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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDDW-2025-007554 We are pleased to present to you the previous year's Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality of the water and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Note for Kayenta residents: The west side Kayenta neighborhood, mostly west of the Dry Wash, is served by KWU, a private water system. This water quality report does not include the water delivered to KWU which uses a different water source. You should receive a separate report from KWU. If you are unsure whether you are on the KWU system or not, please call Ivins City Public Works 634-0689. Ivins City Water Sources: • Gunlock Wells Arsenic Removal Plant: Ivins City purchases this groundwater from the City of St. George, who owns and operates several wells near Gunlock Reservoir. The groundwater is treated by the plant to lower arsenic levels. • Quail Creek Water Treatment Plant (Regional): Ivins City purchases this treated surface water from the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD). This water that has been drawn from the Virgin River and then held in either the Sand Hollow Reservoir or Quail Creek Reservoir prior to being treated at the plant. The plant removes suspended particles using absorption with activated carbon and sand filtration. The water is delivered to Ivins City through the Regional Water System transmission pipeline network. • Sand Hollow Wells (Regional): Ivins City purchases this groundwater from the Washington County Water Conservancy District, who owns and operates several wells near Sand Hollow Reservoir. This water is run through an arsenic removal treatment plant and then mixed with water from the Quail Creek Water Treatment Plant before being delivered to Ivins City. • Snow Canyon Wells: Ivins City jointly owns several wells in Snow Canyon with the cities of St George and Santa Clara, which provides this important groundwater source to our city along with our partners. Usually, this water is mixed with water from Quail Creek/Sand Hollow to reduce arsenic levels. As this water has either traveled over the surface of land or through the ground, it absorbs dissolved naturally occurring minerals, and in some cases, radioactive material, and can also absorb substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. 15 to 25% of the City’s water is from the Gunlock Wells, 60 to 75% is from the regional pipeline (Quail Creek/Sand Hollow Wells), and 10 to 15% is from the Snow Canyon Wells. General Information: Ivins City and our suppliers routinely monitor our drinking water for contaminants in accordance with Federal and State laws. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contaminants that are either naturally occurring or human caused. Those contaminants can be microbes, organic or inorganic chemicals, or radioactive materials. 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 Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or by going to: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking- water Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCL’s are set with conservative stringent standards. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated contaminants, a person would drink two liters of water every day at the MCL for a lifetime for a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect. Ivins City 2024 Water Quality Report Important Information Regarding your Drinking Water June 2025 Ivins City 2024 Water Quality Report, June 2025 Page 2 of 6 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 microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Definitions: Action Level (AL) - the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The “Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety. Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - Nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person. Non-Detects (ND) - Laboratory analysis indicates that the contaminant is not present. ND/Low-High - For water systems that have multiple sources of water, the Utah Division of Drinking Water has given water systems the option of listing the test results of the contaminants 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. None Established (NE) – No maximum contaminant level (MCL) has been established for this contaminant. Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000. Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (ug/l) - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000. Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water. Running Annual Average (RAA) - Highest running annual average of four consecutive quarters when sampling occurs. Treatment Technique (TT) - A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. All contaminants analyzed were below the limits established by the State of Utah and Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts. Arsenic: 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. 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. Ivins City is responsible for providing high quality Ivins City 2024 Water Quality Report, June 2025 Page 3 of 6 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. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead Lead Service Line Inventory: In 2024, Ivins City completed a comprehensive inventory of service line materials in accordance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). This inventory confirmed that no lead service lines were identified in our water distribution system. Most service lines in Ivins are constructed from polyethylene (PE) or PVC, which are not sources of lead. Floride: As shown in the water analysis table presented in this report, the City’s drinking water does have some trace detections of fluoride. The fluoride detected in our system occurs naturally in groundwater sources. The City does not add fluoride to the water. Water Hardness: Due to the heavy influence from groundwater, Ivins City water supply is usually high in water hardness. Many customers use treatment devices, such as water softeners, to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause water hardness. Many customers with water softeners may find that a setting of 22 grains of hardness per gallon provides the most effective treatment. Ivins City personnel work very hard to provide quality water to every residence and we closely monitor it to ensure it. We ask that all our customers help us protect and conserve our water sources, which are the heart of our community. If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact us at 435-634-0689 or send an email publicworks@ivins.com. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. Please feel free to visit our website at www.ivins.com or attend any of our regularly scheduled City Council meetings that are held on the first and third Thursday of every month beginning at 5:30 pm. We are pleased to report that your drinking water was analyzed, and all contaminants were measured below the limits established by the Utah Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Sincerely, Charles R. Gillette, P.E. Public Works Director/City Engineer June 2025 Ivins City 2024 Water Quality Report, June 2025 Page 4 of 6 WATER ANALYSIS FOR YEAR 2024 (EPA Requires monitoring of over 80 drinking water contaminants. The contaminants listed in this table are the only contaminants detected in your drinking water.) Contaminant Violation Level Detected ND/Low-High Unit Measure- ment MCLG MCL Last Sample Date Likely Source of Contamination Microbiological Contaminants (Sampled weekly by Ivins City) Total Coliform Bacteria NO 0 Positive of 144 Routine Samples Positive or Negative 0 > 1 Positive Per month 2024 Naturally present in the environment When there is a positive coliform bacteria sample, repeat samples are taken immediately at the same location and a location upstream and downstream as well as at the groundwater sources to determine if additional action needs to be taken. If the results of these repeat samples are negative, no further action is required. Fecal Coliform & E. Coli NO 0 Positive of 144 Routine Samples Positive or Negative 0 If routine & repeat samples are total coliform positive and one is also fecal coliform or E. Coli positive 2024 Human and Animal Fecal Waste Radioactive Contaminants (Sampled at the source by City of St. George and WCWCD) Gross Alpha including Radon & Uranium NO 1 – 7 pCi/L 0 15 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Beta Emitters NO 4 – 5 pCi/L 0 50 2022 Erosion of natural deposits Combined Radium 226/228 NO 0.6 – 2.6 pCi/L 0 5 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Inorganic Contaminants (Sampled at the water source by City of St. George and WCWCD) Aluminum NO ND – 0.2 ppm NE NE 2022 Erosion of natural deposits Antimony NO ND – 1 ppb 6 6 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Arsenic NO 2.8 – 8.7 ppb RAA 0 10 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Barium NO 0.1 – 0.3 ppm 2 2 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Calcium NO ND – 65 ppm NE NE 2022 Erosion of natural deposits Fluoride NO 0.2 – 0.5 ppm 4 4 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Magnesium NO ND – 38 ppm NE NE 2022 Erosion of natural deposits Manganese NO ND - .002 ppm NE 0.05 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Nitrate (as Nitrogen) NO ND – 4.0 ppm 10 10 2024 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits Selenium NO 1.0 – 4 ppb 50 50 2024 Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines Sodium NO 9 – 55 ppm 500 NE 2024 Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from landfills Sulfate NO 1 – 273 ppm NE 500 2024 Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from landfills and croplands Total Dissolved Solids NO 136 – 564 ppm N/A 1,000 2024 Erosion of natural deposits Total Organic Carbon NO ND – 2.2 ppm TT NE 2024 Naturally present in environment Turbidity NO 0.1 – 1.3 NTU N/A 5 2024 Soil runoff Lead and Copper (Sampled at 20 residences every 3 years by Ivins City, next samples will be taken in 2024) Lead – 90th percentile results NO 0.0018 ppm 0 AL = 0.015 2024 Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits Copper – 90th percentile results NO 0.21 ppm 1.3 AL = 1.3 2024 Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits Disinfection Byproducts (Sampled quarterly by Ivins City) Chlorine (as Cl2) NO 0.1 – 0.4 ppm 4.0 4.0 2024 Added for sanitization Total HAA’s NO ND – 2.2 ppb 0 60 2024 Disinfection byproduct Total THM’s NO 5.5 – 12.6 ppb 0 80 2024 Disinfection byproduct Ivins City 2024 Water Quality Report, June 2025 Page 5 of 6 Additional Monitoring In 2024, Ivins City participated in the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5), which requires public water systems to monitor drinking water for contaminants that do not yet have health- based standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These tests included several types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and lithium. The purpose is to help EPA determine the occurrence of these contaminants in drinking water and decide whether future regulations are needed. The results of this testing did not detect any PFAS in the drinking water supplies but the testing did detect trace amounts of lithium as shown in the table below: EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 Contaminant Violation Level Detected ND/Low-High Unit Measure- ment MCLG MCL Last Sample Date Likely Source of Contamination PFAS Family (29 measures) NO ND ppt * * 2024 Consumer Products, Industrial Discharges Lithium NO 9.8 – 25.1 ppb NE NE 2024 Naturally present in the environment *As of April 10, 2024, the EPA established limit for some PFAS contaminants. For PFOA and PFOS, the MCLG is 0 ppt and the MCL is 4 ppt. The rule also set limits for some PFAS mixtures: PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA, the MCLG is 10 ppt and the MCL is 10 ppt. As shown, the EPA has not established an MCL of MCLG for lithium. Lithium is a natural metal that has been found in the groundwaters of the western United States. Scientists are currently studying how lithium affects health issues. Although a lot is known about the effect of lithium through its use at higher doses used in medicine, there is less information about the health risks associated with the consumption of lower levels of lithium that may be found in drinking water. Cross Connection Risk: Ivins City is doing all it can to keep the water system as safe as possible, but we need your help. There are many connections to our water distribution system. When connections are properly installed and maintained, concerns are very minimal. However, unapproved and improper piping changes or connections can adversely affect the quality and availability of our water. A cross connection may let polluted water or even potentially harmful chemicals mingle into the water supply system when not properly protected. This not only compromises the water quality but can also affect your health. So, what can you do? Do not make or allow improper connections at your home. There are somewhat rare times, perhaps if there is a main break, when the water system loses pressure and could turn into a vacuum and start sucking air. It is important to make sure that all openings in the water system are exposed to air only. Even the unprotected garden hose lying in the puddle next to the driveway could cause a contamination event. The unprotected lawn sprinkler system after you have fertilized or sprayed is also a cross connection. Since you can’t guarantee that the lawn sprinklers will only suck air, the irrigation must be connected with a backflow prevention device. When a cross connection is allowed to exist at your home it will affect you and your family first. If you suspect you have a cross-connection or you would like to learn more about helping to protect the quality of our water, call us for further information about ways you can help. Ivins City 2024 Water Quality Report, June 2025 Page 6 of 6 Current Drought and Water Conservation Southern Utah is experiencing historic drought conditions in 2025, with snowpack and streamflow at record-low levels (30 to 40% of normal) and precipitation falling to roughly 50% of typical December–February totals. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of the County are identified as being in “Extreme Drought”. Despite this, our region is in a stronger position than it might be, thanks to reservoir storage and aggressive conservation. However, the region would struggle significantly if this drought were to persist for another one or two years. There is no better time than the present to implement water conservation measures. Here is what you can do: • Follow local watering schedules, according to Ivins City code 10.01.125, sprinkler irrigation of lawns and landscapes is prohibited between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. • Consider watering every other day rather than every day even if it causes lawn to not stay wholly green. Take some pride in not having a perfectly green lawn. • Even better, remove your grass, especially if it is not ever used recreationally. Take advantage of rebate incentives offered by the District and receive up to $2 per square foot.