2010 WATER QUALITY REPORT

        We are pleased to present this year’s annual drinking water quality report.  The purpose of this report is to inform you about the quality of water we deliver to you everyday.  It is our goal to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. 

        We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.  If you want to learn more, you may attend any of our regularly scheduled board of directors meetings.  They are held the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Water District office, located at 121 NW Douglas Blvd., Winston, OR  97496. 

       All water treated and delivered by Winston-Dillard Water District is surface water taken from the South Umpqua River.  Surface water refers to water that comes from an above ground source, such as a lake, stream or reservoir.  There are two major impoundments that feed into the South Umpqua River, Ben Irving and Galesville.  Both of these help to control the maximum and minimum flow of water. Both impoundments have made great improvements in the quality of water we use for the treatment of drinking water. A source water assessment has been completed by the DEQ. 

       Winston-Dillard Water District has a conventional water treatment plant located on the South Umpqua River in Winston.  The treatment plant is operated by a well trained, state certified staff.  The technology and expertise at this facility allow us to consistently exceed all current water quality standards. Water samples are routinely collected from different sampling stations around the system and tested in state certified labs to make sure the water is safe for your consumption.  These samples must meet standards set by the Oregon Health Division (O.H.D.) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A).  The microbiological tests we have performed analyze the water for the presence of indicator organisms called, *Coli form Bacteria*. If the indicator organism is detected, there is the potential that other pathogenic (disease causing) organisms may be present.  Winston-Dillard Water District’s system is well protected against microbiological contamination.  The O.H.D and E.P.A. provide guidelines on maximum contaminate levels (mcls) for this type of testing. Winston-Dillard Water District does very well with this requirement, as we have had zero (0) positive samples for well over 19 years.

        Drinking water, including bottled water, can be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.  The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water generates a health risk. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.  Immune-compromised people, such as those with cancer and are 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 from their health care providers.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the E.PA.*s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791) 

       In the South Umpqua River there is no lead or copper. Therefore, additional regulations were adopted in 1991, calling for supplemental testing to occur at the taps of those customers considered being at highest risk for leaching of these substances into their water.    

       After several rounds of testing, we found our water did not tend to promote significant leaching of these minerals. 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. Winston-Dillard Water District 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 for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two 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 exposure is available form the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. 

      In this pamphlet you may find terms and abbreviations with which you are not familiar.  To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions;  

NON-DETECTS (ND): Laboratory analysis indicates that constituent is not present. 

PARTS PER MILLION (ppm): One part per million parts. 

NEPHELOMETRIC TURBIDITY (NTU): Neophelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. One of the most important ways to measure how well a water treatment process is performing is by turbidity analysis. Turbidity has no health effects.  However, turbidity can interfere with the disinfection and provide a medium for bacterial growth. The standard for turbidity is .30 NTU. Winston-Dillard Water District has an average turbidity of .04 and never exceeds .30 NTU.   

ACTION LEVEL (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.  

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) The Maximum Allowed (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCL*s are an enforceable level set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible in light of the best available treatment technology and cost/benefit considerations.  MCL’s are set at very stringent levels.  To understand the possible health side 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. 

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG): The *Goal* (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant below which there is no known expected risk to human health.  MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICAL (SOC): SOC's are herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides. These are tested to see if there is any industrial or agricultural source contamination.

VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS (VOC): Volatile organic chemicals are known to be or are probable carcinogens (cancer causing agents).  VOC's are used in many industrial solvents.

Volatile Organic Contaminants