Deschutes Valley Water District

2007 Water Quality Report

We are pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually protect our water resources.

The Opal Springs aquifer supplies the domestic water for Deschutes Valley Water District’s approximately 4,000 services. The artesian spring is located 5 miles southwest of Culver at the bottom of the 850 foot deep Crooked River canyon, less then 150 feet from the river. The artesian wells are located on the east side of the canyon ranging from 300 - 600 feet south of Opal Springs.

Opal Springs flows approximately 108,000 gallons per minute at 53.8 degrees Fahrenheit with no seasonal variation. There has been no detectable change in flow, temperature, or pH since the spring was first tested in 1925. Well #1 is 750 feet deep and produces 3,750 gallons per minute. Well #2 is 513 feet deep and produces 5,360 gallons per minute. Well #3 is 661 feet deep and produces 4,000 gallons per minute. It has been determined that the wells and Opal Springs are fed from the same aquifer.

Currently, there is no filtration or treatment of Opal Springs of any kind (nor is any needed). Historic and continuing water quality analysis indicates an absence of manmade contaminants in the captured Opal Springs water. The source is well protected because it is hundreds of feet below the surface and under pressure. It is unlikely that contaminants introduced on the surface would reach the deep aquifer. The spring and wells have yet to show radiation from W.W. II nuclear testing, placing the age of the water from Opal Springs at 50 years old minimum. According to “U.S.G.S. Report 97-197,” studies show the age of the water could be one to four thousand years old. An analysis for waterborne particulates shows conclusively that Opal Springs is a ground water source, not influenced by surface water.

Hardness of water is caused by the presence of magnesium and calcium. Excessive hardness is undesirable because it causes difficulties when doing laundry or washing dishes. Domestic water should have a hardness less than 85 mg/l. The District’s water tests at 42 mg/l and is considered very soft.

The pH of water is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A low reading would indicate acidic water (which is corrosive) while a high reading connotes basic water. Neutral water (neither acidic or basic) would have a reading of 7. The District’s pH tested at 7.98 which is just a little basic.

We are pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements. If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact General Manager, Edson Pugh at (541) 475-3849. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Board Meetings. They are held on the second Monday of each month at the District office at 881 SW Culver Hwy, Madras, Oregon. Please call the office at (541) 475-3849 for the time.

The purity of our water is of the degree that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require Deschutes Valley Water District (the District) to test for every contaminant every year. A waiver granted by the Oregon Health Division (OHD) in 1996, stipulates the frequency and elements to be tested. The table that follows reflects our most recent water sample results and complies with all EPA and OHD testing regulations. The District routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to federal and state laws. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of constituents. It is important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk.

In the following table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we have provided the following definitions:

Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

Action level - the concentrations of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT) - A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is 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.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The “Goal” (MCLG) is 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.

Variances & Exemptions (V&E) - State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment.technique under certain conditions.

**Lead and Copper: There is no detectable lead or copper in our water source; however, these metals can enter the drinking water supply through corrosion within the distribution system or household plumbing. Therefore, supplemental testing is conducted at individual taps of customers whose plumbing meets criteria for being at risk for elevated lead and copper levels. The levels detected in the chart are at the 90th percentile value. No samples exceeded the action levels (MCL). It is advisable to let water run a short while before drinking if the faucet has not been used for more than six hours. Since hot water promotes leaching of lead, avoid using hot tap water for cooking or drinking. These are particularly important precautions to take when mixing formula or other beverages for infants or children.

All 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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants 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 about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Please call our office if you have questions.  Our office hours are from 7:30 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

We at Deschutes Valley Water District are proud of our water system and work very hard to provide top quality water to every tap at a reasonable rate. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.

Great Job!

This page was updated Tuesday, January 23, 2007.