News from 10/13/08 12:00am to 3/9/09 12:00am
- March 9, 2009
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
It has been brought to our attention that the recent quarterly samples taken from 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 are in the process of considering options available to us, including additional engineering and modification of the blending process as well as treatment of the water in the system.
We are also in the process of attempting to secure additional water sources.
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. Options being considered, as discussed above, include additional engineering and modification of the blending process, and treatment within the system. In addition, we are exploring development of additional water sources. We will update the members of the water company each quarter as to our progress.
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: March 15, 2009.- January 8, 2009
2007 Consumer Confidence Report
- Water System Name
- Mountain Meadows Mutual Water
- Report Date
- November 2008
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, 2007.
- 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, 2008, 6 PM at the Crowley Lake Community Center
- 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 on the next page.
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 2/2/05 14.8 pCi/L 15 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits Uranium 2004 Composite 17.9 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 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 has decided that we are in violation of the MCL for uranium. As you may note in this report our last required sampling of the distribution system in 2004 was below the MCL for uranium. 2008 is the year for our next composite sampling of our system. Composite sampling requires that samples are taken quarterly throughout the year hence the final results will not be available until the next CCR is compiled. Our Wells 1 and 4 do contain high levels of uranium but they are blended with water from Well 3 which is very low in uranium. We believe the MCHD has mistakenly assumed that the high uranium level in Well 4 is the level in the water coming from the tank. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! The first quarter results which caused the delay of this report are as follows.
Site Uranium Level (pCi/L) MCL (pCi/L) Well 1 21.4 20 Well 3 1.6 20 Well 4 31.1 20 Whiskey Creek Condos 19.2 20 Sierra Springs 12.6 20 Meadowview Dr. 3.7 20 The Mountain Meadows Mutual Water Company Board of Directors are passionate in our dedication to providing all of us with the very best water. Our new tank will soon be complete and we are diligently searching for another well site with no radioactivity. This company belongs to all the shareholders and there is no benefit to anyone in deception. We serve with your help to maintain this water company as the very best water system in our community.
- November 20, 2008
The November meter readings are now available. Depending upon when you stopped outside irrigation, this is a good time to evaluate your usage to see if you might have a leak.
Domestic water consumption during winter months should be under 5000 gallons per month. If your consumption is more, leaky faucets, toilets or even a leak from a pipe may be to blame.
For additional information, please visit the conservation pages, by clicking on the tab above.
- November 19, 2008
Tank 2 is completed! Although not operational, construction is complete and the tank has been coated. With cooler temperatures, it will take several weeks for the interior coating to cure, allowing the tank to be filled.
Once filled, water quality tests will be performed. When the results are in, the tank will be placed "on line".
Tank 2 will provide redundancy to the system and additional fire flows with its additional 100,000 gallons. Please remember, additional storage does not equate to additional water supplies for consumption.
- October 13, 2008
Tank 2 is nearing completion! The tank should be totally enclosed this week with interior coating to begin next week. We hope to have it "on line" within a month.