DDW-2024-014264

Presents

2020 Drinking Water Quality Report
City of St. George
Spanish (Español)
Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua potable. Por favor lea este informe o communiqués con alguien que pueda traducir la
informacion.
We are once again pleased to present to you our annual water quality report. This edition covers all testing completed through December 31, 2020. The Water Services
Department is dedicated to producing drinking water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. We continually strive to adopt new and better
methods for delivering the best quality drinking water to you. As new challenges to drinking water safety emerge, we remain vigilant in meeting the challenges of source
water protection, water conservation, and community education while continuing to serve the needs of all our water users. Please share your thoughts with us about the
information in this report, as well informed customers are our best allies.
How can I learn more? If you want to learn more about this report, or have questions relating to your drinking water provided by St. George, please call Scott Taylor,
Water Services Director or Kerry Benson at [phone].
If you want to get involved in water resources, you can attend any of the regularly scheduled meetings of the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD).
Meetings are held at 533 East Waterworks Drive (just off East Red Hills Parkway) in St. George. The schedule is available at http://www.wcwcd.org/about-
us/management/board-of-trustees-meeting-schedule/ or call [phone].
Where does my water come from? Our water sources are from both groundwater and surface water sources. Our multiple spring and groundwater sources draw from consolidated rock aquifers of the Navajo Sandstone and Kayenta Formation, which lie within the Virgin River basin. We purchase our surface water from the Washington
County Water Conservancy District. Their surface water is drawn from the Virgin River, stored at Quail Lake and Sand Hollow Reservoirs and treated at the Quail Creek
Water Treatment Plant before transmission to our City boundaries and distribution to our customers. With some exceptions, all water customers within the City receive a mixture of water from groundwater and surface water sources during some of the year. Customers located along State Highway 18 as far north as the Ledges Subdivision
are served exclusively by groundwater from our Tolman-Ledges wells.
Water Conservation Tip - Repair a dripping faucet and you can save 15 to 20 gallons per day or 6,000 gallons of water each year.
Source Protection: Drinking Water Source Protection Plans (DWSPPs) for the City of St. George are available for your review. They contain information about source
protection zones, potential contamination sources, and management strategies to protect drinking water that originates from City-owned groundwater wells and springs.
Most of our groundwater sources are located in remote and protected areas and have a low level of susceptibility to potential contamination sources. We have also
developed management strategies to further protect our sources from contamination. Our plans are available for review on the City’s web site at
www.sgcity.org/utilities/waterdepartment or during normal business hours from the St. George Water Department office located at 811 East Red Hills Parkway. Please
contact us if you have questions or concerns about our source protection plan.
The WCWCD maintains the Watershed Protection Plans for the portion of the Virgin River basin from which they draw, store and treat surface water. Additional information
on their source protection plans can be obtained by calling [phone].
Water Conservation Tip - Check toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the rear tank. Check the bowl after a few minutes to see if the color appears.
If it does, you can easily repair the leak and save up to 30,000 gallons of water per year.
Water Hardness: Most of the water sources in Southern Utah are said to be “hard” and that’s because they contain high amounts of non-toxic calcium or magnesium
minerals. Hard water does not dissolve soap readily, so making lather for washing and cleaning is difficult.
Many customers use treatment devices, such as water softeners, to remove the calcium and magnesium from tap water to produce soft water for household use. Customers
with water softeners may find that softener settings between 13 to 24 grains per gallon will provide the most effective treatment.

CITY OF ST. GEORGE – 2020 WATER QUALITY DATA
Table of Test Results
Contaminant
V
i
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l
a
t
i
o
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City of St. George Groundwater
Sources
Washington County Water Conservancy District Sources

Unit
of

M
e
a
s
u
r
e
MCLG (EPA Goal)
MCL (EPA Limit) Likely Source of Contamination
Quail Creek
WTP
Sand
Hollow
Wells
Last Sample Date
Y/N
Level Detected Low-High
Last Sample Date
Level Detected Value
Level Detected Value
Microbiological Contaminants – (Sampled Throughout the Distribution System & Includes City of St. George Groundwater Sources & Washington County Conservancy District Sources)
Total Coliform Bacteria N 4 positive sample count 2020 NA NA NA NA 0 Presence of total coliform bacteria in 5% of monthly samples Naturally present in the environment
Two water samples taken in September, one sample taken in October and one sample taken in November indicated the presence of total coliform. All sites were resampled and all resamples were negative.
E. Coli N 0 positive sample counts 2020 NA NA NA NA 0
If routine & repeat samples
are total coliform positive, and one is also E. coli
positive
Human and animal fecal waste
The presence of Total Coliform and E. Coli bacteria indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
Turbidity, Ground Water N 0 – 1.3 2015 NA 1 2018 NTU 0 5.0 Naturally present in the environment
Turbidity, Surface Water N NA NA 0.09 0.75 2020 NTU NE TT Naturally present in the environment
Inorganic Contaminants
Antimony N ND - 1.2 2020 NA NA NA ppb 6 6 Erosion of natural deposits
Arsenic N RAA = 9.19 Range = ND-13 2020 RAA = 3 Range = 1 - 8 2020 ppb 0 RAA = 10 Erosion of natural deposits
Your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, but it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
Barium N ND – 0.27 2020 0.1 0.3 2020 ppm 2 2 Erosion of natural deposits
Chromium N ND - 2.4 2020 NA NA NA ppb 100 100 Erosion of natural deposits
Cyanide N ND - 8.7 2020 NA NA NA ppb 200 200 Erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride N 0.10 – 2.3 2020 0.2 0.3 2020 ppm 4 4 Erosion of natural deposits
Nickel N ND – 3.2 2020 NA NA NA ppb 100 100 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of
natural deposits
Nitrate N 0.11 – 0.87 2020 ND 2.7 2019 ppm 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of
natural deposits
Selenium N ND - 0.76 2020 0.9 2.7 2020 ppb 50 50 Erosion of natural deposits
Sodium N 8.1 – 169 2020 44 53 2020 ppm 500 NE Erosion of natural deposits
Sulfate N 25.9 – 446 2020 179 169 2020 ppm NE 500* Erosion of natural deposits
Thallium N ND – 0.54 2020 NA NA NA ppb 0.5 2 Discharge from electronics, glass, ore-processing; pharmaceuticals
Total Dissolved Solids N 161 – 903 2020 504 480 2020 ppm NE 1,000* Erosion of natural deposits
*Although the EPA has not established an MCL for sulfate and TDS, the Utah Division of Water Quality requires a sulfate concentration of less than 500 ppm and a total dissolved solids concentration of less than 1,000 ppm unless the water system has no other water sources available. In no case is the Sulfate concentration to exceed 1,000 ppm or the total dissolved solids concentration to exceed 2,000 ppm.
Copper & Lead – Sampled at 31 residences throughout the distribution system.
Copper N Range = 0.0038 – 0.26, 90th percentile = 0.077, No sites exceeded AL 2018 ppm 1.3 AL=1.3 Corrosion of household plumbing
systems, erosion of natural deposits
Lead N Range = ND – 36, 90th percentile = 1.7, 1 site exceeded the AL Resample taken at the site exceeding the AL resulted in lead = 2.2 ppb 2018 ppb 0 AL=15 Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
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 associated with service lines and home plumbing. St. George
City is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the materials used in household plumbing components. If you have not been using water in your home for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using your 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: www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts – City of St. George Distribution System - There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Chlorine (as Cl2) N 0.13 – 1.13 2020 NA NA NA ppm 4.0 4.0 Water additive used to control microbes Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] N ND – 19.9 2020 NA NA NA ppb 0 60 Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM] N 2.0 – 63.4 2020 NA NA NA ppb 0 80 Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Organic Contaminants
Carbon, Total Organic N ND – 1.62 2015 2 NA 2020 ppm NE TT Naturally present in the environment
Synthetic Organic Contaminants Including Pesticides and Herbicides
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate N ND – 2.2 2020 NA NA NA ppb 0 6 Runoff from of rubber and chemical processes
LIndane N ND – 0.013 2020 NA NA NA ppb 0.20 0.20 Runoff / leaching from insecticides
Radioactive Contaminants
Alpha Emitters N 0 – 4.3 2020 1 5 2020 pCi/L 0 15 Erosion of natural deposits
Beta Emitters N NA NA 4 5 2020 pCi/L 0 50 Natural and man made deposits
Combined Radium 226/228 N 0 – 1.5 2020 NA NA NA pCi/L 0 5 Erosion of natural deposits
Radium 226 N 0 – 0.62 2020 NA NA NA pCi/L 0 - Erosion of natural deposits
Radium 228 N -0.82 – 1.5 2020 0.6 1.2 2020 pCi/L 0 5 Erosion of natural deposits
Uranium N 0.33 – 2.4 2020 NA NA NA ppb 0 30 Erosion of natural deposits

Water Quality Test Results: The City of St. George routinely monitors for constituents in our drinking water in accordance with Federal and State law. Some
contaminants are sampled less frequently because they do not change frequently. Unless otherwise noted, the following table lists all drinking water contaminants that
we detected in our water through analytical monitoring during the 2020 calendar year, or during the last sample event. You may find terms and abbreviations in the
table below that you may not be familiar with. We have provided definitions on the facing page.
When reviewing this table, please recognize that all sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by constituents that are naturally occurring or man-
made. Those constituents can be microbes, organic or inorganic chemicals, or radioactive materials. 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. To
ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA imposes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Please note
that all contaminants listed in this table were found to be present in concentrations below the maximum contaminant levels established by EPA. The EPA has
determined that your water IS SAFE at these levels.
More information about contaminants and potential health effects may be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791.
Unit of Measure Descriptions
ppb Parts per Billion - The number of parts of a substance in one billion parts of water. Also known as micrograms per liter (µg/L).
ppm Parts per Million - The number of parts of a substance in one million parts of water. Also known as milligrams per liter (mg/L).
pCi/L Picocuries per Liter – A measure of the radioactivity in a liter of water.
NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Unit - Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. Turbidity is monitored it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the filtration system at the Quail Creek
Water Treatment Plant (QCWTP). Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
positive samples The number of positive samples taken this year.
% positive samples/month The percentage of monthly samples that were positive.
NA Not Applicable
ND Not Detected – The contaminant was not detected in the water sample during laboratory analysis.
NE None Established – MCL or MCLG has not been established for particular contaminant.
ND/Low – High For water systems like St. George with multiple water sources, the Utah Division of Drinking Water allows the option of listing the test results of the constituents in one table, instead of multiple tables. To accomplish this, the lowest and highest values detected in the multiple sources are recorded in the same space in the report table. As noted above, most customers receive a mixture of water from
the City’s groundwater wells and springs and surface water purchased from the WCWCD that is treated at QCWTP. The ranges for these analytical values are included in the column as indicated.
NR Not Required – Monitoring not required, but recommended.
RAA Running Annual Average – Highest running annual average of four consecutive quarters when sampling occurs quarterly.
W Waiver - Because certain chemicals are not present near some drinking water sources, water systems are sometimes issued waivers that exempt them from having to sample for those chemicals not
present, these waivers are also associated with Drinking Water Source Protection Plans.

Definitions of Important Drinking Water Terms & Acronyms
AL Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Last Sample Date Date - Because of required sampling time frames i.e. yearly, 3 years, 6 years and 9 years, sampling dates may seem out-dated.
MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goal - The “Goal” (MCLG) is 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 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using
the best available treatment technology.
TT Treatment Technique - A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
AL Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Variances & Exceptions Variances or Exceptions - State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.
MRDLG Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal - 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 contaminants.
MRDL Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level - The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial
contaminants.
MNR Monitored Not Regulated
MPL Maximum Permissible Level – State assigned

Substances That Could Be in Water: Sources of drinking water (both bottled
and tap) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As
water travels over the surface of the land or though the ground, it can dissolve
naturally occurring materials, and can pick up a wide variety of substances:
● Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from
sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, or
wildlife,
● Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which 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, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and which may also come from urban stormwater runoff, gas
stations and septic systems.
● Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or may be the
result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
● More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-
4791, or their web site at: www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-
water/safe-drinking-water-information
Water Conservation Tip – Irrigate during the evening, night or early morning
hours to reduce water lost to evaporation.

Arsenic: Some water sources in our system have arsenic concentrations that
exceed the EPA standard (10 ppb); however all water delivered to customers in
2020 met the standard. The City meets the MCL by combining sources to blend water so that the EPA’s standard for arsenic is met. Our blending treatment
proposals were approved by the Utah Division of Drinking Water & detailed
performance testing concluded in 2011. The City was able to demonstrate that our blending treatment process can meet the arsenic MCL for our affected
sources.
Some people who drink water containing arsenic that is in excess of the MCL over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their
circulatory system and may have an increased cancer risk. It is important to
note that EPA's arsenic MCL balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water.
EPA continues to research the health effects of chronic exposure to low levels
of arsenic (see table for arsenic levels).
Point-of-use treatment devices (i.e., reverse osmosis or distillation) can be
effective in removing arsenic. However, their effectiveness varies, they can be
expensive, and they must be properly maintained. Customers who choose to install water treatment devices are advised to monitor system performance with
routine testing and ensure the system is maintained as recommended by the
manufacturer.
Health Info on Microbiological Contaminants: Some people may be more
vulnerable to microbiological 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. EPA/CDC
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by microbiological
contaminants are available from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-
426-4791).
In Home Filtration Systems: Customers are advised to exercise caution with
whole-house filtration systems that remove the chlorine used by our water utility
for water disinfection.
By unknowingly removing the residual chlorine concentration in your home
piping network, you could allow microbes to multiply. These microbes may
cause illnesses, especially for immuno-compromised family members. These
types of filters are best limited to point of use such as the kitchen faucet.
Fluoride: The fluoride present in our drinking water is from natural deposits. St.
George City does not add fluoride to our water (see table for fluoride
concentrations).
Answer to Common Concern: Growths in bathrooms or pet bowls that are
pink or black in color come from various types of mold in the air – not your tap
water. Wash those surfaces frequently and keep fresh water in pet bowls.
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. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but
cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. All
customers can minimize their potential for exposure to lead by flushing faucets
for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking.
Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take
to minimize exposure is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
The age of your home is an indicator of what type of plumbing materials you may
have. Homes built through the early 1900s commonly used lead pipes for
plumbing. Until the 1940s, lead piping was often used for the service lines
connecting meters to the water mains. In the 1950s, copper or galvanized piping
replaced lead piping in many homes. Until the mid-1980s, copper piping was
installed with solder and fluxes containing lead. If your home fits any of these
categories, your plumbing may contain lead that can leach into your drinking
water, especially when it has not been used for several hours (see table for lead levels).
Cross-connections: Cross-connections to drinking water system lines are a
major concern. A cross-connection is formed at any point where a drinking water
line connects to equipment containing chemicals, or water sources of questionable quality. Examples are boilers, air conditioning systems, fire
sprinkler systems, irrigation systems, etc. Whenever equipment pressure rises
above the pressure in the drinking water system line, contamination can occur. Backpressure from the equipment allows contamination to pass into the drinking
water line. Contamination by backsiphonage occurs when the pressure in the
drinking water line drops below that in the equipment. This can happen under
normal operating scenarios when demand is heavy, or when a main breaks.
Backsiphonage draws contaminants out of the equipment & into the drinking
water line.
City Ordinance Section 8-2-4, A requires the following from property owners:
“…It shall be the responsibility of the owner of property where water is consumed
to purchase, install, test, inspect and maintain backflow prevention devices or assemblies wherever it will be possible for used, unclean, polluted or
contaminated water, mixtures or substances to enter any portion of his potable
water system, and to otherwise control cross connections.”
Customers must protect water supplies from cross-connections by identifying
cross-connections and installing & maintaining proper backflow prevention
assemblies. Exterior water faucets tend to be the most common sources of
cross-connection contamination. All exterior faucets should be equipped with
hose bib vacuum breakers to provide backsiphonage protection. Garden hoses
attached to chemical sprayers, submerged in a swimming pool, etc., can allow
contaminants to be backsiphoned into the City’s distribution system. Commercial
operators should ensure that chemical tanks are fitted with air gap devices.
Irrigation systems are a potential cross connection so make certain to do the following:
1. Confirm that your irrigation system is equipped with an approved backflow
assembly. If your system is not equipped with a backflow preventer, get one
installed.
2. Test the backflow assembly annually.

Hose Bib Vacuum Breaker

Water Conservation Tip - Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Check
the meter reading, and then turn off all water faucets and water using appliances. Check the meter again after 15 minutes of no water use. If the reading changed,
you have a leak that needs to be repaired.

The mission of the City of St. George, Water Services Department is to provide our community with safe, clean, healthy, and reliable
drinking water at a reasonable price. We hope that this information brings you a better understanding of how we are meeting this vital
objective.