Important Information About Your Drinking Water
Disinfection Byproduct Levels Above Drinking Water Standards
Point Roberts Water
District No. 4 Water System (ID95750) –
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this situation does not require that you should take immediate action, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct the situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Testing results we received on January 10th, 2006, May 12th, 2006, July 17th, 2006 and November 2nd, 2006 show that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for haloacetic acids. The standard for haloacetic acids is .60 ppb. The average level of haloacetic acids over the last year was .63 ppb.
You do not need to use an alternate (e.g. bottled) water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
This is not an immediate risk. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Chlorination has been the main means for disinfecting municipal drinking water in several countries for many decades. The added chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter, to form a wide range of unwanted halogenated organic compounds, often referred to as disinfection by-products (DBPs). Amongst the most widely occurring by-products are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5s). Besides organic matter and chlorine dose, factors affecting the composition and concentration of DBPs include residence time in the distribution system, temperature, pH, and bromide levels.
The District has currently installed a diffuser system in the 1 million gallon reservoir to ensure good mixing of the water and avoid in tank dead spots. Additionally: The Seymour – Capilano Water Filtration Plant will be completed in 2007. The plant will include the world’s largest UV disinfection works. Filtration improves drinking water quality by removing micro-organisms, organics, silts and clays caused by heavy rainfall, and reduces the amount of chlorine required to maintain water quality. The water will also be treated to reduce corrosion in pipes and the staining of plumbing fixtures.
We anticipate resolving the problem within the year 2007.
For more information, please
contact the Point Roberts Water District No. 4 office at 945-4696 or