ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT. Summarizing Test Results from Table of Contents

Transcription

1 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT Summarizing Test Results from 2015 Table of Contents Surface System Report (Lower Peninsula) 1 Surface System Extended Data 13 Lightfoot System Report (Upper York County) 20 Lightfoot Extended Data 32 (Click any page number to go directly to that page.)

2 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT Summarizing Test Results from 2015 Este reporte contiene información importante sobre su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda. This report contains important information about your drinking water. Have someone translate it for you, or speak with someone who understands it.

3 CONTENTS A Message About Water Quality... 1 Your Drinking Water Source... 2 Testing Procedures... 3 Testing Results - Regulated Substances Testing Results - Non-regulated Microbials Definitions... 5 Testing Results - Unregulated Substances... 6 Important Health Information... 7 Drinking Water Treatment... 8 Additional Information of Interest... 8 About This Report... 9 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS CONTACT INFORMATION If you have questions or concerns about your water or water quality, please contact us. Here are some important numbers and information to keep handy: Customer Service (757) Call Center Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m 700 Town Center Drive (City Center Oyster Point) Walk-in Service Center Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m Washington Avenue (Newport News City Hall Annex) Walk-in Payment Center Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Customer Service wwcustservice@nnva.gov (monitored during normal business hours) Emergency Services (757) Emergencies only after normal business hours, on weekends and holidays. nnva.gov/waterworks On our website you can manage your account, pay your water bill online, sign up for paperless billing and automatic payment options, and read a more detailed water quality report. facebook.com/nnwaterworks Like us on Facebook to receive helpful tips, special announcements and updates. Plus, we get to hear from you!

4 A MESSAGE ABOUT WATER QUALITY Your tap water exceeds the highest standards set for drinking water quality. It comes delivered to your home at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. You can get two gallons of water from your faucet for less than a penny, while a single gallon of bottled water from the store can cost upward of $1.29. And by using tap water, you re saving money and not filling up landfills with plastic bottles! This annual report provides details about the water you drink every day as a customer of Newport News Waterworks. We test our water for the presence of more than 100 substances, and this report includes a chart showing you the levels of several regulated and non-regulated substances we detected in Our goal is to meet your need for a clean, safe supply of drinking water at a reasonable cost, while providing long-term management of our precious water resources DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 1

5 YOUR DRINKING WATER SOURCE Surface water provides the primary source of our drinking water. It begins with the Chickahominy River. When available, water is pumped from the river, above Walkers Dam, and is transferred through pipes to reservoirs for storage. Waterworks owns and operates five reservoirs that store and supply water to the treatment plants. Brackish (slightly salty) groundwater from deep wells in the Lee Hall area provide a second source of water. The two source waters are treated separately, then blended together before distribution to the service area. According to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission s Source Water Assessment, our surface water sources were rated as relatively high in susceptibility to contamination (which is one reason why water treatment is so important), while our deep groundwater wells were rated as low in susceptibility using the criteria developed by the state in its approved Source Water Assessment Program. The assessment report includes maps showing the source water assessment area, an inventory of known land-use activities, a susceptibility explanation chart, and definitions of key terms. A copy of the report is available from the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (757) or Newport News Waterworks (757) Generally speaking, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and radioactive material and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Substances that may be present in source water include: Microbial, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Inorganic, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses. Organic chemicals, including synthetic and volatile organics, are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. Radioactive, which can be naturallyoccurring or be the result of oil and The Chickahominy River gas production and mining activities. PAGE 2 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS

6 TESTING PROCEDURES To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish the limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. The water quality information listed here is based upon tests conducted in 2015 by Newport News Waterworks. Samples of treated water were taken at regular intervals from specific locations (residences, businesses, and the treatment plants) across the Waterworks service area. Every regulated substance that we detected in the water, even in the smallest traces, is listed in TABLE 1 on the following page. The table contains the name of each substance, the highest level allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health (MCLG), the amount detected, the usual sources of such contamination, and whether or not Waterworks meets the set regulation. For help understanding the tables, please see the definition of terms at the right and the footnotes at the bottom of the table. Newport News Waterworks participated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) third round of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). Approximately 6,000 utilities nationwide monitored unregulated contaminants for a year to help the EPA determine the occurrence of these contaminants in drinking water and whether or not they need to be regulated for protection of public health. The results of our findings are in TABLE 2 on page 6. An expanded version (listing additional test results) of the tables in this report can be found on our web site at waterqualityreport. There is a separate water quality report for our Lightfoot well system customers in York County. All can be found on our web site. To request that copies of these reports be mailed to you, call our customer service office at (757) DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 3

7 TABLE 1 - Regulated substances Contaminant - Unit of Measurement EPA s Ideal Goal (MCLG) Highest EPA Allowed Level (MCL) Highest Result (what we found) INORGANICS Range of Test Results Low-High Meets State & Federal Standards Likely Source Copper - ppm 1.3 AL = YES Corrosion of household plumbing Lead - ppb 0 AL = 15 <1.0 1 < YES Corrosion of household plumbing Fluoride - ppm YES Added to promote strong teeth Barium - ppm YES Erosion of natural deposits Nitrate - ppm YES Erosion of natural deposits Nitrite - ppm <0.001 YES Erosion of natural deposits DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS AND PRECURSORS Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) - ppb YES By-product of chlorination Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) - ppb < YES By-product of chlorination Total Organic Carbon removal none TT YES Naturally present in the environment MICROBIOLOGICAL Turbidity - NTU none TT YES Soil runoff Chloramines - ppm MRDLG 4 MRDL < YES Water additive used to control microbes RADIOLOGICAL - results from 2010, required to test again in 2016 Beta/Photon Emitters - pci/l YES Decay of natural & man-made deposits Notes: All results reported in the table above, except for lead, copper and radiological, are for samples taken in (those samples taken in 2014 are part of a required four-quarter running average). Radiological results are from samples taken in Lead and copper testing was completed in Lead, copper and radiological samples will be taken again in At least 90% of the samples were at or below this level. None of the individual samples exceeded the Action Level. Because our lead and copper levels are so low, we only have to test every three years. 2 The highest detected level of THM and HAA based on a specific location s four-quarter running average or for Chloramine a system-wide annual running average. The range number are the results from individual samples. The data in Highest Result column include samples from The range is for sample taken in Compliance is based on a running four-quarter average. The range is the individual monthly ratio from both water treatment plants. TOC has no adverse health effects, but can be a critical component in the formation of disinfection by-products. The data in Highest Result column include samples from The range is for samples taken in Turbidity is a measure of water cloudiness. It is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. 100% of samples were within the turbidity limit. TABLE 2 - Non-regulated microbials monitored at the source * Contaminant - Unit of Measurement MCLG MCL Highest Amount Detected Range of Test Results (Low-High) Likely Source Cryptosporidum - #/L n/a TT < Human or animal fecal waste * Found in source water only. See page 7 for additional information. DEFINITIONS AL (Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): 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. MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): 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. MRL (Minimum Reporting Level): An estimate of the lowest concentration of a compound that laboratories would report as a detection. MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit): A measure of water clarity. Turbidity greater than five NTU is just noticeable to the average person. pci/l (Picocuries per liter): A measure of radioactivity. EPA considers 50 pci/l to be the level of concern for beta particles. ppm (Parts per million or milligrams per liter [mg/l]): Equivalent to one penny in $10 thousand. ppb (Parts per billion or micrograms per liter [μg/l]): Equivalent to one penny in $10 million. ppt (Parts per trillion or nanograms per liter [ng/l]): Equivalent to one penny in $10 billion. TT (Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. PAGE 4 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS 2015 DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 5

8 TABLE 3 - Unregulated substances 5 Contaminant and Unit of Measurement Range of Test Results (Low- High) MRL Average Detected Amount Likely Source UNREGULATED ORGANICS - MONITORED AT THE TREATMENT PLANT Chloroform (ppb) n/a By-product of chlorination Dichlorobromomethane (ppb) n/a By-product of chlorination Dibromochloromethane (ppb) n/a By-product of chlorination UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING REGULATION (UCMR 3 ) This monitoring provides a basis for future regulatory actions to protect public health. Chlorate (µg/l) Agricultural defoliant or desiccant; disinfectant by-product; and used in production of chlorine dioxide. Total Chromium (µg/l) Naturally occurring, used in industry and can be discharged by industrial facilities. Total Chromium is the sum of chromium in all its valence states. Hexavalent Chromium Cr-6 (dissolved) (µg/l) Naturally occurring. Used in making steel and other alloys. A new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) risk assessment, not finalized yet, has raised concerns about the risk to human health. Strontium (µg/l) Naturally occurring. Has been used commercially to produce color TV tubes. It also blocks x-ray emissions. Vanadium (µg/l) Naturally occurring. Is used as an additive to steel to make engine parts and tools. PAGE 6 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS

9 IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION 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 water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as those 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. About Cryptosporidium - Cryptosporidium is a parasitic microbe found in surface waters throughout the U.S. Our monitoring indicates the presence of these organisms at very low levels in our source water but not in our treated water. Current test methods approved by the EPA do not allow us to determine if the organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Ingestion of cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection. Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals can overcome the disease within a few weeks. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause disease, and it may be spread through means other than drinking water. Most healthy individuals can overcome the disease within a few weeks. However, immunocompromised people, infants and small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life-threatening illness. We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult their doctor regarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause disease, and it may be spread through means other than drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) About Lead - Lead is not detectable in the treated water tested monthly from either treatment plant. However, if present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials associated with service lines and home plumbing. Newport News Waterworks is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by running your tap for 15 to 30 seconds, or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature, before using water for drinking or cooking. Waterworks recommends that you prepare baby formula with cold water. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 7

10 DRINKING WATER TREATMENT Untreated water is pumped to our treatment plants, where it passes through screens, before aluminum sulfate (alum) and polymer are added. These chemicals cause tiny particles in the water to cling together (coagulation), making the particles easier to remove. After the water is clarified, ozone (disinfection) is added to kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. The water is then sent through filters to remove any remaining particles (filtration). Lime is added to adjust the ph, fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay, and zinc orthophosphate is added to control corrosion inside the pipe system. Finally, chloramines, the secondary disinfectant, are added to maintain disinfection through the pipe system to your home or business. The brackish groundwater is pumped to our desalination plant located at our Lee Hall facility. Using a process called reverse osmosis, water is forced by high pressure through membranes that can remove the salt and other contaminants to produce very high quality water. The water is blended with treated surface water and sent out to our customers. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF INTEREST Sodium - The EPA has not set a standard for sodium in drinking water. However, sodium levels are usually low and unlikely to be a significant contribution to adverse health effects. The average level of sodium found in our treated water in 2015 was 18.8 mg/l, and the range was Should you have a health concern, please contact your health care provider. Hardness - No EPA standard is set. Water treated by Newport News Waterworks is considered moderately soft (4-6 grains which is equal to mg/l as calcium carbonate or CaCO3). In 2015 the average was 73 mg/l with a range of Fluoride - Fluoride is added to water to prevent tooth decay. Newport News Waterworks adheres to drinking water regulations set by the EPA and guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The range for prevention of dental cavities is 0.8 mg/l to 1.0 mg/l. Waterworks average fluoride level is within the optimum range. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed recommendation to lower the fluoride level is being studied nationally and locally. If the VDH alters their fluoride guidance to Virginia water utilities, we will comply. PAGE 8 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS

11 ABOUT THIS REPORT This annual water quality report or Consumer Confidence Report is written, prepared and distributed by the City of Newport News Waterworks Department (Newport News Waterworks) as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. It is reviewed and approved by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water in Norfolk. This report explains where your water comes from, what our tests show about it, and other things you should know about your drinking water. This report, the Lightfoot System water quality report, and expanded versions of both reports (featuring additional test results) are available online at waterqualityreport. A paper copy of this report is available at all local libraries in the Waterworks service area, our walk-in services lobby, and in City Halls and County offices in our service area. If you would like to receive a copy of this report in the mail, please call Waterworks at (757) Newport News Waterworks serves as a regional water provider for five jurisdictions: Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, York County and part of James City County. We are committed to providing a reliable supply of high quality drinking water to our customers. Our drinking water is treated and tested using state-of-the-art equipment and advanced procedures, and it meets or exceeds state and federal standards.the bottom line: The quality of your water is excellent. Because Waterworks is a department of the City of Newport News, major decisions about your drinking water are made by Newport News City Council. They meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 pm, and you are welcome to attend and participate. These meetings are broadcast live on Newport News City Channel (in Newport News - Cox channel 48 and Verizon FIOS channel 19) and can be viewed live or on-demand by all customers in our service area on the web at www. nnva.gov/nntv DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 9

12 Quality Reliability Community 700 Town Center Drive Newport News, VA (757) Kofi A. Boateng, P.E., Director W. Scott Dewhirst, P.E., Assistant Director Michael L. Hotaling, P.E., Facilities Manager Sherry L. Williams, Water Quality Manager

13 2015 SURFACE SYSTEM WATER QUALITY REPORT EXPANDED VERSION Glossary of Terms Term MCLG MCLG ppb ppm NTU pci/l VOC AL ICR Finished Water Source Water TT MRDL Definition Maximum Contaminant Level Goal Maximum Contaminant Level parts per billion or micrograms per liter (ug/l) parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/l) Nephelometric Turbidity Units picocuries per liter ( a measure of radioactivity) Volatile Organic Compound Action Level Information Collection Rule Treated water, drinking water Water prior entering the treatment plant, reservoir water Treatment Technique Maximum Residual Disinfection Level 2015 Regulated Contaminants of the Distribution System Contaminant, units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE COMMENTS Total Coliform 0 Presence of coliform bacteria in >5% of monthly samples 0.00% 0.0% - 0.0% A routine sample & a repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal E. Coli 0 coliform or E.coli positive 0.00% Total Trihalomethane THM, ppb HAA(5) < Total Chlorine (Chloramines) 4 MRDL= < TOC Removal TT (Compliance removal ratio) Lead, ppb AL=15 (>10% samples exceed AL) Copper, ppm AL=1.3 (>10% samples exceed AL) 1.22 (Min % removal) positive samples in samples collected 2015 Max Conc- qt compliance avg at a specific site. Range- individual samples collected in 2015 Max Conc- qt compliance avg at a specific site Range- individual samples collected in 2015 Max Conc- mn compliance avg, includes 2014 data Range- individual samples collected in 2015 Min Conc- qt compliance avg, includes 2014 data Range- weekly samples collected in 2015 <1.0 90% percentile < Sampling event; no sample exceeded the AL % percentile Sampling event, no samples exceeded the AL

14 2015 Regulated Health Risk Contaminants Inorganics- Regulated at the Treatment Plant Substance Units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? COMMENTS Arsenic ppb none 50 <1 YES NO Antimony ppb 6 6 <1 YES NO Barium ppm Erosion of natural deposits YES NO Beryllium ppb 4 4 <1 YES NO Cadmium ppb 5 5 <1 YES NO Chromium ppb <1 YES NO Cyanide ppb <5 YES NO Fluoride ppm YES NO Fluoride is added to promote strong teeth Mercury ppb 2 2 <0.05 YES NO Nitrate N, ppm Erosion of natural deposits YES NO Nitrite N, ppm 1 1 <0.001 YES NO Lead ppb n/a 15-AL <1 YES NO Selenium ppb <2 YES NO Thallium ppb <1 YES NO Bromate ppb 0 10 <1 YES NO Turbidity NTU n/a TT YES NO At least 95% of monthly samples had turbidity of < 0.30 NTU Radiological- Regulated at the Treatment Plant Substance Units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? COMMENTS Gross Alpha, inc Radon & Uranium pci/l 0 15 ND ND Erosion of natural deposits YES NO Radium-228 pci/l 0 5 ND ND YES NO Decay of natural & manmade Beta emitters pci/l deposits YES NO 2010 samples, next sampling event samples, next sampling event samples, next sampling event 2016

15 2015 Regulated Health Risk Contaminants Organics- Regulated at the Treatment Plant Substance Units MCLG MCL AVERAGE RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? Regulated VOC ppb Benzene ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO Carbon Tetrachloride ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO Chlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO o-dichlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO p-dichlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO 1,2-Dichloroethane ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 1,1-Dichloroethylene ppb 7 7 ND ND YES NO cis-1.2-dichloroethylene ppb ND ND YES NO trans-1,2-dichloroethylene ppb ND ND YES NO Dichloromethane ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 1,2-Dichlorpropane ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO Ethylbenzene ppb ND ND YES NO Styrene ppb ND ND YES NO Tetrachloroethylene ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO 1,1,1-Trichloroethane ppb ND ND YES NO 1,1,2-Trichloroethane ppb 3 5 ND ND YES NO Trichloroethylene ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO Toluene ppb 1 1 ND ND YES NO Vinyl Chloride ppb 0 2 ND ND YES NO Xylene ppb ND ND YES NO 38 Unregulated VOC ppb n/a n/a ND ND n/a n/a Chloroform ppb n/a n/a By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a Dichlorobromomethane ppb n/a n/a By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a Dibromochloromethane ppb n/a n/a By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a Bromoform ppb n/a n/a ND ND-1 By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a

16 2015 Regulated Nonhealth Risk Contaminants Contaminant, units MCLG MCL AVERAGE RANGE ph n/a Chloride, ppm n/a Color, color units n/a Copper,ppb n/a ND-17 Iron, ppb n/a ND-20 Manganese, ppb n/a ND-52 Silver, ppb n/a 100 <1 ND Sulfate, ppm n/a 500 (proposed) Total Dissolved Solids, ppm n/a Zinc, ppm n/a Miscellaneous Analyses of Finished Water at Water Treatment Plant Contaminant, units Units MCLG MCL AVERAGE RANGE Alkalinity CaCO3 ppm n/a n/a Aluminum ppb n/a Ammonia ppm n/a n/a Bromide ppb n/a n/a ND ND Calcium ppm n/a n/a Hardness CaCO3 ppm n/a n/a Lead ppm n/a n/a <1 <1 Magnesium ppm n/a n/a Molybdate ppb n/a n/a <1 <1 Nickel ppb n/a n/a <1 <1 Ortho-Phosphorus P, ppm n/a n/a Potassium ppm n/a n/a Silica ppm n/a n/a Sodium ppm n/a n/a Specific Conductance uhmo/cm n/a n/a

17 2015 Microbial Monitoring of Source Water Substance Units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Giardia #/L 0 n/a <0.105 < <0.105 Cryptosporidium #/L 0 TT < Unregulated Contaminate Monitoring Regulation- UCMR3 ( ) Analytee Units MRL AVG. CONC RANGE Sources and Comments Chlorate ug/l ND-550 Chromium ug/l ND-0.74 Hexavalent Chromium (Dissolved) ug/l Strontium ug/l Agricultural defoliant or desiccant; disinfectant byproduct; and used in production of chlorine dioxide See chromium -6 for use or source information; though the amount measured when analyzing for total Chromium is the sum of chromium in all its valence states, the MCL for EPA s current total regulation was determined based upon the health effects for chromium-6. Naturally occurring element; used in making steel and other alloys; chromium -3 or -6 forms are used for chrome plating, dyes and pigments, leather tanning, and wood preservation Naturally occurring element; historically commercial use of strontium has been in the faceplate glass of cathode ray tube televisions to block x-ray emissions Vanadium ug/l Naturally occurring elemental metal; used as vanadium pentoxide which is a chemical intermediate and catalyst

18 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation-3 (URMC3) Unregulated Contaminates MAX Range UCMR3- Oxyhalide Anion Chlorate 550 ND-550 UCMR3- Trace Metals Chromium 0.74 ND-0.74 Strontium Vanadium Cobalt ND ND Molybdenum ND ND UCMR3- Chrominum 6 Hexavalent Chromium (Dissolved) UCMR3- Synthetic Organic Compound: 1,4-Dioxane ND ND UCMR3- Perfluorinated Compounds Perfluoro octanesulfonic acid - PFOS ND ND Perfluoro-1-butanesulfonic acid -PFBS ND ND Perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid -PFHxS ND ND Perfluoroheptanoic acid - PFHpA ND ND Perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid -PFNA ND ND Perfluorooctanoic acid - PFOA ND ND UCMR3- Volatile Organic Compounds 1,1-Dichloroethane ND ND 1,2,3-Trichloropropane ND ND 1,3-butadien ND ND Bromochloromethane ND ND Bromomethane (Methyl Bromide) ND ND Chlorodifluoromethane ND ND Chloromethane(Methyl Chloride) ND ND

19 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation-3 (URMC3) (Cont.) Unregulated Contaminates MAX Range 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol ND ND 17-beta-Estradiol ND ND 4-androstene-3,17-dione ND ND Equilin ND ND Estriol ND ND Estrone ND ND Testosterone ND ND NOTE: Unregulated contaminants are those that don t yet have a drinking water standard set by the USEPA. The purpose of monitoring for these contaminants is to help EPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard.

20 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT Summarizing Test Results from 2015 for the Lightfoot Well System

21 CONTENTS A Message About Water Quality... 2 Testing Procedures... 3 Testing Results - Regulated Substances Definitions... 5 Testing Results - Non-regulated Organics Monitored at the Well Site... 6 Drinking Water Treatment... 6 Important Health Information... 6 Your Drinking Water Source... 7 Additional Information of Interest... 8 About This Report... 8 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS CONTACT INFORMATION If you have questions or concerns about your water or water quality, please contact us. Here are some important numbers and information to keep handy: Customer Service (757) Call Center Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m 700 Town Center Drive (City Center Oyster Point) Walk-in Service Center Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m Washington Avenue (Newport News City Hall Annex) Walk-in Payment Center Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Customer Service wwcustservice@nnva.gov (monitored during normal business hours) Emergency Services (757) Emergencies only after normal business hours, on weekends and holidays. On our website you can manage your account, pay your water bill online, sign up for paperless billing and automatic payment options, and read a more detailed water quality report. Like us on Facebook to receive helpful tips, special announcements and updates. Plus, we get to hear from you! 2015 DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 1

22 A MESSAGE ABOUT WATER QUALITY Your tap water exceeds the highest standards set for drinking water quality. It comes delivered to your home at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. You can get two gallons of water from your faucet for less than a penny, while a single gallon of bottled water from the store can cost upward of $1.29. And by using tap water, you re saving money and not filling up landfills with plastic bottles! This annual report provides details about the water you drink every day as a customer of Newport News Waterworks. We test our water for the presence of more than 100 substances, and this report includes a chart showing you the levels of several regulated and non-regulated substances we detected in Our goal is to meet your need for a clean, safe supply of drinking water at a reasonable cost, while providing long-term management of our precious water resources. PAGE 2 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS

23 TESTING PROCEDURES To ensure that the water provided to you is safe to drink, the Virginia Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits on the amounts of certain substances in water provided by public water systems. We routinely monitor for constituents in your drinking water according to these Federal and State laws. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for setting these limits on bottled water.) The table below includes monitoring results collected by Newport News Waterworks from 2006 to 2015 (not all substances require annual testing). Every regulated substance that was detected in the water, even in the smallest traces, is listed below. The table contains the name of each substance, the highest level allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health (MCLG), the amount detected, the usual sources of such contamination, and whether or not Waterworks meets the set regulation. For help understanding the table below, please see the definitions at the bottom of the page and the footnotes at the bottom of the table. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA s toll free Safe Drinking Water Hotline at An expanded version of the tables in this report (listing additional test results) can be found on our web site at waterqualityreport (be sure to look at the Lightfoot Well System report). A second water quality report is also available on our web site for our Lower Peninsula customers who are served by our surface water supply system. To request that copies of these reports be mailed to you, call our customer service office at (757) DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 3

24 TABLE 1 - Regulated substances Contaminant and Unit of Measurement EPA Ideal Goal (MCLG) Highest EPA Allowed Level (MCL) Max Detected Level Range Detected (Low-High) Meets State & Federal Standards Likely Source LEAD AND COPPER Lead (ppb) 0 AL = 15 <1 1 <1 - <1 YES Corrosion of household plumbing 2013 Copper (ppm) 1.3 AL = YES Corrosion of household plumbing 2013 INORGANICS Fluoride (ppm) YES Fluoride occurs naturally in groundwater 2015 Nitrate (N, ppm) < YES Erosion of natural deposits 2015 Barium (ppm) YES Erosion of natural deposits 2015 REGULATED CONTAMINANTS IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) N/A YES By-product of drinking water chlorination 2015 Haloacetic Acids (ppb) N/A YES By-product of drinking water chlorination 2015 DISINFECTANTS Free Chlorine (ppm) MRDLG = 4 MRDL = 4 Avg = YES Disinfectant added to control microbes 2015 RADIOLOGICAL (WELL #1 TESTED IN 2009 AND WELL #5 IN BOTH WELLS WILL BE TESTED AGAIN IN 2016) Alpha Emitters (pci/l) < YES Erosion of natural deposits 2009 & 2012 Beta/Photon Emitters (pci/l) YES Radium (pci/l) YES Year Tested Decay of natural and man-made deposits 2009 & 2012 Occurs naturally in rock, soil, water, plants and animals 2009 & 2012 DEFINITIONS AL (Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): 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. MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): 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. MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): The level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. TABLE 2 - Non-regulated organics monitored at the well site Contaminant and Unit of Measurement Max Detected Level Range Detected (Low-High) Likely Source UNREGULATED ORGANICS - MONITORED AT THE WELL SITE Year Tested Chloroform (ppb) By-product of chlorination 2014 Dichlorobromomethane (ppb) By-product of chlorination 2014 Dibromochloromethane (ppb) By-product of chlorination 2014 Notes: 1 At least 90% of the samples were at or below this level. None of the individual samples exceeded the Action Level. Our low lead and copper levels require us to only test every three years. The next sampling will be in Required to test every 3 years. 3 The highest detected level is based on an annual running average which will include 2014 data. The range numbers are the results from individual samples collected in pci/l (Picocuries per liter): A measure of radioactivity. The MCL for Beta particles is 4 mrem/year. EPA considers 50 pci/l to be the level of concern for beta particles. ppm (parts per million or milli-grams per liter [mg/l]): Equivalent to one penny in $10,000 ($10 thousand). ppb (parts per billion or micrograms per liter [µg/l]): Equivalent to one penny in $10,000,000 ($10 million). Note: MCLs are set at very stringent levels. To experience the possible health effects described for many regulated contaminants, a person would have to drink two liters of water at the MCL level every day for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having a possible health effect. PAGE 4 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS 2015 DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 5

25 DRINKING WATER TREATMENT Groundwater usually requires little or no treatment. Newport News Waterworks adds a small amount of chlorine to your well water for disinfection purposes and to ensure a disinfection residual throughout the distribution system. Chlorine also provides a level of protection against what is called cross-connection failure and negative pressure which can allow contaminant infiltration. The addition of chlorine to your water helps us to protect public health and to best abide by the Environmental Protection Agency s 2006 Groundwater Rule ( IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION 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 water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as those 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 are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) About Lead - Lead is not detectable in the treated water tested monthly from either treatment plant. However, if present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials associated with service lines and home plumbing. Newport News Waterworks is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by running your tap for 15 to 30 seconds, or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature, before using water for drinking or cooking. Waterworks recommends that you prepare baby formula with cold water. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at gov/safewater/lead. PAGE 6 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS

26 YOUR DRINKING WATER SOURCE Your drinking water comes from fresh water wells located in the Lightfoot area. Newport News Waterworks provides, on average, a little more than 360,000 gallons of water per day to our Lightfoot customers. The Virginia Department of Health conducted a Source Water Assessment of the Lightfoot Wells in Using the criteria developed by the state in its approved Source Water Assessment Program, the determined susceptibility to contamination was high for one of the two wells. One way our well water customers can protect their drinking water is by keeping septic systems in good repair and functioning properly. The assessment report consists of maps showing the Source Water Assessment area; inventory of known Land Use Activities, Potential Conduits to Groundwater, and Potential Sources of Contamination of Concern; Susceptibility Explanation Chart; and Definitions of Key Terms. The Source Water Assessment report is available by contacting Newport News Waterworks at (757) Generally speaking, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and radioactive material and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Substances that may be present in source water include: Microbial, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Inorganic, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses. Organic chemicals, including synthetic and volatile organics, are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. Radioactive, which can be naturallyoccurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT PAGE 7

27 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF INTEREST Sodium - The EPA has not set a standard for sodium in drinking water. However, sodium levels are usually low and unlikely to be a significant contribution to adverse health effects. The average level of sodium found in our treated water in 2015 was 57 mg/l, and the range was Should you have a health concern, please contact your health care provider. Hardness - No EPA standard is set. Water from the Lightfoot Well System is considered slightly hard at an average of 28 mg/l in a range of mg/l as CaCO3 or calcium carbonate. Fluoride - No additional fluoride is added to your well water. Any fluoride detected is naturally occurring. ABOUT THIS REPORT This annual water quality report or Consumer Confidence Report is written, prepared and distributed by the City of Newport News Waterworks Department (Newport News Waterworks) as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. It is reviewed and approved by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water in Norfolk. This report explains where your water comes from, what our tests show about it, and other things you should know about your drinking water. This report, the Lightfoot System water quality report, and expanded versions of both reports (featuring additional test results) are available online at waterqualityreport. A paper copy of this report is available at all local libraries in the Waterworks service area, our walk-in services lobby, and in City Halls and County offices in our service area. If you would like to receive a copy of this report in the mail, please call Waterworks at (757) Newport News Waterworks serves as a regional water provider for five jurisdictions: Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, York County and part of James City County. We are committed to providing a reliable supply of high quality drinking water to our customers. Our drinking water is treated and tested using state-of-the-art equipment and advanced procedures, and it meets or exceeds state and federal standards.the bottom line: The quality of your water is excellent. Because Waterworks is a department of the City of Newport News, major decisions about your drinking water are made by Newport News City Council. They meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 pm, and you are welcome to attend and participate. These meetings are broadcast live on Newport News City Channel (in Newport News - Cox channel 48 and Verizon FIOS channel 19) and can be viewed live or on-demand by all customers in our service area on the web at www. nnva.gov/nntv. PAGE 8 NEWPORT NEWS WATERWORKS

28 Quality Reliability Community 700 Town Center Drive Newport News, VA (757) Kofi A. Boateng, P.E., Director W. Scott Dewhirst, P.E., Assistant Director Michael L. Hotaling, P.E., Facilities Manager Sherry L. Williams, Water Quality Manager

29 2015 LIGHTFOOT SYSTEM WATER QUALITY REPORT EXPANDED VERSION Glossary of Terms Term MCLG MCLG ppb ppm NTU pci/l VOC AL ICR Finished Water Source Water TT MRDL Definition Maximum Contaminant Level Goal Maximum Contaminant Level parts per billion or micrograms per liter (ug/l) parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/l) Nephelometric Turbidity Units picocuries per liter ( a measure of radioactivity) Volatile Organic Compound Action Level Information Collection Rule Treated water, drinking water Water prior entering the treatment plant, reservoir water Treatment Technique Maximum Residual Disinfection Level 2015 Regulated Contaminants of the Lightfoot Distribution System Contaminant, units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE YR TESTED COMMENTS Total Coliform 0 Presence of coliform bacteria in >1 of monthly samples 0.00% 0% 2015 A routine sample & a repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E.Coli 0 E.coli positive 0% 0% 2015 Total Trihalomethane (THM), ppb HAA(5) Free Chlorine 4 MRDL=4.0 Lead, ppb Copper, ppm AL=15 (>10% samples exceed AL) AL=1.3 (>10% samples exceed AL) 0 positive sample, 111 samples analyzed in positive sample, 111 samples analyzed in 2015 Max Conc- mn compliance avg, includes 2014 data Range- individual samples collected in % percentile < No sample exceeded the AL % percentile No sample exceeded the AL

30 2015 Regulated Health Risk Contaminants Metals - Regulated at the Wells Substance Units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? YR Tested Arsenic ppb none 50 <2 <2 YES NO 2015 Barium ppb <1-1.6 Erosion of natural deposits YES NO 2015 Cadmium ppb 5 5 <2 <2 YES NO 2015 Chromium ppb <10 <10 YES NO 2015 Lead ppb n/a 15-AL <2 <2 YES NO 2015 Mercury ppb 2 2 <0.2 <0.2 YES NO 2015 Selenium ppb <10 <10 YES NO 2015 Thallium ppb <2 <2 YES NO 2015 Antimony ppb 6 6 <2 <2 YES NO 2015 Beryllium ppb 4 4 <2 <2 YES NO 2015 Inorganics - Regulated at the Wells Substance Units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? YR Tested Fluoride ppm YES NO 2015 Nitrate N, ppm < Erosion of natural deposits YES NO 2015 Nitrite N, ppm 1 1 <0.001 <0.001 Erosion of natural deposits YES NO 2015 Radiological - Regulated at the Wells Substance Unit MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? YR Tested Alpha emitters pci/l <0.6 Erosion of natural deposits YES NO 2009 & 2012 Beta emitters pci/l Decay of natural & man-made deposits YES NO 2009 & 2012 Radium-228 pci/l YES NO 2009 & 2012

31 2015 Regulated Nonhealth Risk Contaminants Contaminant, units MCLG MCL AVERAGE RANGE YR Tested ph n/a Chloride, ppm n/a Color, color units n/a Copper,ppb n/a 1300 <1 < Iron, ppb n/a Manganese, ppb n/a 50 <1 < Sulfate, ppm n/a 500 (proposed) Total Dissolved Solids, ppm n/a Zinc, ppm n/a <

32 2015 Regulated Health Risk Contaminants Organics - Regulated at the Treatment Plant Substance Units MCLG MCL MAX CONC RANGE Likely Source Meets EPA Standards Violations? YR Tested Regulated VOC ppb Benzene ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 2014 Carbon Tetrachloride ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 2014 Chlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO 2014 o-dichlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO 2014 p-dichlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO ,2-Dichloroethane ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO ,1-Dichloroethylene ppb 7 7 ND ND YES NO 2014 cis-1.2-dichloroethylene ppb ND ND YES NO 2014 trans-1,2-dichloroethylene ppb ND ND YES NO 2014 Dichloromethane ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO ,2-Dichlorpropane ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 2014 Ethylbenzene ppb ND ND YES NO 2014 Styrene ppb ND ND YES NO 2014 Tetrachloroethylene ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO ,2,4-Trichlorobenzene ppb ND ND YES NO ,1,1-Trichloroethane ppb ND ND YES NO ,1,2-Trichloroethane ppb 3 5 ND ND YES NO 2014 Trichloroethylene ppb 0 5 ND ND YES NO 2014 Toluene ppb 1 1 ND ND YES NO 2014 Vinyl Chloride ppb 0 2 ND ND YES NO 2014 Xylene ppb ND ND YES NO Unregulated VOC ppb n/a n/a ND ND n/a n/a 2014 Chloroform ppb n/a n/a By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a 2014 Dichlorobromomethane ppb n/a n/a By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a 2014 Dibromochloromethane ppb n/a n/a 2.9 ND-2.9 By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a 2014 Bromoform ppb n/a n/a ND ND By-product of drinking water chlorination n/a n/a 2014