WATER TESTING RESULTS

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.   The drinking water testing results, contained in this report, are gathered from a five-year period of testing.

 

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)        Microbiological 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% 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 result sites have been 90% less than the maximum contaminant level (MCL).  Compliance testing is scheduled once every three years, and was last completed in 1999 with 90% of the samples under the MCL for both lead and copper.

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC) 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 have never been detected in Nome’s water.

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 individuals should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.  EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate methods to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).