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Why am I receiving this report?

In 1999, the US Congress 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, the staff of the Point Roberts Water District is pleased to provide you this report.

Our Commitment

The Point Roberts Water District (PRWD) is committed to providing safe drinking water to every household served. As a public water system the PRWD is governed by the Washington State Department of Health - Division of Environmental Health. Their website is: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/. The district operators are trained in water system management and wastewater operations and are licensed and certified by the WA State Division of Environmental Health. The website covering licensing and certification is: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/licensing.htm. According to guidelines, the district operators are required to meet minimum education and experience standards, pass a certification exam, and maintain their certification status by renewal every three years.

The PRWD may be small, but size does not prevent a continual upgrading of skills and a striving for excellence in providing service. That is our commitment.

Where does my drinking water come from?

The PRWD purchases water from the Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD), which draws water from three protected source lakes: Seymour, Capilano, and Coquitlam. The main supply for Point Roberts comes from the Seymour Lake source.

The water flowing into the PRWD 2.5 million gallon Wallace Reservoir is drawn from the GVWD Pebble Hill Reservoir located in Delta, BC. After treatment in the Wallace Reservoir it then enters the main distribution system of Point Roberts.

What’s in the drinking water?

The water sources from GVWD are unfiltered. The only microbial contaminant treatment involved is chlorination to protect against the giardia parasite, and coliform bacteria. Corrosion control treatment is done at the Seymour and Coquitlam plants. And, since surface water tends to be acidic (low pH), soda ash and/or lime are added to increase the pH to 7.0 (neutral), or slightly above.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain trace amounts of contaminants. It is important to remember that the presence of contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk. The PRWD and the GVWD routinely monitor for contaminants and constituents in the drinking water in accordance with Federal, State, and Provincial Laws.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes standards of treatment in their drinking water regulations which seek to limit the amount of certain contaminants in water to be distributed in any public water systems within the United States. The PRWD treats all drinking water entering the distribution system according to EPA standards. In the case of bottled water, it is the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that establish limits for contaminants.

Contaminants that may be present in source water before it is treated include:

• Microbial contaminants and fecal pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites, 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, and mining or farming.

• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources within 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.

There are some people that are more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-comprised persons, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, and those with HIV/AIDS or other immune systems disorders, can be particularly at risk from infections. In addition, infants and the elderly can be at heightened risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. Specific guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are also available through the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791

Coliform Testing Requirements: The WA State Department of Health -Division of Environmental Health determines the standard minimum number of bacterial test samples required to be taken on a water system based on the size of the population that is served. Two (2) samples per month are required during the periods January thru May and September thru December. The PRWD generally submits four (4) samples per month during these periods and when the population increases in the period June thru August, then five (5) samples per month are submitted. For the year 2007, the PRWD submitted a total of forty-eight (48) coliform bacteria test samples upon which bacteriological analysis was conducted. All sample test results were satisfactory.

Lead and Copper Action Levels: Lead seldom occurs naturally in water sources like rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead that are in the main distribution systems, and in household plumbing systems. When water stands in a system containing lead for several hours or more, then the lead dissolved into the water may reach unacceptable levels. To offset this, the GVWD began corrosion control in 1999. The PRWD began sampling for both lead and copper in November 1999. For further information, there is a pamphlet available at the district office called Living Lead Free.

Water Quality Data

Terms and Definitions

• MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level, the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water
• AL: Action Level, the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow
• MFL: Million Fibers per Liter, a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are no longer than 10 micrometers in length
• ppm: parts per million, equivalent to milligrams per liter
• ppb: parts per billion, equivalent to micrograms per liter
• pCi/L: picocuries per liter, a measure of radiation

The following table lists contaminants that lab analysis has detected, showing the level of contamination and the most recent test date.

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 is generally a result of a problem with water treatment or the pipes which distribute water, and are a good indicator that the water may be contaminated with other organisms that are pathogenic, that is, organisms that cause disease.

Nitrates - Nitrate in drinking water at levels about 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. Those caring for an infant should seek advice from their health care provider.

Lead - Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the AL could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Some people who drink water over many years containing lead in excess of the AL could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Copper - Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water over many years containing copper in excess of the AL could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their health care provider.

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

TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) - Some people who drink water over many years containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL 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 over many years containing asbestos in excess of the MCL may have an increased risk of developing intestinal polyps.

Arsenic - Some people who drink water over many years containing arsenic in excess of the MCL may have decreased longevity, blood effects, or dermal and nervous system toxicity effects.

Do you have questions or concerns about your drinking water?

If so, please contact the district office by telephone at: 1-360-945-4696 or by e-mail at: prwd@pointrobertswater.com or use the request form on the website at: http://www.pointrobertswater.com/infoform.htm

Further information can be obtained visiting the EPA Safe Drinking Water website at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/.

The GVWD writes a comprehensive Quality Control Annual Report. A copy of this report can be obtained at any BC lower mainland library. Additional water quality information can be found on the GVWD website at: http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/water/

If you would like to learn more, we invite you to attend any of the regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meetings. Regular meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month starting at 7:00PM in the district office located at 79 Tyee Drive, Suite A, Point Roberts, WA.