Union Hill Water Association

2007 Water Quality Report

Water Quality

Union Hill Water Association is proud of the fine drinking water it provides. This water quality report shows the source of our water, lists the results of our tests, and contains important information about water and health. Union Hill Water Association will notify you immediately if there is any reason for concern about our water. This report is provided annually in conformance with a federal regulation requiring water utilities to provide this information. The report is technical in nature and we have attempted to present the information in an understandable format.

Water Sources

The Association obtained 100% of its water from the Well 1/1S well field during 2007.

The Association adopted a wellhead protection plan in 1998. The plan defined wellhead protection areas (WHPA) for the well field. Contaminant inventory and risk assessments were then conducted. The Washington Department of Health has assessed a low contaminant susceptibility rating to the well field. The Association continues to monitor for new risks that may arise.

Storage

The Association has two existing storage sites. The first site consists of two steel tanks with a total capacity of 1.4 million gallons. The second has a concrete tank with a capacity of 2.7 million gallons. Construction of a new 2.5 MG reservoir is near completion.

Health Information

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.

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 Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

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 radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in the source water include:

·        Microbial contaminants (coliforms), such as viruses and bacteria which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

·        Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm 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, stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

·        Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics which are by products 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, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is 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. EPA/Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water Quality Tables

The following tables present the results of our 2007 water quality monitoring. Where tests are required less than annually, the most recent results for the monitoring period are presented. The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations are not expected to vary significantly from year to year.

The first table shows results of testing of the well field. The second table shows distribution system testing. In addition to the items included in the following tables, the Association’s water has high levels of manganese.   Manganese is a chemical that has a “secondary” maximum contaminant level (MCL). Secondary MCLs are based on aesthetic and cosmetic effects, not health effects. High levels of manganese can stain clothes and fixtures. For more information about this report, contact Laura Szentes at 425-497-1812.

Water Testing Results (Source Testing)
Detected Regulated Substance	Detection (mg/l)	MCL	MCLG	In Compliance?		Major Sources in Drinking Water/Comments
Inorganic and Physical: · Complete Inorganic and Physical Tests – 04/07
Arsenic	.004	.010	N/A	Yes	Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes. See below discussion.
Nitrates & Nitrites – No Nitrates or Nitrites were detected.
Other than nitrates and nitrites, the Association is required by the State Department of Health to test for inorganic substances once every three years. Nitrates and nitrites must be tested for each year.
Asbestos – 4/03
No asbestos was detected. The State Department of Health has granted a waiver for asbestos testing through 2010.
Radionuclides – 07/06 and 03/07
No radionuclides were detected.
Synthetic Organic Contaminants (SOC’s) 7/05 and 10/05 and Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOC’s) 07/06 and 04/07
None were detected. No SOC’s have ever been detected in the Association’s water supply. The State Department of Health waived SOC sampling requirements through 2007. No VOC’s have ever been detected in the Association’s water supply. The State Department of Health reduced VOC sampling requirements to one test per three-year compliance period.

Other Water Testing Results
Coliforms – tested monthly throughout distribution system
Regulated Substance	Amount Detected		MCL	MCLG	In Compliance?
Total Coliform Bacteria	0		1	0	Yes – Purveyors are required to collect coliform samples from representative points throughout the distribution system at least once a month. The number of necessary sample is based on population served and the Association is required to collect six samples per month. No coliforms were detected during the Association’s routine sampling in 2006.
Lead and Copper – 09/07 – 24 Samples taken
Regulated Substance		90^th Percentile	MCL	MCLG	# of Homes Exceeding Action Level	Range of Results	In Compliance?
Lead		.005 mg/l	AL =.015 mg/l	0	1	ND – .011 mg/l	Yes
Copper		.236 mg/l	AL =1.3 mg/l	1.3 mg/l	0	ND - .290 mg/l	Yes
The State Department of Health has reduced sampling frequencies to one set of 20 samples every three-year compliance period.

Footnotes to Tables:

MCLG or Maximum contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. The MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

     AL - Action Level
     ND - None detected
     NA - Not applicable
     ppb - parts per billion or micrograms per liter
     ppm - parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)

90th Percentile - The lead action level is exceeded if the concentration of lead is more than 10% of tap water samples collected is greater than .015 mg/L (i.e., the 90th percentile level lead level is greater than .015 mg/L). The copper action level is exceeded if the concentration of copper in more than 10% of tap water samples collected during any monitoring period conducted is greater than 1.3 mg/L (i.e., the 90th percentile level copper level is greater than 1.3 mg/L).

Health Information

Other Water Testing Results

Coliforms – tested monthly throughout distribution system

Lead and Copper – 09/07 – 24 Samples taken