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2.3 ERMUSR 06-13-2017 Elk River Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO: FROM: ERMU Commission Eric Volk—Water Superintendent MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: June 13, 2017 2.3 SUBJECT: 2016 Consumer Confidence Report ACTION REQUESTED: Receive and file the 2016 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) DISCUSSION: The ERMU 2016 Consumer Confidence Report(testing year) has been added to our website and a notice that it is available to water customers will be sent out in this month's ERMU Connector, and on the monthly bill. We have once again opted to utilize the web version to satisfy the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)notification requirement. We are required by The MDH to include specific text on water quality and health information. Beyond the scope of water testing, we have the option of adding further topics for customer education and awareness. Web Link to Current Consumer Confidence Report: http://elkriverutilities.com/pages/water- quality-report FINANCIAL IMPACT: None ATTACHMENTS: • Minnesota Department of Health Memo—CCR Distribution Requirements • Minnesota Department of Health—2016 CCR Certification Form • 2016 Water Quality Report/Consumer Confidence Report Page 1 of 1 28 M I N N E S O T A �l 1 Protecting, maintaining and improving 1J\41 the health of all Minnesotans DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ACTION REQUIRED DATE: April 1, 2017 TO: Elk River, PWSID 1710004 FROM: Karla R. Peterson, Supervisor Community Public Water Supply Unit ' Drinking Water Protection Section SUBJECT: Consumer Confidence Report— Distribution Requirements All community water systems must distribute a drinking water report known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually to their customers before July 1, 2017. Your system may reformat the CCR and/or add additional information about your water system (treatment processes, upgrades planned, etc.) however, that is not necessary. The CCR that we have provided will satisfy the requirements. If you choose to reformat the CCR, all the information in the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) CCR must be included in your newly reformatted CCR. You must add your phone number to the grey shaded area on Page 1 so customers can call with questions or request additional information. There may be other grey shaded areas in your CCR—it is your responsibility to fill in those areas with accurate information. Distribution: The requirements to distribute your CCR are determined by population. The population served by your water supply is 22974. The option(s)on how to distribute your CCR are listed on the enclosed Certification Form. Please indicate what option(s)you chose on the Certification Form. The Certification Form is to be returned to MDH, along with a copy of the CCR that was distributed to your customers. Even if you are distributing the MDH CCR, you must fill in the grey shaded area(s) and return a copy of the CCR and the completed Certification Form to MDH by July 1,2017. You are required to keep a copy of the CCR for at least three years. Failure to produce and distribute a CCR as required—as well as failure to submit a copy of the CCR and the Certification Form to MDH by July 1, 2017—may result in enforcement actions, including fines. KRP:bs Enclosure General Information: 651/201-4700 Toll-free: 888/345-0823 www.healthstate.mn.us For directions to any of the MDH locations,ca2$1/201-5000. An equal opportunity employer. 4.1 N N f OTA MDH 2017 CERTIFICATION FORM Name of System: Elk River PWSID: 1710004 The information in the attached Consumer Confidence Report(CCR) is accurate and has been distributed to customers served by our water supply in the following manner. You must check at least one option, however check ALL that apply:• ❑ Paper copy individually mailed to all customers. El Mailed notification(postcard,newsletter,etc.)that CCR is available via direct URL.You MUST provide a direct link to your system's CCR (i.e. www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/©publicworks/documents/webcontent/wcroslp- 125811.pdf)and give the option for the customer to request a paper copy.You can also provide other links to the CCR (i.e.www.minneapolismn.gov)beyond the required direct link. Direct URL:http://www.elkriverutilities.com/paoes/water-quality-report • ❑ Emailed a direct URL to CCR for bill-paying customers; emailed the CCR as a file attachment(PDF)or directly inserted CCR into the body of the email message. URL Options should include how a paper copy of the CCR can be obtained If one is not provided. Efforts must be made to reach customers who do not receive water bills, (such as apartment tenants,nursing home residents, etc.). This can be done by publicizing the availability of the CCR in the media, posting in public places, delivering multiple copies of the CCR for distribution by single-biller customers, delivering CCR to community organizations, posting on the Internet, and/or including within the CCR a request for recipients to share information with non-billing customers. li COMPLETE THE FOLLOW! Signature: Print Name: Eric Volk Job Title:Wat r Superintendent Phone: 763-635-1361 Date: May 26,2017 Email address: evolk@elkriverutilities.com Please print clearly PLEASE NOTE: Although MDH sent a CCR to your system,we need a"final"copy of the CCR that your system distributed for our records. Whether you reformatted the CCR, or simply added a phone number for your system on the CCR, you must return a copy of the CCR and this form to MDH. Return this form and a copy of the CCR or newspaper clipping of the CCR, by July 1,2017. Mailing Address: Fax: 651/201-4701 Minnesota Department of Health Email: health.drinkingwateradvisory@state.mn.us do Ms. Nancy Kadrlik Drinking Water Protection Section P.0. Box 64975 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975 30 .., ,-N, !.r --0,0_ 3 yr` t,,,,,,:: _, 4111 * � ' .. .,..IA )\,. '''',1'i, ' , ,MunicipalItt , --- , „,,,,,,„..y.----, „... , ,.., a a, ANNx A Nil) ,, ' $ret 'it *# ler ' le 11111, P4S 4* s 'i " .„,qi `' / ;-..-- *_i n, w :*4`'.4.1'A.;, 4* ' 44,,,,.„•, , iiiiirlp, i 5V:I" e 1""1jJ ATER „ , . .., „, , 40 REPORT Presented By .,\.....,‘ e, WATER TESTING PERFORMED IN 2016 Elk River Municipal Utilities s 31 PWS ID#: 1710004 We've Come a Long Way Once again we are proud to present our annual Protecting Your Water water quality report covering the period between January 1 and December 31, 2016. In a matter of only Bacteria are a natural and important part of our a few decades,drinking water has become exponentially world. There are around 40 trillion bacteria living safer and more reliable than at any other point in human in each of us; without them, we would not be able to history. Our exceptional staff continues to work hard live healthy lives. Coliform bacteria are common in the every day—at any hour—to deliver the highest-quality environment and are generally not harmful themselves. drinking water without interruption. Although the The presence of this bacterial form in drinking water is challenges ahead are many, we feel that by relentlessly a concern, however, because it indicates that the water investing in customer outreach and education, new may be contaminated with other organisms that can treatment technologies, system upgrades, and training, cause disease. the payoff will be reliable, high-quality tap water In 2016,the U.S.EPA passed a new regulation called the delivered to you and your family. Revised Total Coliform Rule, which requires additional steps that water systems must take in order to ensure the integrity of the drinking water distribution system by monitoring for the presence of bacteria like total coliform Lead in Home Plumbing and E. coli. The rule requires more stringent standards than the previous regulation, and it requires water If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious systems that may be vulnerable to contamination to have health problems, especially for pregnant women in place procedures that will minimize the incidence of and young children. Lead in drinking water is contamination. Water systems that exceed a specified primarily from materials and components associated frequency of total coliform occurrences are required to with service lines and home plumbing. We are conduct an assessment of their system and correct any responsible for providing high-quality drinking problems quickly. The EPA anticipates greater public water, but we cannot control the variety of materials health protection under the new regulation due to its used in plumbing components. When your water more preventive approach to identifying and fixing has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize problems that may affect public health. the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for Though we have been fortunate to have the highest- quality drinking water,our goal is to eliminate all potential drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your pathways of contamination into our distribution system, water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, and this new rule helps us to accomplish that goal. testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/lead. Important Health Information Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants,people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants may be particularly at risk from infections.These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The U.S. EPA/CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or http://water.epa.gov/drink/hotline. .. 4 4Y `�k C 4 � � �'t' � eek+ ».F�+,�, � xa�.qi�4: '' 4 i'n 'S $ "{, .�4 11 Substances That Could Be in Water Tap vs. Bottled To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. hanks in part to -, EPA prescribes regulations limiting the amount aggressive marketing, /,' of certain contaminants in water provided by public the bottled water industry ! water systems. U.S. Food and Drug Administration has successfully convinced regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled us all that water purchased water that must provide the same protection for in bottles is a healthier public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, alternative to tap water. However, i may reasonably be expected to contain at least small according to a four-year study amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these conducted by the Natural Resources contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the Defense Council, bottled water is not water poses a health risk. necessarily cleaner or safer than most The sources of drinking water (both tap water and tap water. In fact, about 25 percent of bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, bottled water is actually just bottled reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the tap water (40 percent, according to surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves government estimates). naturally occurring minerals, in some cases, radioactive The Food and Drug Administration is responsible material, and substances resulting from the presence of for regulating bottled water, but these rules allow animals or from human activity.Substances that may be for less rigorous testing and purity standards than present in source water include: those required by the U.S. EPA for community Microbial Contaminants,such as viruses and bacteria, tap water. For instance, the high mineral content which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic of some bottled waters makes them unsuitable for systems, agricultural livestock operations, or wildlife; babies and young children. Furthermore, the FDA completely exempts bottled water that's packaged Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, and sold within the same state, which accounts for which can be naturally occurring or may result from about 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic United States. wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, People spend 10,000 times more per gallon for or farming; bottled water than they typically do for tap water. Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a If you get your recommended eight glasses a day variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater from bottled water, you could spend up to $1,400 runoff, and residential uses; annually. The same amount of tap water would cost about 49 cents. Even if you installed a filter device Organic Chemical Contaminants,including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals,which are by-products of on your tap, your annual expenditure would be far industrial processes and petroleum production and may less than what you'd pay for bottled water. also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, For a detailed discussion on the NRDC study and septic systems; results, check out their Web site at https://goo.gl/ Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally Jxb6xG. occurring or may be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. QUESTIONS? For more information about this report, or for any questions relating to your drinking water, please call the Elk River Municipal Utilities Water Superintendent,at(763) 441-2020. Water Main Flushing Water Conservation Distribution mains (pipes) convey water to homes, you can play a role in conserving water and businesses, and hydrants in your neighborhood. 1 save yourself money in the process by becoming The water entering distribution mains is of very high conscious of the amount of water your household is quality; however, water quality can deteriorate in using and by looking for ways to use less whenever areas of the distribution mains over time.Water main you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Here are a flushing is the process of cleaning the interior of water few tips: distribution mains by sending a rapid flow of water • Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every through the mains. cycle,regardless of how many dishes are loaded.So Flushing maintains water quality in several ways. For get a run for your money and load it to capacity. example, flushing removes sediments like iron and • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. manganese. Although iron and manganese do not themselves pose health concerns, they can affect the • Check every faucet in your home for leaks.Just a taste, clarity, and color of the water. Additionally, slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it sediments can shield microorganisms from the and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year. disinfecting power of chlorine, contributing to the • Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops growth of microorganisms within distribution mains. of food coloring in the tank. Watch for a few Flushing helps remove stale water and ensures the minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl.It presence of fresh water with sufficient dissolved oxygen is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day and disinfectant levels, and an acceptable taste and from an invisible toilet leak. Fix it and you save smell. more than 30,000 gallons a year. During flushing operations in your neighborhood, • Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. some short-term deterioration of water quality,though Simply turn off all taps and water-using appliances. uncommon, is possible. You should avoid tap water Then check the meter after 15 minutes. If it for household uses at such times. If you do use the moved,you have a leak. tap, allow your cold water to run for a few minutes at full velocity before use, and avoid using hot water, to prevent sediment accumulation in your hot water tank. Please contact us if you have any questions or if you would like more information on our water main flushing schedule. ,: .,4 mom, Where Does My Water Come From? lk River Municipal Utilities wells are supplied from the Mt. Simon-Hinckley Aquifer.The 14 F,entire water system constitutes eight wells, four water towers, 112 miles of water main, , . ff and over 1,200 fire hydrants. In 2016, Elk River Municipal Utilities delivered over 740 million i:.€ ' ,i gallons to our customers. A Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP)is now available at our office.This plan is an assessment '"' of the delineated area around our listed sources through which contaminants, if present, ir ', could migrate and reach our source water. It also includes an inventory of potential sources of 6 contamination within the delineated area,and a determination of the water supply's susceptibility — le to contamination by the identified potential sources. a What type of container is best for storing water? CConsumer Reports has consistently advised that glass or BPA-free plastics such as polyethylene are the safest choices.To be on the safe side, do not use any container with markings on the recycle symbol showing "7 PC" (code for BPA). You could also consider using stainless steel or aluminum with BPA-free liners. How much emergency water should I keep? Typically, 1 gallon per person per day is recommended. For a family of four, that would be 12 gallons for 3 days. Humans can survive without food for 1 month,but can survive only 1 week without water. How long can I store drinking water? The disinfectant in drinking water will eventually dissipate, even in a closed container. If that container housed bacteria before it was filled with tap water, the bacteria may continue to grow once the disinfectant has dissipated. Some experts believe that water could be stored up to six months before needing to be replaced.Refrigeration will help slow the bacterial growth. How long does it take a water supplier to produce one glass of drinking water? It could take up to 45 minutes to produce a single glass of drinking water. How many community water systems are there in the U.S.? About 53,000 public water systems across the United States process 34 billion gallons of water per day for home and commercial use.Eighty-five percent of the population is served by these systems. Fact or Fiction . ,4 A person can live about a month without food, but only about �, na week without water. (Fact: Dehydration symptoms generally `"''" '' become noticeable after only 2%of one's normal water volume has been r ; k : lost.) Ora. " �y A person should consume a half-gallon of water daily to live ' t-* healthily. (Fact:A person should drink at least 64 ounces, or 8 cups, of =' a` _ ,. °" water each day.) , 1_ +`moi Methods for the treatment and filtration of drinking water were } ,,,�V • developed only recently. (Fiction: Ancient Egyptians treated water ' �" . by siphoning water out of the top of huge jars after allowing the .. _. muddy water from the Nile River to settle.And Hippocrates, known as . e the father of medicine,directed people in Greece to boil and strain water before drinking it.) There is the same amount of water on Earth now as there was when the Earth was formed. (Fact: The water that comes from your faucet Public Meetings could contain molecules that dinosaurs drank!) The Elk River Utilities Commission A typical shower with a non-low-flow shower head uses more water meets regularly on the second than a bath. (Fiction:A typical shower uses less water than a bath.) Tuesday of every month at 3:30 p.m.The location for the meeting is 13069 Orono About half the water treated by public water systems is used for Parkway, in the Utilities Commission drinking and cooking. 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