2008 Water Quality Table for Noel Heights
Primary Drinking Water Standards |
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Year Tested |
Unit |
MCL |
PHG (MCLG) |
Exceeded Standard? |
Highest Level |
Lowest Monthly Percent |
Source of Substance |
|
Turbidity (surface water requiring filtration)1 |
2008 |
NTU |
TT |
n/a |
No |
0.09 |
86 |
Soil runoff |
Inorganic Chemicals |
Year Tested |
Unit |
MCL |
PHG |
Exceeded Standard? |
Range |
Average |
Source of Substance |
Fluoride |
2008 |
ppm |
2 |
1 |
No |
0.1 |
0.1 |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
Disinfection Byproducts |
Year Tested |
Unit |
MCL |
PHG (MCLG) |
Exceeded Standard? |
Range |
Highest Annual Average |
Source of Substance |
Total haloacetic acids2 |
2008 |
ppb |
60 |
n/a |
No |
1.3–8.3 |
6.4 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination |
Total trihalomethanes2 |
2008 |
ppb |
80 |
n/a |
No |
2.9–12.6 |
11.2 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination |
Disinfectant and |
Year Tested |
Unit |
MRDL |
MRDLG |
Exceeded Standard? |
Range |
Average |
Source of Substance |
Chlorine |
2008 |
ppm |
4 |
4 |
No |
1.5–2.1 |
1.8 |
Drinking water disinfectant added for treatment |
Other Regulated Substances |
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Metals |
Year Tested |
Unit |
AL |
PHG |
Exceeded Standard? |
90th Percentile |
Samples > AL |
Source of Substance |
Copper3 |
2008 |
ppm |
1.3 |
0.3 |
Yes |
2.5 |
16 of 20 |
Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives |
Secondary Drinking Water Standards and Unregulated Compounds |
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Inorganic Chemicals |
Year Tested |
Unit |
SMCL |
PHG (MCLG) |
Exceeded Standard? |
Result or Range |
Average |
Source of Substance |
Calcium |
2008 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
No |
12–14 |
13 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Chloride |
2008 |
ppm |
500 |
n/a |
No |
6.9 |
6.9 |
Erosion of natural deposits; seawater influence |
Hardness |
2008 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
No |
54 |
54 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Magnesium |
2008 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
No |
4.6 |
4.6 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Manganese4 |
2008 |
ppb |
50 |
n/a |
Yes |
ND–71 |
33.5 |
Leaching from natural deposits |
pH |
2008 |
Units |
n/a |
n/a |
No |
6.2–6.4 |
6.3 |
Inherent characteristic of water |
Sodium |
2008 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
No |
10 |
10 |
Erosion of natural deposits; seawater influence |
Specific conductance |
2008 |
µS/cm |
1600 |
n/a |
No |
130–160 |
148 |
Erosion of natural deposits; seawater influence |
Sulfate |
2008 |
ppm |
500 |
n/a |
No |
7 |
7 |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; industrial wastes |
Total dissolved solids |
2008 |
ppm |
1000 |
n/a |
No |
91 |
91 |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits |
1For surface water systems, the treatment technique dictates that the turbidity level of the filtered water be less than or equal to 0.3 NTU in 95% of the measurements taken each month and shall not exceed 1 NTU at any time. Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness of water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.
2Compliance with the total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids MCLs is based on running annual averages that included some higher readings from 2007. Data reported in the range column is from 2008.
3In the Noel Heights system, the 90th percentile copper level was 2.5 ppm, which exceeds the action level of 1.3 ppm. This means that 10% of the samples collected contained copper in excess of 1.8 ppm. Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time may experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years may suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson's disease should consult their personal doctor. Corrosion control equipment was installed in 2006, and the process is being optimized to prevent leaching of copper from plumbing fixtures.
4Manganese is present at levels that exceed the secondary MCL of 50 ppb. The manganese secondary MCL was set to protect you against unpleasant aesthetic effects, such as color, taste, odor, and the staining of plumbing fixtures and clothing. Exceeding this MCL does not pose a health risk.
How to Read This Table
We test your water for more than 100 regulated contaminants. The table in this report lists only those that were detected.
The table shows water quality test results divided into two main sections: “primary standards” and “secondary standards.” Primary standards protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water. Secondary standards are limits for substances that could affect the water's taste, odor, or appearance.
Definitions
|
µS/cm = measure of specific conductance n/a = not applicable ND = not detected NTU = nephelometric turbidity unit pCi/L = picoCuries per liter (measure of radioactivity) ppb = parts per billion (micrograms per liter) ppm = parts per million (milligrams per liter) SMCL = secondary maximum contaminant level |
Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
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 are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as are economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a disinfectant added for water treatment below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs are set by the USEPA.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The level of a disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer's tap.
Notification Level (NL): A health-based advisory level for an unregulated contaminant in drinking water. It is used by the California Department of Public Health to provide guidance to drinking water systems.
Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS): MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health, along with their monitoring, reporting, and water treatment requirements.
Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Potential Sources of Contamination
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 water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) 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, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater 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, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the California Department of Public Health (Department) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised people, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly people, and infants, can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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.