2000 Annual Water Quality Report

 

 

Nome Joint Utility System (NJUS) is pleased to present you with the 2000 Annual Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality of drinking water and services we provide to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the effort we make to continually improve and protect our water resource a well as the distribution and treatment system. We are committed to ensure the quality of your water.

 

Nome’s water is safe.  NJUS continues to make system improvements which will insure the water provided will meet or exceed the standards established for water quality.

 

 

OUR WATER SOURCE

 

Nome has one source of water known as Moonlight Springs, infiltration gallery. The infiltration gallery is located north of the Beltz High school, at the base of the southwest face of Anvil Mountain. Our source water is currently classified as ground water under the direct influence of surface water, (GUDISW). Nome Joint Utility System currently has funding from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (A.D.E.C.) to upgrade our water source to a ground water source classification by drilling wells.  Nome Joint Utility System drilled two new wells last summer at Moonlight Springs and will complete construction and bring the wells on-line by July 31, 2001. This upgrade will be the lowest cost option to avoid building a new water filtration plant to provide filtration for high turbidity events that occur each spring. Our source has the capacity to supply Nome’s water system year round. In 2000 Nome Joint Utility System monitored, treated and distributed 151 million gallons of safe potable water to the City of Nome.

 

 

WATER TREATMENT

 

Nome’s potable water is chlorinated to kill disease-causing organisms, and fluoridated to promote dental health. Inadequately treated water may contain disease – causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. Our water treatment facility is located to the west of the Beltz Apartments. At this location, we monitor, disinfect and fluoridate the water before it is distributed to the Beltz School & the City of Nome.

 

WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

 

In 1997, Nome Joint Utility System Utilidor Replacement Project began upgrading our water distribution system.  A total of 15,500 feet of old water main has already been replaced with another 4052 feet scheduled for replacement in 2001. The Project has also replaced 350 of our customer’s water and sewer service laterals with another 101 scheduled for replacement this year.  24 new fire hydrants have also been installed as part of the project.  Funding is also in place to replace and upgrade 9 direct bury and Tee based fire hydrants in 2001.

 

Nome Joint Utility System remains committed to maintaining and operating our system as efficiently as possible.  By implementing tighter monitoring procedures, making timely repairs and installing new energy saving equipment, water usage and electrical costs have been reduced.  Further cost reduction improvements are scheduled for 2001.  Water usage was reduced by nearly 17.5 million gallons in 2000 compared to 1999.

 

 

WATER TESTING RESULTS

 

The drinking water testing results, contained in this report, are gathered from a five-year period of testing. In 2000 our water plant operators & certified laboratory performed a total of 6,104 tests on our drinking water.

 

Our state certified water treatment operators, routinely monitor for contaminates in your drinking water in accordance with federal and state drinking water regulations. The State of Alaska and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), limit the amount of certain contaminates in drinking water provided by public water systems in order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink. When appropriate, drinking water quality tests are performed by the certified water treatment plant operators. Most tests are performed by an independent, A.D.E.C. certified, laboratory.

 

All drinking water, including bottled water, may be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Water is a universal solvent that naturally picks up material as it falls from the sky as rain or snow, and travels over or through the ground. Some of this water ends up as drinking water.

 

The sources of drinking water (both tap 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, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

 

Contaminants that may be present in our source water include:

 

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

B)              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.

C)              Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.

D)              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 storm water runoff and septic systems.

E)              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.  FDA regulations establish for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

 

Inorganic Chemicals include heavy metals, fluoride and nitrate. Our water is no longer tested for asbestos since there is no asbestos water pipe in the distribution system. NJUS currently has A.D.E.C. testing waivers for Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury, Selenium, Antimony, Beryllium, Cyanide, Nickel, and Thallium. Fluoride occurs naturally in Nome’s water at about 0.2 mg/l.  Additional fluoride is added to promote dental health. Less than 1 mg/l of Nitrate (as nitrogen) occurs naturally in Nome’s water and is not a concern at this low level. Lead and copper are from the corrosion of copper pipes, fittings, and old lead / tin solder inside houses and service lines. The Lead and Copper rule is based on 90 percent of the results being less than or equal to the action level which, if exceeded, would require additional water treatment or the addition of corrosion inhibiting chemicals to our water. Nome is currently under a reduced monitoring requirement for lead and copper because historically our test results sites have been 90% less than the maximum contaminant level (MCL).  Compliance testing is scheduled for once every three years, and was completed in 1999. Compliance testing was completed in 1999 with 90% of the samples under the maximum contaminant level for both lead and copper.

 

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC)

Volatile Organic Chemicals are either disinfections residual byproducts such as total Trihalomethane (TTHM) that are formed when naturally occurring organics in the water are chlorinated or from contamination by petroleum and other products. Of the over 80 VOC's tested, TTHMs were the only VOC detected and were at levels much lower than the maximum contaminant level (MCL). They are not considered a heath risk at these very low levels.

 

Synthetic / Other Organic Chemicals include pesticides and herbicides. Nome is a non-agricultural area and these chemicals are not used. As a result A.D.E.C. has granted Nome a testing waiver. This testing waiver saves Nome about $6,000 annually in laboratory testing fees.

 

Radioactive Contaminates has never been detected in Nome’s water.

 

 

 

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)

 

VULNERABILITY

 

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as people 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 are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791)

 

 

HOW TO READ THE TABLE

 

This report is based upon tests conducted in the years 1996 through 1999 by Nome Joint Utility System. Terms used in the water quality table and in other parts of this report are defined hear.

 

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to a user of a public water system.  MCL’s are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

 

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 a margin of safety.

 

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminate, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

 

Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in the drinking water.

 

 

KEY TO TABLE

AL = Action level

MCL= Maximum Contaminant Level

MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal

NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units

ppm = parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)

ppb =  parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l)

TT = Treatment technique

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOME JOINT UTILITY SYSTEM

Public Water System ID # AK2340010

TABLE

Contaminate         Date         Unit       MCL         MCLG         Detected                Major Sources             Violation

Tested                                                           Level

Inorganic

 

Lead – 2           8/24/99       ppb       AL=15           0               5.0              Corrosion of household plumbing          NO

Systems, and lead solder joints.

 

Nitrate – N         9/2/99        ppm       10               10              0.10            Erosion of natural deposits, And            NO

Decaying vegetation or Tundra.

 

Copper – 3        8/27/99      ppm      AL=1.3        1.3             0.248          Corrosion of household plumbing,          NO

and copper tubing.

 

Fluoride           12/31/99      ppm         4                4               1.05            Water additive which promotes,            NO

Strong teeth.

 

Volatile Organic Chemicals

 

TTHMs             9/15/99        ppb         100             0              0.60            By- product of drinking                          NO

water chlorination.

 

 

 

EXPLANATION OF VIOLATIONS

 

In June of 2000 we exceeded the 5 NTU Maximum Contaminant Level at Moonlight Springs.   This means that suspended particles were detected in the raw water in excess of current ADEC regulations.  These suspended particulates were a result of spring runoff and well drilling activities at Moonlight Springs. Through increased disinfection and monitoring procedures, water distributed throughout the system met or exceeded all treatment and disinfection requirements.

 

Moonlight Springs – Under the influence of surface water.

In May of 1995, Moonlight Springs was determined to be ground water under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDISW).  Once that determination was made, state and federal regulations required that actions be taken to address the issue within a certain amount of time.  Had we had another three weeks in the fall of 2000 to complete ongoing construction of the Moonlight Springs Well Project, the Notice of Violation would not have been issued.  Even though we knew a Notice of Violation was pending, weather and construction personnel safety concerns were the reason for putting the project on hold until the spring of 2001.  However though continued disinfection and monitoring procedures, no bacterial contaminants above the maximum contaminant levels (MCL) were detected in 2000.

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

If you have any questions about this report or are interested in learning more about the drinking water system in Nome, please call the Utility Manager’s Office – 443- NJUS. The Utility Board holds regularly scheduled meetings the third Tuesday of each month, and the public is invited to direct any concerns not addressed by management to the board. You may also call the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation – Drinking Water Division in Fairbanks, AK.  (907- 451- 2179).

 

 

To the best of our ability, we strive to provide good service, protect and preserve public health, public property and the environment by correctly operating and upgrading our water system.