The Truckee Meadows Water Authority this week released its annual 2008 water quality report, finding that traces of contaminants were in miniscule amounts or not present at all.
The water report, mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act passed in 1974, regulates drinking water to ensure water sources, like the Truckee River, and treatment facilities are up to safety standards.
Paul Miller, manager of operations and water quality at TMWA, said the tests are extensive but necessary to provide the best water possible. That, he added, does not happen without hard work.
"We have a well-trained staff," Miller said. "We work diligently around the clock to consistently produce high-quality water."
More than 100 contaminants were tested for, including viruses and bacteria, salts and metals, pesticides and radioactive materials. Another such tested contaminant is lead, which while is not commonly found in the drinking water itself but is found in home plumbing pipes, so if water sits for too long in these pipes lead might contaminate the water.
TMWA encourages customers concerned about lead to run their tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using it.
Many of these materials are naturally occurring or get into the water from the surrounding area via urban water runoff from residential uses, making protection of source water vital, Miller said.
"Nearly 80 percent of our water comes from the Truckee River," Miller said. "Our source water is great. It's important that we protect it."
Results from the report indicate that TMWA's water meets all EPA and Nevada State Health standards, surpassing many requirements, reports said.
Miller attributes much of this success to the facilities available to the area and the staff working at them.
"Our treatment facilities (Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant in Reno and Glendale Water Treatment Plant in Sparks) are first-rate," Miller said. "And we hope to keep evolving to keep providing high-quality water to customers."
In light of past annual reports, Miller said he believes the quality has always been a top concern for TMWA, explaining that they have always met safety standards.
"It's been the same," Miller said. "We've always had great water and with the regulations, it gets better all the time."
Violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act result in fines, as was the case in Saint George, Alaska in December 2005. And with fines totaling $32,500 per day of violation and recent traces of pharmaceutical substances found in large cities like San Francisco and New Jersey, compliance is heavily enforced by the EPA.
And while the trace amounts of the contaminants are extremely small and below allowable standards, sensitivity to them is high among immune-deficient people, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or the elderly and infants. Such people should seek advice from their health care provider about the possible effects of even trace contaminants in the water, according to the report.
The test results, which are available online at the TMWA Web site at www.tmh2o.com, is also being sent out with customers' bills for the month of June, with contact information to answer any customer questions.
"We encourage anyone to please feel free to call and ask questions," Miller said.
Post a Comment