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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDDW-2025-007487 2024 Tooele City Water Quality Report ATENCION! Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua beber. Traduscalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. Is My Water Safe? Last year, as in years past, your drinking water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State drinking water health standards. Tooele City safeguards its water supplies and we are proud to report that our system has not violated a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or any other water quality standard. This report is a summary of last year’s drinking water quality test data. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to EPA and State standards. Where Does My Water Come From? Your drinking water during the reporting year 2024 came from twelve (12) wells and two (2) springs. The City controls the land around these wells and springs to restrict any activity that could contaminate them. The City also relies upon accepted Drinking Water Source Protection zones which have been approved and accepted by the State and which are protected by both City and County Land Use Ordinance. The water that comes out of these wells and springs is disinfected to protect you against contaminants. Why Are There Contaminants in My Drinking Water? All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by constituents that are naturally occurring or manmade. 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. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791, or at the following link: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-information Locally, sources of drinking water include 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, radionuclides. Water can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in water include: • Microbial contaminants, 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, can occur naturally or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, and/or farming. • Pesticides and herbicides come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses. • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems. • Radionuclides can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. • Disinfection byproducts derived as a result of chlorination and disinfection of the water. In order to ensure that water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA establish regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Tooele City Water Quality Data The EPA requires monitoring of more than 90 drinking water contaminants according to a sampling schedule established by the State Division of Drinking Water. The table below lists all of the required drinking water contaminants that were detected during the calendar year of this report, as well as the most recent water quality data of other contaminants detected within the past 5 years. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. The EPA and/or the State do not require us to monitor for certain contaminants every year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently and have been demonstrated over time as meeting drinking water standards. The values shown in the table below reflect the highest reported level for the contaminants identified, and are often much lower. Terms and Abbreviations Used AL (Allowable Limit): The level of a contaminant which, if exceeded, requires treatment or additional monitoring. DL (Detection Limit): The minimum contaminant limit which the testing laboratory is able to detect. MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons would occur, allowing an adequate margin of safety. MRL (Minimum Reporting Level): The contaminant level which is required to report to the State. NA (Not Applicable): No contamination level established ND (Non Detected): Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present. NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit): NTU is a measure of the clarify of water. mg/l milligrams per liter, or parts per million. ug/l micrograms per liter, or parts per billion. Coliform and E. Coli Contaminant Year Sampled Positive Sample Count MCLG MCL Violation Typical Source Coliform Bacteria 2024 5 0 5 No Naturally Present in the Environment E. Coli 2024 0 NA None No Human and Animal Fecal Waste Lead and Copper Contaminant Year Sampled MC L G Ac t i o n Le v e l (A L ) 90 th Pe r c e n t i l e # S i t e s Ove r AL Units Violation Typical Sources Lead 2023 0 15 2.6 0 ppb No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits Copper 2023 1.3 1.3 0.173 1 ppm No Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems • The values shown represent the 90% percentile value, as required by Rule for Lead and Copper Disinfection Byproducts Contaminant Year Sampled Lo w e s t Le v e l Hi g h e s t Le v e l MCLG MCL Units Violation Typical Sources Total Trihalo- methanes 2024 1.0 5.5 0 80 ppb No By-Product of drinking water disinfection. Inorganic Contaminants Contaminant Year Sampled Lo w e s t Le v e l Hi g h e s t Le v e l MCLG MCL Units Violation Typical Sources Arsenic 2024 ND 2.3 0 10 ppb No Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes. Barium 2024 0.024 0.128 2 2 ppm No Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Cyanide 2024 ND 3.2 200 200 ppb No Discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories; Discharge from steel/metal factories. Fluoride 2022 ND 0.298 4 4 ppm No Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Contaminant Year Sampled Lo w e s t Le v e l Hi g h e s t Le v e l MCLG MCL Units Violation Typical Sources Nitrate 2024 0.14 5.1 10 10 ppm No Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. Selenium 2024 0.6 2.5 50 50 ppb No Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from mines. Sodium 2024 11.3 170 500 None1 ppm No Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from mines. Sulfate 2024 20.5 69.7 500 1,000 ppm No Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills, runoff from cropland Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 2024 268 660 1,000 2,000 ppm No Erosion of natural deposits 1. The State of Utah requires monitoring for Sodium even though no MCL has been established Radioactive Contaminants Contaminant Year Sampled Lo we s t Le v e l Hi g h e s t Le v e l MCLG MCL Units Violation Typical Sources Alpha Emitters 2024 0.1 8.02 0 15 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits. Combined Radium 226/228 2024 .325 0.43 0 5 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits. Radium 226 2024 .325 0.43 0 5 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits. Radium 228 2024 -0.23 0.93 0 5 pCi/L No Erosion of natural deposits. Turbidity Contaminant Year Sampled Lo w e s t Le v e l Hi g h e s t Le v e l MCGL MCL Units Violation Typical Sources Turbidity 2022 0.02 1.4 0 5 NTU No Soil Runoff The above tables report all of the required drinking water contaminants that were detected during the calendar year of this report, as well as the most recent water quality data of other contaminants within the past 5 years. All water utilized for culinary purposes within Tooele City was tested by methods in accordance with State and Federal Standards, and meets State and Federal requirements. How Can I Get Involved? The best way to get involved in helping protect your water from contamination is pollution prevention. Your water sources can be affected by chemicals and pollutants that are not handled properly. Some of the most common sources of contamination include: dry cleaning chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides, oil and gasoline, paints, solvents, and garbage. Fertilizers and pesticides should be applied in accordance with manufacturers’ label instructions. It is also very important to store and dispose of these materials and any other potential contaminant in a proper and safe manner. Just one gallon of gasoline can pollute 600,000 gallons of water. Once a water source is polluted, it could take decades and millions of dollars to be able to use it again. Another way you can get involved is by participating in City Council and Planning Commission meetings. City Council meetings are generally held the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Planning Commission meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Further information regarding these public meetings is available on the Tooele City web page (https://tooelecity.gov/). Get involved by doing your part to protect our water resources. Important Health Information 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. EPA/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 at 1-800-426-4791. Septic Tanks / Holding Tanks: Septic systems can contaminate ground water if they are misused, improperly maintained, or improperly constructed. The major contaminant discharged from septic systems is disease-causing germs. These germs (bacteria and viruses) - can cause many human diseases. Another contaminant discharged from septic systems is nitrogen in the form of nitrate. If the nitrate level of drinking water is too high, infants, up to the age of six months old, can develop a fatal disease called blue baby syndrome (methemoglobenemia). Additionally, if toxic chemicals are disposed in a septic system, they can percolate through the drainfield and into the ground water. Additional information regarding best management practices for septic tanks / holding tanks is available at the following link: https://documents.deq.utah.gov/drinking-water/rules-implementation/DDW-2019-008508.pdf Lead Service Line Inventories Tooele City has completed an initial lead service line inventory. This inventory includes information on the service line material that connects water mains to buildings/houses. This inventory can be accessed by contacting Tooele City Public Works at 435-843-2130 or emailing a request to publicworks@tooelecity.gov Results of Lead and Copper Samples Collected That Year Thirty lead samples were collected during 2023. Sampling results can be obtained by calling Tooele City Public Works at 435-843-2130 or emailing a request to publicworks@tooelecity.gov Updated Mandatory Health Effects Language 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. Tooele City is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact Tooele City Public Works at 435-843-2130. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER Monitoring Requirements Not Met for Tooele City Our water system violated several drinking water standards over the past year. Even though these were not emergencies, as our customers, you have the right to know what happened and what we did to correct these situations. We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During the 2024 calendar year we did not complete all monitoring for pesticides in two of our sources and radionuclides in one of our sources and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time. What should I do? There is nothing you need to do at this time. The table below lists the contaminants we did not properly test for during the last year, how often we are supposed to sample for these contaminants and how many samples we are supposed to take, how many samples we took, when samples should have been taken, and the date on which follow-up samples were taken. Contaminant Required Sampling Frequency Number of Samples Taken When All Samples Should Have Been Taken When Samples Were Taken Pesticides 1 sample every three years 0 7/1/2024 – 9/30/2024 10/21/2024 Pesticides 1 sample every quarter 0 7/1/2024 – 9/30/2024 10/21/2024 Radionuclides 1 sample every quarter 0 7/1/2024 – 9/30/2024 10/21/2024 What happened? What is being done? Three water samples were missed during our third-quarter testing. As soon as we became aware of the issue, we immediately collected the samples and submitted them for analysis. All results came back meeting water quality standards. For more information, please contact Tooele City Public Works at 435-843-2130 or at Tooele City Hall located at 90 N Main Street, Tooele, Utah 84074. Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses. You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. This notice is being sent to you by Tooele City. Water System ID#:23004 Date Distributed: May 2025 For more information contact the Tooele City Public Works Director at (435) 843-2130, or by email to his administrative assistant at tiffanyd@tooelecity.gov. Tooele City Public Works 90 North Main Tooele, UT 84074 Phone: (435) 843-2130