News from 9/23/09 12:00am to 5/14/10 12:00am
- May 14, 2010
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable.
Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.Mountain Meadows Mutual Water Company may exceed the levels of uranium above the Drinking Water Standard
Two of our source wells are above the state drinking water standard for uranium. The Mono County Health Department is not assured that the treatment process we currently implement is adequate to reduce uranium in the water to levels below the State and Federal standards. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what we are doing to address this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants as required by the County and State Regulations.
We have secured an additional water source and are currently in the permitting process to add the source to our system. Once approved, we will install the infrastructure necessary to connect the new well to the system and place the two wells that exceed the state drinking water standard for uranium into a “stand-by” mode.
What should I do?
• This is not an immediate risk. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately and advised to drink ONLY bottled water. However, some people who drink water containing uranium in excess of the MCL over many years may have kidney problems or an increased risk of getting cancer.
• If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.
What is being done?
The Board is working with the Mono County Health Department to achieve compliance with County and State Requirements through the connection of a new well with negligible amounts of uranium. For more information, please contact Bill Archibald at 935.4991 or David Richman at 934.4263 or e-mailing board@mountainmeadowswater.com.
This notice is being sent to you by The Mountain Meadows Mutual Water Company.
State Water System ID#: 2600620. Date distributed: June 15, 2010.- March 14, 2010
Well 5 -Quality and Quantity
Initital water quality tests show ideal results for our needs. Additional pump tests may be required, but yield appears to be in excess of 300 g.p.m. We still need County approvals along with installing the infrastructure to allow connection, which is anticipated to be completed within the next 18 months.- November 22, 2009
The drilling of well 5 has reached 625 feet. The Water Company is optimisitic not only on the quality of water but the quantity too!
- October 18, 2009
Well 5? The MMMWC has acquired a lot near Hwy 395 and will be drilling a test well shortly. Depending upon the volume and quality of water available, the well may be used to replace high uranium wells and/or to supplement the water supply.
- September 23, 2009
2008 Consumer Confidence Report
- Water System Name
- Mountain Meadows Mutual Water
- Report Date
- September 2009
We test the drinking water quality for many constituents as required by State and Federal Regulations.
This report shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 - December 31, 2008.
- Type of water source(s) in use
- Groundwater - 3 Wells
- Name & location of source(s)
- Mountain Meadows Mutual Water Company. Wells 1 and 4 are located off of Meadow View Drive. Well 3 is located in the meadow behind Elderberry Drive.
- Drinking Water Source Assessment information
- Mono County Health Department
- Time and place of regularly scheduled board meetings for public participation
- November 7, 2009 at the Crowley Lake Community Center on South Landing Drive at 9:00 AM
- For more information, contact
- Blair Hafner, Phone: (760) 935-4504
- Terms Used in This Report
-
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.
Primary Drinking Water Standards (PDWS): MCLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.
Secondary Drinking Water Standards (SDWS): MCLs for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance of the drinking water. Contaminants with SDWSs do not affect the health at the MCL levels.
ND: not detectable at testing limit
Ppm:parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements, which a water system must follow.
ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter (ug/L)
ppt: parts per trillion or nanograms per liter (ng/L)
pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation)
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 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.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA and the state Department of Health Services (Department) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.
Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 list all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the most recent sampling for the constituent. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. The Department 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. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, are more than one year old.
Table 1 - Sampling results showing the detection of coliform bacteria Microbiological Contaminants
(to be completed only if there was a detection of bacteria)Highest No. of detections No. of months in violation MCL MCLG Typical Source of Bacteria Total Coliform Bacteria (In a mo.)
00 More than 1 sample in a month with a detection 0 Naturally present in the environment Fecal Coliform or E. coli (In the year)
00 A routine sample and a repeat sample detect total coliform and either sample also detects fecal coliform or E. coli 0 Human and animal fecal waste Table 2 - Sampling results showing the detection of Lead and copper Lead and Copper
(to be completed only if there was a detection of lead or copper in the last sample set)No. of samples collected 90th percentile level detected No. Sites exceeding AL AL MCLG Typical Source of Contaminant Lead (ppb)
2007 results10 <.005 0 15 2 Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; discharges from industrial manufacturers; erosion of natural deposits. Copper (ppm)
2007 results10 .59 1 1.3 0.17 Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives. Table 3 - sampling results for sodium and hardness Chemical or Constituent
(and reporting units)Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detections MCL PHG (MCLG) Typical Source of Contaminant Sodium (ppm) 1/2007 8.4 none none Generally found in ground and surface water Hardness (ppm) 1/2007 32 none none Generally found in ground and surface water *Any violation of an MCL or AL is asterisked. Additional information regarding the violation is provided below.
Table 4 - detection of contaminants with a Primary Drinking Water Standard Chemical or Constituent
(and reporting units)Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detections MCL PHG (MCLG) Typical Source of Contaminant Fluoride (mg/L) 1/2007 <0.1 2 1 Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories Nitrate (NO3) (mg/L) 1/2007 3.2 45 45 Runoff & leaching from fertilizer use, septic tanks and sewage; erosion of natural deposits All Volatile Organic Contaminants 8/7/01 None detected Industrial discharge; agriculture runoff Radioactivity - Gross Alpha Particle Activity 2008 Composite 19.5 pCi/L* 15 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits Uranium 2008 Composite 18.8 pCi/L 20 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits Table 5 - detection of contaminants with a Secondary Drinking Water Standard Chemical or Constituent
(and reporting units)Sample Date Level Detected Range of Detection MCL PHG (MCLG) Typical Source of Contaminant Sulfate (mg/L) 1/2007 2.8 250 Erosion of natural deposits Chloride (mg/L) 1/2007 1.5 250 Erosion of natural deposits Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 1/2007 101 500 Dissolved minerals from natural deposits Arsenic (ug/L) 1/2007 <2 10 Erosion of natural deposits Zinc (mg/L) 1/2007 <0.03 5 Erosion of natural deposits Iron (mg/L)
(all three wells blended)1/2007 .25 .30 Common in rocks and soil *Any violation of an MCL or AL is asterisked. Additional information regarding the violation is provided below.
Additional General Information On Drinking Water
All 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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
Summary Information for Contaminants Exceeding an MCL or AL, or a Violation of any Treatment or Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
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. USEPA/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 Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
The Mono County Health Department is still concerned about our uranium levels and the Water Board is working on options to continue to lower the level of this element in our water. A nitrate sample was not taken this year but our historical levels have been very low and there really is no source for this type of contamination near any of our wells. A sample has been taken for 2009 and will be reported in next year's Water Quality Report.
Our new tank is now on line giving us further fire protection and backup when a tank needs maintenance or repair. A site for a new well has been obtained and we look forward to developing this site to enhance our water supply in the near future. The Board is also looking into uranium treatment at wells 1 and 4. This is a very complex and expensive option in both the short term and long term.
The conservation of water is greatly appreciated.