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Home My WebLink About2019 Consumer Confidence ReportIowa City Water Division Annual Consumer Confidence Report 2019 The City of Iowa City Water Division is pleased to report another year of providing clean, safe, tasteful drinking water to residents of Iowa City, University Heights, Lacina Meadows and Woodland Ridge subdivisions. The Iowa City water system consists of a water treatment plant with a maximum capacity of 16.7 million gallons per day. The treatment plant utilizes raw water from a variety of sources, primarily relying on the high-quality water from our collector wells in the Iowa River alluvial aquifer. Additionally, our deep wells and river intake are available for quality or quantity needs. The treatment process is conventional surface water treatment with lime-softening and granular activated carbon filtration. Iowa City’s water system is operated and managed by professional, state certified water treatment and distribution operators. Treatment Plant Operators perform over 200 water quality tests daily and collect samples for testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory to ensure that your drinking water meets all State and Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Standards. The SDWA requires all community water suppliers, including the Iowa City Water Division, to participate in a Lead and Copper Sampling Program. Since 1992, the Water Division has routinely sampled for lead and copper in designated locations throughout the drinking water system. The required action level for lead is a concentration of 0.015 mg/L (15 parts per billion) in the sample result representing the 90th percentile. Iowa City water has always remained below this action level. In 2017, the most recent sampling session, the 90th percentile lead concentration was 0.012 mg/L (12 parts per billion), well below the EPA action level. The next triennial sampling for Lead and Copper is scheduled for June 2020. We believe that the best way to assure you that our drinking water is safe and reliable is to provide you with accurate facts. Although the information in this report may appear technical, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires municipal utilities to inform water customers of the content of their drinking water. Each year , we provide a Consumer Confidence Report that explains where our water comes from and how it is treated. The Iowa City Water Division continues to work around-the-clock to provide safe, high- quality drinking water. We continue to partner with our customers to protect and conserve water resources, and to provide an economical, safe , and dependable water supply now and into the future. For more information, please call 319-356-5160 or visit: https://www.icgov.org/water https://www.icgov.org/ccreport April 15, 2020 CCR 2019 IOWA CITY WATER DEPARTMENT PWSID: 5225079 Page 1 2019 WATER QUALITY REPORT IOWA CITY WATER DIVISION This report contains important information regarding the water quality in our water system. The source of our water is surface water. Our water quality testing shows the following results: CONTAMINANT MCL - (MCLG) Compliance Date Violation Source Type Value & (Range) Yes/No Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) [TTHM] 80 (N/A) LRAA 30.00 (20 - 41) 3/31/2019 No By-products of drinking water chlorination Total Haloacetic Acids (ppb) [HAA5] 60 (N/A) LRAA 5.40 (ND - 6) 3/31/2019 No By-products of drinking water disinfection Lead (ppb) AL=15 (0) 90th 12.00 (ND - 27) 1 sample(s) exceeded AL 2017 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits Copper (ppm) AL=1.3 (1.3) 90th 0 (ND - 0.01) 2017 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives 950 - DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Chlorine (ppm) MRDL−4.0 (MRDLG−4.0) RAA 0.84 (0.42 – 1.23) 12/31/2019 No Water additive used to control microbes Total Coliform Bacteria TT (TT) RTCR 0 sample(s) positive 12/31/2019 No Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other waterborne pathogens may be present, or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water. 03 - S/EP IA RIVER, J WELLS, S WELLS, C WELLS Fluoride (ppm) 4 (4) SGL 0.72 (0.60 – 0.85) 2019 No Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories Sodium (ppm) N/A (N/A) SGL 11 4/5/2019 No Erosion of natural deposits; Added to water during treatment process Nitrate [as N] (ppm) 10 (10) SGL 3.0 (0.8 – 4.3) 2019 No Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits Turbidity* (NTU) TT (N/A) Highest single measurement & Lowest % of samples meeting limits 0.06 100% compliance 2019 No Soil runoff Total Organic Carbon (ppm) TT (N/A) RAA % removed 40.9% 2019 No Naturally present in the environment Manganese† (ppm) N/A (N/A) UCMR4 MRL=0.0004 0.002 2/20/2018 No Naturally present in the environment 1-Butanol† (ppm) N/A (N/A) UCMR4 MRL = 0.002 0.015 11/6/2018 No It is used in the production of other substances Note: Contaminants with dates indicate results from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations. April 15, 2020 CCR 2019 IOWA CITY WATER DEPARTMENT PWSID: 5225079 Page 2 DEFINITIONS • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – 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. • 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 allow for a margin of safety. • ppb -- parts per billion. • ppm -- parts per million. • pCi/L – picocuries per liter • N/A – Not applicable • ND -- Not detected • RAA – Running Annual Average • Treatment Technique (TT) – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. • Action Level (AL) – The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. • Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) - EPA uses the UCMR to collect data for contaminants suspected to be present in drinking water, but that do not have regulatory standards set under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). • Minimum Reporting Level (MRL) – Level based on the capability of laboratories to perform the analytical method, not based on a level established as “significant” or “harmful.” • Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) - 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 contaminants. • Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) - 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. • SGL – Single Sample Result • RTCR – Revised Total Coliform Rule • NTU – Nephelometric Turbidity Units GENERAL INFORMATION Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. 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. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants or potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800 -426-4791). Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno -compromised persons such as persons 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. The EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the national Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from material and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Iowa City Water Division is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800)426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead or www.icgov.org/city-government/departments-and-divisions/public-works/water/water-quality-and-treatment April 15, 2020 CCR 2019 IOWA CITY WATER DEPARTMENT PWSID: 5225079 Page 3 ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate l evels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask advice from your health care provider. SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT INFORMATION This water supply obtains its water from the sand and gravel of the Alluvial aquifer. The Alluvial aquifer was determined to be highly susceptible to contamination because the characteristics of the aquifer and overlying materials provide littl e protection from contamination at the land surface. The Alluvial wells will be highly susceptible to surface contaminants such as leaking und erground storage tanks, contaminant spills, and excess fertilizer application. A detailed evaluation of your source water (PWSID# 5225079) was completed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and is available at https://programs.iowadnr.gov/sourcewater/ This water supply obtains water from one or more surface waters. Surface water sources are susceptible to sources of contamination within the drainage basin. Surface Water Name Susceptibility Iowa River (Sand Pit) high Iowa River high OTHER INFORMATION *Turbidity is an indicator of treatment filter performance and is regulated as a treatment technique. †The contaminant is currently unregulated by a MCL and is being monitored and reported as part of the 2018 -2020 UCMR4 CONTACT INFORMATION Public Meeting Information We encourage our customers to attend and participate in the meetings about our water utility. The Iowa City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in: Emma J. Harvat Hall 410 E Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240−1826 For Meeting information call (319) 356 −5041 For questions regarding this information or how you can get involved in decisions regarding the water system, please contact Iowa City Water Division at 319-356-5160.