2017 Drinking Water Quality Report for 2016 Data
Our Drinking Water is Safe! The City of Southlake's goal is to provide you with safe and reliable drinking water. We are happy to report that our water meets the standards for safe drinking water quality standards as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This report is a summary of the quality of the water we provided you in 2016.
In This Report: 2
Microorganism Testing Shows Low Detection in Raw Water
3
A Guide to Your Water Quality
4
How to Read Your Water Quality Report Data
5
Regulated Contaminants Tested in 2016
6
Regulated Contaminants Tested in 2016
7
Funny Taste or Smell?
8
Unregulated Disinfection By-products
9
Southlake's Water Source: Fort Worth Relies on Surface Water
10
Stormwater Quality
11
Lead and Copper Testing in 2016 by the City of Southlake
12
We Need to Tell You About a Violation
13
Water Loss, as Reported to the Texas Development Board
14
For More Information
Microorganism Testing Shows Low Detection in Raw Water Tarrant Regional Water District monitors the raw water at all intake sites for Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, and viruses. 2016 sampling shows low levels of detection of microorganisms that are commonly found in surface water. The table below indicates when microorganisms were found in each raw water source. Microorganism monitoring is conducted monthly. Visual monitoring is performed quarterly.
Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia are removed from your drinking water through a combination of disinfection and/or filtration. Viruses are treated through the disinfection process.
You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, or immuno-compromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline. 2
A Guide to Your Water Quality This report is a summary of the quality of water we provided to our customers in 2016. Data found in the following pages was obtained from sampling protocols, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Definitions and Abbreviations Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level; the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal; the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risks. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MRL: Minimum Reporting Level; the lowest concentration of a constituent or a contaminant that can be measured by a laboratory. N/A: Data field not applicable to the particular constituent we are reporting information about. NTU: Nepholomeric Turbidity Units; a measure of water turbidity or clarity. pCi/L: Picocuries per Liter; a measure of radioactivity. ppb: Parts per Billion or micrograms per liter (Îźg/L).
MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level; the highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is evidence that addition of
ppm: Parts per Million or milligrams per liter (mg/L).
a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. TT: Treatment Technique; a required process intended to reduce the MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal; the level of a level of a contaminant in drinking water. Â drinking water disinfectant below which there are no known or expected health risks. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. 3
How to Read Your Water Quality Report Data This Consumer Confidence Report is a summary of the constituents that are in your drinking water and how these constituents may affect your health. This quick reference may help you to better understand the information provided in the rest of this report. The amount, from lowest to highest, of this contaminant detected in our drinking water this year Parts per million is equal to one teaspoon in 1,302 gallons
Parts per billion is equal to one teaspoon in 1,302,000 gallons
The highest amount of a contaminant EPA allows in drinking water
The average amount of this contaminant detected in our drinking water this year
Below this level, a contaminant has no known or expected health risks.
This describes some of the ways contaminants enter drinking water; wording is provided by EPA and may or may not apply to the City of Southlake
4
Regulated Contaminants Tested in 2016 Coliform Bacteria
Disinfectants, Disinfectant By-Products and Inorganic Contaminants
5
*Because of historically low levels of radionuclides in its water, TCEQ has Fort Worth on a reduced monitoring schedule. The test results shown are from 2011 to 2014.
Total organic carbon is used to determine disinfection by-product precursors. Fort Worth was in compliance with all monitoring and treatment technique 6 requirements for disinfection by-product precursors.
Funny Taste or Smell? Occasionally, water suppliers experience episodes of unpleasant odors and tastes in the water, often characterized as "earthy" or "musty". These taste and odor variations are caused by naturally-occurring algae growth in the source of your drinking water, such as Eagle Mountain Lake. The compounds that cause this particular taste and smell do not pose any health risks. Other constituents, which are often found in drinking water, can also cause taste, color, and odor. These secondary constituents are not causes for health concern. We report information about these secondary constituents to help you in making a determination about the taste, odor and appearance of your water.
7
Unregulated Disinfection By-products Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. Because these contaminants are not regulated there is not a Maximum Contaminant Level or Maximum Contaminant Level Goal.
8
Southlake's Water Source: Fort Worth Relies on Surface Water The City of Southlake gets all of its water from the City of Fort Worth's Water Department. Fort Worth obtains water from surface water sources: Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Bridgeport, Richland Chambers Reservoir, Cedar Creek Reservoir, and the Clear Fork Trinity River (from Lake Benbrook). Fort Worth owns Lake Worth. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is responsible for Lake Benbrook. The other four lakes are owned and operated by Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD).
TCEQ Accesses Raw Water Supplies Fort Worth uses surface water from Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Bridgeport, Richland Chambers Reservoir, Cedar Creek Reservoir, and the Clear Fork Trinity River. Fort Worth owns Lake Worth. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is responsible for Lake Benbrook. The other four lakes are owned and operated by Tarrant Regional Water District. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality completed an assessment of Fort Worth's, and subsequently, Southlake's source waters. TCEQ classified the risk to our source waters as high for most contaminants. Highly susceptibility means there are activities near the source water watershed that make it very likely chemical constituents may come into contact with the source water. It does not mean there are any health risks present. Tarrant Regional Water District, from which the Southlake ultimately purchases its water, recieved the assessment reports. For more information on source water assessments and protections efforts at our system contact Southlake Water Utilities at 817748-8082. Further details about the source water assessments are available at www.tceq.texas.gov/gis/swaview. Further details about sources and source water assessments are available through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at www.tceq.texas.gov/drinkingwater.
9
Stormwater Quality The majority of stormwater pollution occurs during rain events, when runoff picks up debris, dirt, and other pollutants and carries the pollutant to local streams, creeks, and lakes. Because all storm drains are directly connected to natural drainage basins with no treatment, anything left on the ground becomes stormwater pollution, harshly affecting our ecosystem and our water sources.
You Can Make a Difference by Taking Care to Avoid Common Pollutants Pick up your pets' waste from your lawn on a regular basis. Not only will this be healthier for your pets, but you can also avoid discharging bacteria during rain events.
When possible take your car for a professional wash. Professional services drain to a wastewater treatment plant instead of letting soaps, metals, and petroleum discharge to streams and creeks
Whether you use organic or inorganic fertilizer, take care to avoid letting it wash off the yard. Fertilizers feed bacteria and algae, quickly causing problems in streams and creeks.
Recycling and composting waste can also help. Reducing our demand on natural resources means less industrial impacts and demands on the environment, including our local streams and creeks.
10
Lead and Copper Testing in 2016 by the City of Southlake If present, elevated levels of lead can lead to serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and private plumbing. The City of Southlake is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have you 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 www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Lead and Copper in Schools Lead and copper contaminants are especially harmful to children. In 2016 Southlake Water Utilities worked with Carroll ISD and Keller ISD, as our water customers, to ensure our drinking water in these schools is safe to drink. School officials collected water from drinking water fountains and other potential drinking water sources from the school. Southlake Water Utilities then analyzed these samples for lead and copper. We are happy to report all drinking water sources in the schools met EPA guidelines for safe drinking water. 11
We Need to Tell You About a Violation Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Southlake Water Utilities Takes Your Water Quality Seriously Southlake Water Utilities has a commitment to ensuring we are delivering safe drinking water to you, our customer. To improve our operations and deliver on our commitment to you, the City has made several infrastructure and technical investments in the annual Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to aid in drinking water quality.
Chlorine analyzers have been installed at all major water storage facilities. These analyzers are providing instantaneous readings, allowing staff to continuously monitor disinfectant levels.
A water quality study conducted by an engineering firm identified key locations to install automatic flushing devices to keep water fresh in vulnerable locations.
City Council has approved the installation of mixing units, to be installed at all elevated storage facilities. These units will assist in keeping the water fresh while stored in the tank.
12
Water Loss, as Reported to the Texas Development Board Water Fast Fact:
Every year the City of Southlake is required to report water loss to the Texas Water Development Board. This is un-metered water used in fire hydrant protection, water line flushing for health and safety, and other activities. Water loss also includes water lost to leaks, line breaks, and other uncontrollable flow. We reported a loss of 195 million gallons, or approximately 6.6% of all water brought into the City of Southlake in 2016. One of the most important tools in accurately measuring water loss and ensuring accurate utility billing is the water meters throughout the City. The large production meters that measure the incoming water purchased from the City of Fort Worth are tested and calibrated at least once per year. The Southlake Water Department's goal is to conform to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) meter accuracy standard of 98.5% to 101.5%.
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 materials, and in some cases radioactive material. Water can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminant is a technical term for anything detected in water other than water. When drinking water meets Federal standards there may not be any health benefits to purchasing bottled water or filtration devices. Another important water loss prevention operation is repairing leaks. In 2016 we repaired this major transmission line between Fort Worth and Southlake.
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 water poses a health risk.Call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline for more information about contaminants and potential health effects of contaminants: 800-426-4791 13
For More Information The information in this report represents a high-level review of our City's water. For additional information Please contact the City of Southlake Public Works Department at 817-748-8082. Additional copies of the Water Quality Report are available in the Public Works Department offices at Town Hall, located at 1400 Main Street or at Public Works Operations, located at 1950 E. Continental Blvd. To participate in decisions concerning water you may attend City of Southlake Council meetings. Please call 817-748-8183 or visit www.cityofsouthlake.com for more information regarding meeting times and dates
Give Us a Call New Service/Billing Questions/Meter Leaks
817- 748- 8051 Visit us Online www.cityofsouthlake.com
Water Quality Inquiries/Complaints
817-748-8082
Main Breaks/Sewer Problems
817-748-8082
If you have any questions concerning the CCR, please call the Drinking Water Quality Team at 512-239-4691 or email PWSCCR@tceq.texas.gov. When you contact the TCEQ please make sure that you reference the City of Southlake, ID #2200075.
En Espanol Este informe incluye información importante sobre el aqua potable. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios sobre éste informe en español, favor de llamar al tel. 817-748-8082 para hablar con una persona bilingüe en español. 14
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Grapevine, TX Permit No. 55 ECRWSS
1950 E Continental Blvd Southlake, TX 76092
POSTAL PATRON