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IN THIS SECTION:
Main
Where Our Water Comes From
What's in Our Water
Water Quality Report Charts
Special Notices
Download Water Quality Reports
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Water Quality Charts
Understanding the Charts
The following list explains the terms used in the charts:
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
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 allow for margin of safety.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of 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.
MFL: million fibers per liter (a measure of asbestos)
N/A: Not applicable
ND: Not detected
Not Regulated: The contaminant
is not currently regulated by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units
pCi/l: Picocuries
per liter. A
measure of radioactivity
in water.
Points-of-entry: Entry
point to the distribution system which
is representative of each well after
disinfection.
ppb: Parts per billion.
One part per billion is equal to one
teaspoon in 1,302,000 gallons - enough to fill a typical bathtub
more than 40,000
times.
ppm: Parts per million.
One part per million equals one teaspoon
in 1,302 gallons, which is enough water
to fill a typical bathtub more than
40 times.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Remember
that these substances are shown in
parts per million or parts per billion.
As you will see in these charts,
water delivered by SAWS is of excellent
quality.
|
Inorganic Contaminants (2004-2008) |
|
Substance |
Concentration Range found in Water |
Average Concentration Found in Water |
MCL |
MCLG |
Possible Source |
|
Nitrate (ppm) |
0.06 – 2.37 |
1.72 |
10 |
10 |
Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from fertilizer
use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage. |
|
Barium (ppm) |
0.024 – 0.112 |
0.05 |
2 |
2 |
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries. |
|
Fluoride (ppm) |
0.17 – 2.02 |
0.44 |
4 |
4 |
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from
fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Added for dental health. |
|
Combined Radium 226 & 228 (pCi/L) |
0 – 0.7 |
0.02 |
5 |
0 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
| Gross
alpha
adjusted
(pCi/l) |
0 – 2.7 |
0.43 |
15 |
0 |
Erosion
of natural
deposits |
|
Chromium (ppb) |
0 – 8.4 |
2.4 |
100 |
100 |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits |
| Gross beta emitters (pCi/L) |
0 – 2.6 |
0.17 |
50 |
0 |
Decay of natural and manmade deposits. |
| Selenium (ppb) |
0 – 5.1 |
0.1 |
50 |
50 |
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines. |
|
|
Organic Contaminant (2004 - 2008) |
|
Substance |
Concentration Range Found |
Average Conc. Found |
MCL |
MCLG |
Possible Source |
|
Tetrachloroethylene (ppb) |
0 - 0.53 |
0.1 |
5 |
0 |
Discharge from factories and dry cleaners. |
|
|
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
|
Disinfectant |
Test
Year |
Concentration Range found in Water |
Average Concentration Found in Water |
MRDL |
MRDLG |
Possible Source |
|
Chlorine Residual, Free (ppm) |
2008 |
0.27 – 1.42 |
0.89 |
4 |
4 |
Disinfectant used to control microbes. |
|
|
Secondary Constituents (2004-2008) |
|
Constituent |
Concentration Range |
Avg. Concentration |
|
Aluminum (ppm) |
0 – 0.077 |
0.003 |
|
Bicarbonate (ppm) |
159 - 278 |
218 |
|
Calcium
(ppm) |
42.5 – 101 |
76.6 |
|
Chloride
(ppm) |
11 - 23 |
15 |
|
Copper
(ppm) |
0.001 - 0.037 |
0.01 |
|
Iron (ppm)
|
0 – 0.139 |
0.009 |
|
Magnesium
(ppm) |
12.1 – 26.7 |
16.5 |
|
Manganese (ppm) |
0 – 0.0037 |
0.0003 |
|
Nickel (ppm) |
0.002 – 0.004 |
0.002 |
| pH |
7.3 – 8.1 |
7.7 |
|
Sodium
(ppm) |
8 - 20 |
11 |
|
Sulfate
(ppm) |
14 – 52 |
23 |
|
Total Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate (ppm) |
159 – 278 |
218 |
|
Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) |
223 – 574 |
309 |
|
Total Hardness as Calcium Carbonate (ppm) |
183 – 275 |
229 |
|
Total Hardness as Calcium/Milligram (ppm) |
180 - 310 |
250 |
| Zinc (ppm) |
0 – 0.141 |
0.019 |
|
|
Turbidity (2008) |
|
Substance |
Highest Single Measurement |
Lowest Monthly % of Samples Meeting Limits |
Limits |
Source of Contaminant |
|
Turbidity (NTU) |
0.10 |
100 |
0.3 |
Soil runoff |
|
|
Note: Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and
provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing
organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as
nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches.
|
|
Microbiological Contaminants Monitoring (2008) |
|
Substance |
MCL |
Amount Found |
Source |
|
Total Coliform Bacteria (presence) |
a |
Highest monthly % of positive samples: 1% |
Naturally present in the environment |
a presence of coliform bacteria in 5% or more of the monthly samples
|
|
Note: Total coliform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy. While not diseasecausing
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. |
|
Lead and Copper Results (2007) |
|
Substance |
90th Percentile |
Action Level |
Number of residences exceeding Action Level |
Possible Source |
|
Lead (ppb) |
7.5 |
15 |
0 |
Corrosion of household plumbing; Erosion of natural deposits. |
|
Copper (ppm) |
0.237 |
1.3 |
0 |
|
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Health-related information about lead: |
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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. SAWS is responsible for providing
high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting
for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 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. SAWS water is well
below the action level. This information is provided as a general guideline only. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods,
and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or at
www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. |
|
Unregulated Initial Distribution System Evaluation for Disinfection By-Products |
|
None detected.
|
|
Distribution Sampling for By-Products of Drinking Water Chlorination (Disinfection) (2008) |
|
Substance |
Concentration Range |
Highest Concentration Found |
MCL |
MCLG |
|
Total Haloacetic (HAAs) (ppb) |
0 - 31.5 |
11.6 |
60 |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
|
Trihalomethanes Acids (THMs) (ppb) |
0 - 70.5 |
25.5 |
80 |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
|
|
Unregulated Contaminants (2004-2008) |
|
Substance |
Concentration Range |
Average Level |
Source of Contaminant |
|
Bromoform (ppb) |
0 - 5.05 |
.67 |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
| Bromodichloromethane (ppb) |
0 - 8.34 |
0.44 |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
| Chloroform (ppb) |
0 - 3.46 |
0.16 |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
|
Dibromochloromethane (ppb) |
0 - 12.49 |
.99 |
By-product of drinking water disinfection |
|
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Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 2 (2008) |
|
None detected.
Note: 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. |
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