Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2008

Upper Mohawk Valley Regional Water Board

(Mohawk Valley Water Authority)

1 Kennedy Plaza Box 345

Utica, New York 13503

(Public Water Supply ID# NY3202411)

Introduction

To comply with State and Federal regulations, The Mohawk Valley Water Authority (MVWA) will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water.  The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources.  We are proud to report that last year, the water provided by the Mohawk Valley Water Authority meets or surpasses all Federal and New York State Drinking Water Standards. This report provides an overview of last year’s (2008) water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State and Federal standards. 

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact Connie K. Schreppel, Ph.D. Water Quality Laboratory Director, at 792-0338. We want you to be informed about your drinking water.  If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Water Board meetings. The meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at the Regional Water Board Conference Room, third floor, Utica City Hall at 5 P.M.

Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua beber.  Tradúzcalo ó hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

Where does our water come from?

In general, 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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities.  Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants.  In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

 The water we drink gathers in the streams and creeks of a remote 373 square mile Adirondack Mountain watershed, far from settled areas and farmland. These tributaries drain into the West Canada Creek, which carries our water to the New York State-owned Hinckley Reservoir, our water supply’s main reservoir.

Source Water Assessment Information

During 2005 a source water assessment was completed under the NYS Department of Health’s Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP). This assessment found a low to moderate susceptibility to contamination of our source water. Land cover and its associated activities within the assessment area did not increase the potential for contamination. Permitted discharges from facilities in the watershed do not represent an important threat to source water quality, based on their density in the assessment area. There are no likely contamination threats associated with other discrete contaminant sources, even though some facilities were found in low densities. Additional sources of potential contamination include the roadways in the watershed. In conclusion, it was noted that hydrologic characteristics (basin shape and flushing rates) generally make reservoirs highly sensitive to existing and new sources of phosphorus and microbial contamination. The complete report may be reviewed by contacting the Water Quality Department.

How is Your Water Treated?

In 1990, after four years of careful testing, planning and design, construction of a water treatment and filtration plant began at a site in the near the village of Prospect. The facility became operational in 1992. The treatment plant includes a double filtration system designed to filter out most of the organic matter and contaminates.

After our water has been filtered it is chlorinated. Chlorine is a disinfecting agent and kills bacteria present in the water. Chlorine levels are continuously monitored throughout our 600 miles of pipe that brings the water to your home.

Fluoride is added to your water in concentrations of 1.0 mg/l. Fluoride has been shown to reduce tooth decay and cavities.

Our water is treated to control corrosion of household plumbing that may contain metals such as lead. Calcium hydroxide (lime) and sodium carbonate (soda ash) are used in small amounts to buffer the water so that it is rendered non-corrosive to your home’s plumbing. Lime and soda ash are naturally occurring substances, which pose no threat to human health. Lead levels measured in our customer’s homes are in compliance with the Federal Lead Monitoring Program action levels.

Facts and Figures

Our water system presently serves 130,000 people through 38,975 service connections. The total water produced in 2008 was approximately 6.5 billion gallons. The daily average of water treated is 17.9 million gallons per day. Our highest single day of production was 18.6 million gallons. The amount of metered water delivered to customers was 3.8 billion gallons. Unmetered water totaled approximately 2.7 billion gallons or 41.5% of the total amount produced. Water used for construction projects, flushing water mains, cleaning streets, fire fighting accounted for 18% of the unmetered water while loss due to leaks for 2008 was approximately 23.5% of the unmetered water.  In 2008, residential water customers were charged $ 3.09 per 1,000 gallons of water (average family of four). 

System Improvements

During 2008 the Mohawk Valley Water Authority continued its aggressive program of reinvestment in the Regional System.  Total capital expenditures were 9 million. Since 1998 over $ 35 million has been expended on capital improvements to ensure reliable, quality water service.

On-going Projects in 2008 included:

Regulatory Compliance Plan - Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Clearwell and Deerfield Tank - $9,600,000

The WTP Clearwell was completed and brought on line in summer of 2008.  The 10 million gallon Deerfield Tank is in the final testing phase. These projects are required by new EPA/DOH water quality regulations.  The new WTP Clearwell will improve disinfection efficiency at higher flow rates and the Deerfield Tank will allow the existing uncovered reservoir to be placed on stand-by service.

Regulatory Compliance Plan – Marcy Reservoir and Toby Road Tanks - $12,400,000

The final design of the Marcy Reservoir and bidding of these three projects was commenced in 2007.  Marcy Reservoir Tank was bid in March 2009 and construction will commence in summer 2009.  The Toby Road Tanks are in final design and will be bid in summer 2009. These tanks are also required by new EPA/DOH water quality regulations and will permit the existing open Marcy Reservoir to be removed from active service.

Hydraulic Modeling- $425,000

A hydraulic model of the entire Regional System was completed and calibrated in 2008.  The model will be used to evaluate system deficiencies, identify capital improvements and for emergency response planning.

Leak Detection Program Phase 5- $25,000

This phase of the leak detection program was undertaken in February 2008 and is nearly complete with over 100 leaks identified.  Repairs are completed by MVWA forces.  Identifying and repairing leaks reduces unaccounted for water, reduces the number of main breaks and improves system pressures. This phase begins the second time the Regional System will be entirely checked for leaks. 

Water Main Replacement & Extensions in Whitestown, Utica & Holland Patent- $ 140,000

Over 2100 feet of new 8” & 12” water main was installed by MVWA’s own forces to eliminate dead end mains in several locations.  These areas included Walnut St. in Utica, Parkside Court in NY Mills, and Powell Rd. in Trenton.  The projects improve water quality, pressure and fire protection.

GAC Full Scale Pilot Study- $ 280,000

This full scale filter study was undertaken to determine if GAC was an effective filter media for removing organic carbon from the raw water during the treatment process. More effective removal of organic carbon will further reduce the formation of disinfection by-products following chlorination of the drinking water.

Are there contaminants in our drinking water?

As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include: total coliform, turbidity, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, and synthetic organic compounds. The table presented below depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.  Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.

It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, might be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or the Oneida County Health Department at 315-798-5064.

Information on Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in surface water and groundwater under the influence of surface water.  Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most commonly used filtration methods cannot guarantee 100 percent removal.  During 2008, as part of our routine sampling, 12 samples of Hinckley Reservoir raw source water and 12 samples of our filtered water were collected and analyzed for Cryptosporidium oocysts.  Of these samples, 0 Hinckley Reservoir raw source water samples were positive for the presence of Cryptosporidium.  However, previous testing indicates Cryptosporidium may be present in our source water. No Cryptosporidium was detected in our filtered drinking water.   Current test methods do not allow us to determine if the organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, a gastrointestinal infection.  Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.  Most healthy individuals can overcome disease within a few weeks.  However, immuno-compromised people are at greater risk of developing life-threatening illness.  We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult their health care provider regarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause disease, and it may be spread through means other than drinking water. 

Information on Giardia

Giardia is a microbial pathogen present in varying concentrations in many surface waters and groundwater under the influence of surface water.  Giardia is removed/inactivated through a combination of filtration and disinfection or by disinfection.  During 2008, as part of our routine sampling, 12 samples from the Hinckley Reservoir raw source water and 12 samples of our filtered water were collected and analyzed for Giardia cysts. Of these samples, from the Hinckley Reservoir raw source water 6 tests were positive for Giardia.  Therefore, our testing indicates Giardia may be present in our raw source water.  However, no Giardia was detected in our filtered drinking water. Current test methods do not allow us to determine if the organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Ingestion of Giardia may cause giardiasis, an intestinal illness.  People exposed to Giardia may experience mild or severe diarrhea, or in some instances no symptoms at all.  Fever is rarely present.  Occasionally, some individuals will have chronic diarrhea over several weeks or a month, with significant weight loss.  Giardiasis can be treated with anti-parasitic medication.  Individuals with weakened immune systems should consult with their health care providers about what steps would best reduce their risks of becoming infected with Giardiasis.  Individuals who think that they may have been exposed to Giardiasis should contact their health care providers immediately. The Giardia parasite is passed in the feces of an infected person or animal and may contaminate water or food.  Person to person transmission may also occur in day care centers or other settings where hand washing practices are poor.

Do I Need to Take Special Precautions?

Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water.  EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). 

Information on Fluoride Addition

Our system is one of the many drinking water systems in New York State that provides drinking water with a controlled, low level of fluoride for consumer dental health protection. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, fluoride is very effective in preventing cavities when present in drinking water at an optimal range from 0.8 to 1.2 mg/l (parts per million).   To ensure that the fluoride supplement in your water provides optimal dental protection, the State Department of Health requires that we monitor fluoride levels on a daily basis.  During 2008 monitoring showed fluoride levels in your water were in the optimal range 98 % of the time. None of the monitoring results showed fluoride at levels that approach the 2.2 mg/l MCL for fluoride.

Information on Lead

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, infants, and young children. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. Mohawk Valley Water Authority is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in household 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 (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Why Save Water and How to Avoid Wasting It?

Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:

• Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life;
• Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and
• Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential fire fighting needs are met.

You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can.  It is not hard to conserve water.  Conservation tips include:

• Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded.  So get a run for your money and load it to capacity.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Check every faucet in your home for leaks.  Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day.  Fix it up and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.
• Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank - watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl.  It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks.  Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.

What does this information mean?

As you can see by the table, our system had no violations.  We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below New York State requirements. It should be noted that the action level for lead was exceeded in two of the samples collected.  Based on this exceeded we are required to present the following information on lead in drinking water:

“Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).”

Is our water system meeting other rules that govern operations?

During 2008, our system was in compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements. 

Closing

In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply we sometimes need to make improvements that will benefit all of our customers. The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure. Rate adjustments may be necessary in order to address these improvements. 

Thank you for allowing us to continue to provide your family with quality drinking water this year. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community and our way of life.  Please call our office if you have questions.