2012 salem waterqualityreport

7/31/2019 2012 Salem WaterQualityReport

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Drinking Water Quality Datafrom 2011

2012 Annual

Water Quality Report

What the EPA wants you

to know -page 4

Watershed monitoring

-page 9

Stormwater Utility

-page 10

Backow Prevention

Program-page 4

Reduced monitoring

for Lead and Copper -

page 8


2/12

To Our Valued Customers,

I hope you take a moment to read the City of Salems 2012 Annual Water Quality Report.

This regulatory report contains required information about Salems drinking water, includ

where it comes from, how it is treated, and what, if any, contaminants it may contain.

Our commitment is to provide drinking water that consistently meets state and federal

regulations. In 2011, the City of Salem drinking water met or surpassed every public hea

requirementover 120 drinking water quality standardsset by the Oregon Health Auth

and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

As always, we strive to continue to provide excellent customer service by delivering high

quality drinking water to your tap. For more information on Salems drinking water, plea

visit www.cityofsalem.net.

Sophia Hobet

Water Services Manager

Salem Public Works Department

503-588-6211

THE FEDERAL SAFE DRINKIN

WATER ACT requires this annual

water quality report be mailed

to every customer to provide

information regarding the quality

of the communitys drinking water

Each copy of this report costs $0.3

cents to print and mail. If you hav

any questions or comments, please

email [email protected] or

call the Water Quality Hotline at

503-588-6323.


3/12

Understanding S

Source Water As

The City of Salems Source

in 2003 with assistance fromEnvironmental Quality, pro

contaminant sources that co

of the North Santiam River

the federal Safe Drinking W

areas where contaminant so

on the water supply.

Results of the assessment r

include sediments/turbidity

nutrients. Potential sourceshighways, leaking septic sy

practices, above ground an

wood processing and millin

mechanical shops. The Cit

within the North Santiam R

its drinking water source.


4/12

QualityReport|

Cityof

Salem

What the EPA Want

Contaminants in So

The sources of drinking water (bo

lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,

the surface of the land or through

minerals and, in some cases, radio

resulting from the presence of anithat may be present in source wat

Microbial contaminants, suc

from sewage treatment plants

operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, suc

occurring or result from urba

wastewater discharges, oil an

Pesticides and herbicides, w

as agriculture, urban stormwa

Organic chemical contamina

chemicals, which are byprodu

production, and can also com

and septic systems

City Changes Backflow

Prevention Program

The City of Salem Backow Prevention Program is required

by the State of Oregon and Salem Revised Code to ensure

safe drinking water for its customers. Backow prevention

assemblies are required in locations where contaminatedwater may enter into the Citys distribution system. Different

types of assemblies are used to ensure the highest level of

protection at locations ranging from mortuaries and hospitals

to irrigation and re suppression systems.

The City has made some recent changes to its program.

Notication of annual backow testing is now being sent

to both utility account holders and property owners. The

property owner is responsible for ensuring that a backow

assembly is tested annually. However, if a property ownerdoes not comply, water service disconnection will occur at the

property where the assembly is located.

Each backow assembly is assigned a compliance month.

The City now sends two notications during the compliance

period to remind customers of the required testing. If the

City does not receive a valid test report during the compliance


5/12

The City of Salem is celebrating the past 75

years of utilizing the North Santiam River as

its drinking water supply. The river, which

ows from the foothills of the Cascade Range,

provides high quality river water suitable for

slow sand ltration at the Geren

Island Water Treatment Facility.

Following slow sand ltration, the

water is further treated with sodium

hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) for

disinfection, uorosilicic acid (liquid

uoride) for uoridation, and sodium

carbonate (soda ash) to minimize the

corrosion of lead and copper from

household plumbing.

Additionally, the City utilizes an Aquifer Storage

and Recovery (ASR) system, located in South

Salem. In the winter months, during peak river

ows and low customer water demand, treated

drinking water is injected in the ASR system.

The water is stored in a naturally-occurring

if l t d 350 f t b l W d

Salems Sources for Drinking Water


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QualityReport|

CityofSalem


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Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): 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.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest

level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.

MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the

best available treatment technology.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant

which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other

requirements which a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique

to reduce the level of a

Maximum Residual D

The highest level of a

water. There is convin

a disinfectant is necess

contaminants.

Maximum Residual D

The level of a drinking

there is no known or e

not reect the benets

microbial contaminatio

Definitions

Units of Measurement

Parts per Million (ppm): one part per million is

equivalent to half an aspirin tablet dissolved in a full

bathtub of water (approximately 50 gallons).

Nephelometric Turbid

unit of measurement use

turbidity in water sampl


8/12

QualityReport|

CityofSalem

The City of Salem is currently on a

reduced monitoring schedule for lead

and copper. The last round of lead

and copper sampling was conducted

during the summer of 2010. Of

the 99 samples received, only three

samples exceeded the action level

for lead and one home exceeded the

action level for copper. The next

round of lead and copper sampling is

scheduled for the summer of 2013.

If present, elevated levels of lead

can cause 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 home plumbing The City

been sitting for several hours, you

can minimize the potential for lead

exposure by ushing 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 your

exposure is available from the Safe

Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

The City of Salem offers free lead

testing to its water customers. If you

are concerned about the levels of

lead in your home and would like to

request a free lead test please call the

City Remains on Reduced Monitoring

for Lead and Copper Sampling


9/12

An ounce of pr

Accordi

Agency

bear thesources

River pr

source w

barrier i

the Citys water

in the watershed

to any changes t

The City takes a

conditions in thecollects samples

water, such as ho

contaminants ex

caused condition

quality, such as

spills, and agricu

Watersh


10/12QualityReport|

CityofSalem

Stormwater UtiStormwater management is a ke

Clean Water Act. Salem has ha

for many years. Our current pr

ooding response, regulatory co

monitoring, and much more. S

by Salems wastewater ratepaye

paid by each homeowner and b

During 2009, the City worked w

associations, the Salem Area Ch

develop a separate stormwater u

equitable way of paying for Sal

fee will be based on an evaluati

by impervious surfaces.

On December 6, 2010, Salem C

stormwater utility. Implementa

1, 2013. The rate will be phase

on Ja

being

charg

incor

Salem Families Benefit from

Low Income Assistance Program

The Low Income Assistance Program, sponsored by the

City of Salem, is dedicated to helping individuals and

families facing nancial difculties pay their water and

sewer bills. The Program is possible due to generous

water and sewer customers making voluntary tax-

deductible donations used exclusively for low incomeassistance.

Since February 2008, a total of $108,324.16 has

been distributed to 1,351 families and individuals

who would have otherwise faced possible water

service disruption. Currently the donation amounts

received are not enough to keep up with the low


11/12

Water Conservation

Dont Set It and Forget ItIrrigation systems can be convenient tool to keep lawns and landscaped areas green during

the hot summer months. Unfortunately, they can also be inefcient and wasteful if they are

not properly maintained and programmed efciently.

Some helpful tips for irrigation system operation and maintenance:

Proper scheduling Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage healthy

root systems.

Check irrigation sprinkler heads often for leaks, misdirected spray, or pressure issues.

Turn off irrigation to zones that have established vegetation and no longer require

supplemental watering.

Periodica lly check for ponding or pooling of water.

Water early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid water loss due to

evaporation.

Revisit the systems schedule and adjust if needed.

One Inchper Week

Your lawn only needs

approximately one inch of water

per week to stay healthy and

green. Do you know how much

water you apply every week?

Request a free One Inch per

Week lawn watering gauge to

nd out. Call the Water Quality

Hotline at 503-588-6323 or email

[email protected].


12/12

US EPA Safe Drinking

Water Hotline

1-800-426-4791

or www.epa.gov

Oregon Health Authority

Drinking Water Program

971-673-0405

http://public.health.oregon.

gov/HealthyEnvironments/DrinkingWater/Pages/

index.aspx

(Salems ID# 00731)

City of Salem Public

Works Department

Water Quality Hotline

503-588-6323

[email protected]

Water Conservation

Hotline

[email protected]

503-588-6323

Water Outreach and

Education Program

To arrange a classroom

presentation, eld trip or

community service project,call 503-588-6211

City of Salem Website

www.cityofsalem.net

Espanol?

www.cityofsalem.net

Salem Public Works Department

1410 20th Street SE BLDG 2

Salem OR 97302-1200

Salems Drinking Water

Annual Report

Whats Inside?

What EPA Wants You to Know

Reduced Monitoring for Lead and

Copper Continues

2011 Water Quality Results

Stormwater Utility Fee Begins 2013

Changes to Backow Program

Low Income Assistance for Water Bill

Water Conservation

FOR MORE INFORMATION

This report informs you about the drinking water you use every

day including where it comes from, how it is treated, and any

contaminants it may contain. In 2011, City of Salem drinking water

met or surpassed every public health requirement, over 120 drinking

water quality standards, set by the Oregon Healthy Authority and the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Note: If you are a manager of a business or

multifamily dwelling, please share this report with

your employees or residents. If you would like

additional copies of this report, please call the WaterQuality Hotline at 503-588-6323

2012 salem waterqualityreport

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