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Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2003

P.O. Box 246 - Capitan, NM 88316 Phone: 505-354-2247 fax 505-354-2713
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Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2003

 

Is my water safe?

Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards. Local Water vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that our system has never violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard. This report is a snapshot of last year's water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.

Our water source is ground water from two wells four miles east of Capitan. Our wells draw water from the San Andres formation of the aquifer.

 

Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminates. 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 (800-426-4791).

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, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agriculture 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 be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits  for contaminants in bottled water which must provide  the same protection for public health.

 

Results of radon monitoring

Radon is a radioactive gas that you can't see, taste, or smell. It is found throughout the U.S. Radon can move up through the and into a home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon can buildup to high levels in all types of homes. Radon can also get into indoor air when  released from tap water from showering, washing dishes, and other households activities. Compared to radon entering the home through soil, radon entering the home through tap water will in most cases be a small source of radon in indoor air. Radon is a known human carcinogen. Breathing air containing radon can lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing radon may also cause increased risk of stomach cancer. If you are concerned about radon in your home, test the air in your home. Testing is inexpensive and easy.  Fix your home if the level of radon in your air is 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or higher. There are simple ways to fix a radon problem that aren't too costly. For additional information call your state radon program or call ERA's Radon Hotline (800-SOS-RADON)

Spanish (Espanol)
Este informe contiene informacion muy impartante sobre la calidad de su, agua beber. Traduscalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

Water Quality Data Table

The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in the the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

Your
Range
Sample

Contaminants (units)
 MCLG
 MCL
 Water
 Low
 High
 Date
 Violation
 Typical Source









Inorganic Contaminants







Barium (ppm)
2
2 
0.0212
 NA
----
No
 Discharge of drilling wastes;
Discharge from metal refineries;
Erosion of natural deposits
Cadmium (ppb)
 5
 5
 0.2
 NA
----
 No
 Corrosion of galvanized pipes;
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge
from metal refineries; runoff from
waste batteries and paints
Chromium [Total] (ppb)
 100
 100
 8.1
 NA
---- No
 Discharge from steel and pulp mills;
Erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride (ppm)
 4
 4
 1.07
 NA
---- No
 Erosion of natural deposits; Water
additive which promotes strong
teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories
Nickel (ppb)
 MNR
 MNR
 4.55
 NA
---- No
 Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching
Selenium (ppb) 50 50 1.4 NA
---- No Discharge from petroleum and metal
refineries; Erosion of natural deposits;
Discharge from mines
Thalliun (ppb)
 0.5
 2
 0.17
 NA
----
 No Discharge from electronics, glass, and
Leaching from ore-processing site;
drug factories

Radioactive Contaminants




Alpha emitters (pCi/L) 0
 15
 5.7
 NA
3/17/1999
 No
 Erosion of natural deposits
Beta/photon emitters
(pCi/L)(pCi/L) 
NA
 NA
 5.3
 NA
3/17/1999 No
 Decay of natural and man-made
deposits. The EPA considers 50
pCi/L to be the level of concern for
Beta particles.
Combined Radium 226/228
(PCi/L) 		0
 5
 0.84
 NA
3/17/1999 No Erosion of natural deposits

Unregutated Contaminants




Sulfate (ppm) NA
 NA
 237
 NA
3/17/1999
 No

Volatile Organic Contaminants







TTHMs [Total
Trihalomethanes] (ppb)
 NA 80 4.06 NA
---- No By-product of drinking water
chlorination

Units Description:
NA: Not applicable
ND: Not detected
NR: Not reported
MNR: Monitoring not reguired, but recommended.

ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)

ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
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ppt: Potts- Per trillion, or nograms per liter

ppq: parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter

pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)

mrem/yr millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body)

Important Drinking Water Definitions:

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.

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.

MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a dringing water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk of health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

MRDL: Maximum residual disinfection level. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

The Capitan Water System is well maintained and operated, and sources of drinking water are generally protected from potential sources of contamination based on well construction, hydrogeologic settings, and system operations and management. The susceptibility rank for the entire system is Moderate. Please contact the water system to discuss the findings of the SWAPP report.
Susceptibility Ranking for Ground Water Source

 Well #1
 Well #3
Sensitivity Rank
 Low
 Low
Vulnerability Rank
 high
 Low
Susceptibility Rank
 moderate
 low


For more information
Capitan Water System
      
Phone: 505-354-2247
Attn: Steven M. Sederwall
Fax: 505-354-2713
P.O. Box 246
E-mail:village@zianet.com
114 Lincoln

Capitan, NM 88316-0246








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