Water Quality Report 2023

 

Why am I receiving this report?

In 1999, the Federal Government re-authorized the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 which requires all public water utilities and companies to provide annual drinking water quality reports to their customers. Accordingly, Point Roberts Water District No. 4 is pleased to provide you with this report.

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Where does my drinking water come from?

The District purchases its water from the Metro Vancouver Water District, which draws its water from three protected source lakes: Seymour, Capilano, and Coquitlam; with Point Roberts’ main water supply coming from the Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant.

The water to Point Roberts is drawn from the Pebble Hill Reservoir located in Tsawwassen, B.C. and distributed through our own water distribution system to your tap.

 

Do you have questions or concerns about your drinking water?

If you have any questions regarding this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Wesley Hubbard, the district manager, at (360) 945-4696 or prwd@whidbey.com. Additional information is available on our website at www.pointrobertswater.com.

The Metro Vancouver Water District writes a comprehensive Quality Control Annual Report. A copy of this report may be obtained at any lower mainland library, or online at: https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/Documents/water-quality-annual-report-volume-1-2023.pdf

Additionally, further information may be acquired by contacting the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or by visiting their website at www.epa.gov/safewater.

We invite you to attend any of the Point Roberts Water District’s regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners Meetings, currently held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Point Roberts Water District Office at 2002 Benson Rd, and beginning at 5 p.m.

 

What’s in my drinking water?

Point Roberts Water District No. 4 and the Metro Vancouver Water District routinely monitor for contaminants and constituents in your drinking water in accordance with Federal and State Laws.

For the year 2023, PRWD drew forty-nine (49) water samples for bacteriological analysis and tested for disinfectant byproducts quarterly.

Additionally, the Metro Vancouver Water District conducted tests for drinking water contaminants. Please see: https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/Documents/water-quality-annual-report-
volume-2-2023.pdf

The Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant treats water from the Seymour and Capilano reservoirs. Chlorination treatment is added to protect against giardia and bacteria. Because surface water tends to have a low pH, soda ash and/or lime are added to increase the pH to 7 or above as a corrosion control measure.

Point Roberts Water District performs additional chlorine disinfection at our Churchill Reservoir before distributing water to customers.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least trace amounts of some contaminants. It is important to remember that the presence of contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-comprised persons such as persons undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly persons 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 also available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline

Contaminants that may be present in source water before it is treated 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, 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 and residential uses.
  • · Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring.
  • · Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production and can also, come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.

  • In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the number of certain contaminants in water provided by public drinking water systems. We treat our water according to EPA regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

    Terms and Definitions

    • Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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.

    • Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health technology.

    • Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

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

      Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): 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.

      Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): 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

    • Million Fibers per Liter (MFL): a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are no longer than 10 micrometers.

    • ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter

    • Bq/l: Becquerels per liter (Bq/l))

    • Water Quality Data

      The following table lists some of the drinking water contaminants that the District detected during the 2023 calendar year or in our most recent test as noted:

Regulated Substance

MCL
Your Water
Sample Date
Violation
Typical Source of Contamination
Total coliform (RTCR)
TT
NA
2023
No
 Naturally present in environment
Nitrates as N (ppm)
10
0.08
2023
No
 Runoff from fertilizer
Lead (ppm)
0.015 AL
0.002
2022
No
 Corrosive water & home plumbing
Copper (ppm)
1.3 AL
0.02
2022
No
 Corrosive water & home plumbing
Alpha Radiation (Bq/L)
15
<0.10
2023
No
 Erosion of natural deposits
Beta (pCi/L)
15
<0.10
2023
No
 Erosion of natural deposits
TTHMs (ppm)
0.080
0.060
2023
No
 By-product of drinking water chlorination
Haloacetic Acids (ppm)
0.060
0.016
2023
No
 By-product of drinking water chlorination
Asbestos
7
< 0.116 MFL
2016
No
 Decay of asbestos-cement water Mains; erosion of natural deposits
Arsenic (ppb)
10
< 0.05
2023
No
 Erosion of natural deposits

Facts About Tested Contaminants

Coliform Bacteria: Coliforms are common in the environment and generally are not harmful. The presence of these bacteria in drinking water, however, can be an indicator of problems with water
treatment or the pipes which distribute water. For this reason, water systems regularly test for the presence of coliform bacteria. A positive total coliform test indicates that the water may be
contaminated with organisms that can cause disease, and must be followed up by additional testing.

The Washington State Department of Health determines the minimum number of samples required based on the population that is served. Two (2) samples per month are required by the State
during the months of January through May and from September through December, and four (4) samples per month are required during the summer months of June through August. The sampling requirements were met or exceeded for each month of 2023.

Nitrates:Nitrates in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate
levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

Lead: Infants and children who drink water containing lead more than the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in
attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Copper: Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper more than the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal
distress. Some people who drink water containing copper more than the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s disease should consult their personal physician.

Alpha/Radiation: Some people who drink water containing levels of Alpha/Radiation more than the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of developing cancer.

TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes): Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes more than the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Asbestos: Some people, who drink water containing asbestos more than the MCL over many years, may have an increased risk of developing intestinal polyps.

Arsenic: Some people, who drink water containing arsenic more than the MCL over many years, may have decreased longevity, blood effects, dermal and nervous system toxicity effects.

Water Use Efficiency Rule
The State Department of Health has been directed to adopt an enforceable WUE program intended to achieve a high level of stewardship among all water suppliers, contribute to long-term supply reliability and public health concerns, and insure efficient operation and management of water systems. Below are the measures that Point Roberts Water District has already implemented and our goals for 2020.

Goal –Setting Information:
Total Usage Reduction Goal: 2% total usage reduction by year 2020 achieved by a combination of demand side and supply side measures.
Demand Side Goal (The Customer): Reducing from an average of 111 gallons per connection per day to an average of 95 gallons per connection per day.

Point Roberts Water District Goals:
Measures to achieve Supply Side Goal: The District has replaced 9,000 lineal feet of water main in known leakage areas. Additional water main replacement will continue in problem areas.

The regular scheduled water rate surveys encourage conservation along with staff working with customer water use evaluations and helping with water loss in the home.

Recommended Publications and Websites

Washington State Department of Health, Water Use Efficiency
www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater

American Water Works Association – Water Wiser
www.awwa.org/waterwiser

Whatcom County Water Alliance
www.cob.org/services/environment/conservation/pages/water-alliance.aspx

Alliance for Water Efficiency
www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/

Metro Vancouver
www.metrovancouver.org
metrovancouver.org/services/water/water-quality-testing

Point Roberts Water DistrictNo. 4
www.pointrobertswater.com

Download a Adobe Acrobat PDF of the Point Roberts Water District #4 - Water Quality Report 2023