.4 2.4 – 2.4 5 0 N Erosion of natural deposits.
2011
Gross Alpha
including radon and
uranium
(pCi/L)
2.4 2.4 – 2.4 15 0 N Erosion of natural deposits.
Organic Contaminants TESTING WAIVED, NOT REPORTED, OR NONE DETECTED
Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products
Year Contaminant &
Unit of Measure
Highest
Level
Detected
Range of
Levels
Detected
MCL
MCLG Violation
(Y or N) Source of Contaminant
2014
HAA5 Haloacetic
Acids
(ppb)
13.8 4.1 – 13.8 60
No goal
for the
total
N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2014
Total
Trihalomethanes
(ppb)
49.7 19.0 – 49.7 80
No goal
for the
total
N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
Unregulated Contaminants
Year Contaminant & Unit
of Measure
Average
Level
Minimum
Level
Maximum
Level
Violation
(Y or N) Source of Contaminant
2014 Chloroform
(ppb) 3.15 1.6 4.1 N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2014 Bromoform
(ppb) 9.4 7.1 15.6 N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2014 Bromodichloromethane
(ppb) 7.5 3.5 12.8 N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2014 Dibromochloromethane
(ppb) 12.09 6.8 18.4 N Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
Turbidity
Year
Contaminant
& Unit of
Measure
MCL MCLG
Highest
Single
Measurement
Lowest Monthly %
of Samples
Meeting Limits
Turbidity
Limits
Violation
(Y or N)
Source of
Contaminant
2014 Turbidity
(NTU) TT 0.30 0.19 100 0.3 N Soil runoff.
Lead and Copper
Year
Contaminant
& Unit of
Measure
MCLG The 90th
Percentile
No. of Sites
Exceeding
Action Level
Action
Level
Violation
(Y or N) Source of Contaminant
2014 Lead
(ppb)
0 3.4 0 15 N Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits.
2014 Copper
(ppm)
1.3 0.117 0 1.3 N
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from
wood preservatives; corrosion of
household plumbing systems.
Microbiological Contaminants
Year Contaminant MCL MCLG Highest Single
Measurement
Lowest Monthly %
of Samples Meeting
Limits
Violation
(Y or N) Source of Contaminant
2014 Fecal Coliform & E. Coli N/A N/A N/A N/A N
Human and animal fecal
waste.
No testing required.
2014 Total Coliform Bacteria * N/A 0 100 N Naturally present in the
environment.
* Two or more coliform found samples in any single month.
Total coliform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy. While not
disease-causing organisms themselves, they are often found in association with other microbes that are capable of causing disease.
Coliform bacteria are more hardy than many disease-causing organisms; therefore, their absence from water is a good indication that the
water is microbiologically safe for human consumption.
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3 Rule)*
Substance (units) Year
Sampled Average Range of
Detections Typical Source
Chlorate
(ppb)
2013 374 ND - 1400 Agricultural defoliant or desiccant; disinfection byproduct; and used in
production of chlorine dioxide.
Chromium
(ppb)
2011 0.30 ND – 0.44
Naturally occurring element; used in making steel and other alloys;
used for chrome plating, dyes, and pigments, leather tanning, and
wood preservation.
Chromium (VI)
(ppb)
2013 0.21 ND – 0.27
Naturally occurring element; used in making steel and other alloys;
used for chrome plating, dyes, and pigments, leather tanning, and
wood preservation.
Molybdenum
(ppb)
2013 0.19 ND – 2.2
Naturally-occurring element found in ores and present in plants,
animals, and bacteria; commonly used form molybdenum trioxide
used as a chemical reagent.
Strontium
(ppb)
2013 393 120 – 980
Naturally-occurring element; historically, commercial use of strontium
has been in the faceplate glass of cathode-ray tube televisions to
block x-ray emissions.
Vanadium (ppb)
2013 2.2 1.4 – 3 Naturally-occurring elemental metal; used as vanadium pentoxide which is a chemical intermediate and a catalyst.
* Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant
monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.
A maximum contaminant level (MCL) for these substances has not been established by either state or federal regulations, nor has mandatory health
effects language.
Total Organic Carbon (Source Water: Lake Georgetown)
Year Contaminant & Unit of
Measure
Average
Level
Minimum
Level
Maximum
level Unit of
Measure Source of Contaminant
2014 Source Water 2.71 1.02 4.43 ppm Naturally present in the environment.
2014 Drinking Water 2.30 .99 3.43 ppm Naturally present in the environment.
2014 Removal Ratio 1.02 .61 1.46 % removal N/A