2003 Consumer Confidence Report: Miners Ranch Treatment Plant

Letter from Mike Glaze, General Manager

South Feather Water and Power’s highest priority is to produce a dependable supply of top-quality drinking water for its customers. Not only have we replaced almost all of our old steel pipe to improve the quality of water from the treatment plant to your tap, but we are constantly upgrading the plant's equipment and technology to make it as efficient and effective as possible.

As a part of our efforts to keep your water supply dependable, SFWP has back-up electricity generators at all the Agency’s primary facilities to ensure that water is available to our customers even during power-outages that occur in our area. Because power shortages occur all too frequently during summer months, we are asking our customers to reduce their water usage from noon to six o'clock in the evening. This will also help reduce the Agency's energy costs that result from high electricity rates.

We are fortunate to have an abundant and pristine water source, as well as substantial storage facilities. We ask that all our customers help protect the streams and reservoirs that comprise the Agency's water supply system, including being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity by individuals in the vicinity of Agency facilities. The assistance of our customers will enable us to maintain and guarantee in the future the exceptional water quality we enjoy.

Miners Ranch Treatment Plant

South Feather Water and Power is pleased to report to you that your tap water has met all EPA and State drinking water standards. We have not exceeded any maximum containment levels or violated any other water quality standard. We have tested your drinking water for over 110 different contaminants and chemicals. SFWP’s goal is to continue to provide you with the dependable supply of high quality drinking water that you have experienced in the past. We have made extensive efforts to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. SFWP is committed to ensuring the quality of your water.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Jim Coffelt or staff at (530) 589-0212. We want our customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please call us or attend any of our regularly scheduled Board of Directors meetings. They are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2:00 P.M. in the Agency’s Conference Room, 2310 Oro-Quincy Highway, Oroville, California.

A source water assessment has been completed for the sources serving the Miner’s Ranch Water System. The sources are considered most vulnerable to the following activities not associated with any detected contaminants. Miner’s Ranch: Active and historic mining operations, High-density septic systems.

A copy of the complete assessment may be viewed at: DHS Valley District Office, 415 Knollcrest Drive, Suite 110, Redding, CA 96002, Attention: Gunther Sturm, 530-224-4866 or South Feather Water and Power, PO Box 581, Oroville, CA 95966, Attention: Michael Glaze, 530-533-4578.

SFWP's Water Source

The water source for this system is derived from the watershed of the upper South Fork of the Feather River and the upper portion of the Slate Creek watershed. Through a series of dams, canals and tunnels, it is delivered to the Miners Ranch Reservoir, which serves as the terminal reservoir for the system. Water for the treatment plant is extracted directly from the reservoir.

Definitions

In this report you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we've provided definitions of some of these on the left.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million is about the same as one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - one part per billion is about the same as one minute in 2,000 years, a single penny in $10,000,000, or one-tenth of an acre in all the land in California.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor turbidity because it is a good indication of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

Regulatory Action Level (AL) - the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is technologically and economically feasible.

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. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Public Health Goal (PHG) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. The California Environmental Protection Agency sets these PHGs.

SFWP's Drinking Water Testing

South Feather Water and Power routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This report shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2003.

You will find in this report that our system had no violations. We're proud that your drinking water exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that small quantities of some contaminants have been detected, but the EPA has determined that your water IS SAFE at these levels.

For those people concerned about MTBE or arsenic, we are happy to report that we have tested for this and detected none. Also, SFWP does not add fluoride to our drinking water.

Microbiological Water Quality

Total Coliform Bacteria - We had no violations and detected no total coliform bacteria in our testing this year. The MCL is the presence of coliform bacteria in no more than one positive sample. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful bacteria may be present.

Fecal coliform and E. Coli - We had no violations and detected no fecal coliform or E. coli in our testing this year. The MCL for fecal coliform and E. coli is having a routine sample and repeat sample that is total coliform positive and one of these is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive. Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.

General Information From the Environmental Protection Ageny

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.

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 (800-426-4791).

The sources of drinking water (both tap water 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 animal or human activity.
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that 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, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to insure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA and the California Department of Health Services (department) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.