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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConsumer Confidence Report - For calendar year 2024 (published in 2025)1 Consumer Confidence Report for Calendar Year 2024 (Published 2025) For Safe Drinking and Beyond: The Vital Role of Water 2 The Otay Water District is pleased to provide you with the annual Consumer Confidence Report. This report presents a snapshot of water quality in the District’s service area during calendar year 2024. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to California standards. The information in this report represents only a small part of what the District does to ensure high quality drinking water. Using one or more state-certified laboratories, the District routinely inspects and analyzes the water supply for a range of elements that have the potential to degrade the quality of your water. Only compounds detected in water sources are included in this report. As in years past, its customers’ tap water has met all United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Board) Division of Drinking Water health standards. The District is vigilant in safeguarding its water supplies. It is once again proud to report that its system has met all water quality standards, and it has never exceeded a health-related maximum contaminant level. About the Otay Water District The District is a public water service provider established by the State Legislature in 1956 as a special district. Today, it delivers water to approxi- mately 238,000 customers within roughly 125 square miles of southeastern San Diego County, including the communities of eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and eastern Otay Mesa along the international border with Mexico. The District purchases 100% of its treated water. Approximately 85% is an imported blend from the Colorado River and the California State Water Project. Approximately 15% of the District’s treated water comes from local supplies, including local water storage within San Diego County and desalinated seawater from the Pacific Ocean. The District purchases its treated water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) Robert A. Skinner Treatment Plant, the San Diego County Water Authority’s Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and the Helix Water District’s R.M. Levy Water Treatment Plant. Source Water Assessments MWD assessed the vulnerability of its imported water in 2020 for the Colorado River and in 2021 for the State Water Project. These source waters are exposed to stormwater runoff, recreational activities, wastewater discharges, wildlife, fires, and other watershed-related factors that could affect water quality. Treatment to remove specific contaminants can be more expensive than measures to protect water at the source, which is why MWD and other water agencies invest resources to support improved watershed protection programs. Helix Water District assessed Lake Jennings in March 2021. This assessment found the lake’s water quality to be vulnerable to wastewater, recreation, development, equestrian properties, and pesticide/herbicide use. For more information on source water assessments, contact System Operations Manager Jake Vaclavek at 619-670-2230. Public Participation The District encourages public participation from its customers. Its board of directors generally meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at its headquarters, located at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings, which are also streamed live at otaywater.gov. For directions, agendas, and additional information, please call (619) 670-2222 or visit otaywater.gov. Your Consumer Confidence Report 3 Your Consumer Confidence Report Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant Safety Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) can include the ocean, 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. It can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. 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. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the USEPA and the State Board prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The United States Food and Drug Adminis- tration’s (FDA) regulations and California law also es- tablish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. Some people may be more vulnerable to contam- inants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 of infections. These people should seek advice about drinking tap water from their healthcare providers. Guidelines, from the USEPA and the Centers for Disease Control, on the appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or visiting epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water. Otay Water District Board of Directors Jose Lopez, President .........................................................Division 4 Gary Croucher, Vice President ..............................Division 3 Francisco X. Rivera, Treasurer .................................Division 1 Delfina Gonzalez, Director ...........................................Division 2 Mark Robak, Director ..........................................................Division 5 4 Contaminants That May Be Present in Source Water • Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals that 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 that 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 that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural applications, and septic systems. • Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. Contaminants That May Be Present in Home Plumbing Systems 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 materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but it cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential of lead exposure by running your faucet for 30 seconds to two 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 by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or visiting epa.gov/lead. Concerns Over Lead in the Water Supply None of the District’s 737 miles of potable water mains or service lines are made of lead. Also, under the USEPA’s Lead and Copper Rule, the District is required to collect and test water samples from select homes. In the District’s service area, lead levels are well below USEPA standards, and 100% of water samples showed lead levels below the action level of 15 parts per billion. If you would like to learn more about lead in drinking water, visit the USEPA’s website at epa.gov/lead. The District has completed the initial lead service line inventory required by USEPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. The deadline for the initial inventories was October 16, 2024. Through completing a historical records review and field investigations, the District has determined it has no lead or galvanized requiring replacement service lines in its distribution system. This includes any privately-owned or customer- owned service lines. To request the inventory, please email opinion_form@otaywater.gov. The Truth About Tap Water Beliefs: Surveys have found that most consumers who drink bottled water do so because they enjoy its taste or portable convenience. Others drink bottled water because they believe it to be purer or safer than their tap water. The Truth: Did you know that the average bottle of water can cost up to 1,000 times more than tap water? Despite what its higher cost would lead us to believe, estimates are that 25% or more of the bottled water on the market is simply repackaged tap water. Tap water is regulated by the USEPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act, while bottled water is consid- ered a food and therefore regulated by the FDA. Though some bottlers may voluntarily exceed FDA standards, bottled water and public water supplies in the United States must meet similar standards for safe drinking water. For more information, visit drinktap.org. Your Options: It is important to know that you have more affordable options than bottled water. Al- though tap water is safe to drink, some people do not prefer the taste. Only 1 Minute in 1,902 Years Only 1 Cent in $10 Million Only 1 Drop in an Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool (160 feet in length and about 6 to 9 feet in depth) One Part Per Billion (1 PPB)Is Equivalent To: 5 For more information about California-certified residential water treatment devices, visit the State Board’s website at waterboards.ca.gov/ drinking_water/certlic/device/watertreatmentdevices.html. 1 2 Tips to Improve Tap Water Taste Chill a pitcher of tap water in your refrigerator. Fill your reusable water bottles or thermoses with water from a chilled water pitcher. This is environmentally friendly and allows for an inexpensive way to achieve refreshing portability. Install a residential water treatment device. Home water filtration systems are convenient, easy to use, and enhance the taste of water. These systems achieve the same desired result and cost a fraction of the price of bottled water. Additional Information The Otay Water District appreciates your comments and active partici- pation. If you have questions about the information in this report or testing processes, please contact System Operations Manager Jake Vaclavek at (619) 670-2230 or visit otaywater.gov. You can also find helpful information by contacting the following agencies: State Water Resources Control Board P.O. Box 100 Sacramento, CA 95812-0100 Division of Drinking Water: (916) 449-5577 waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code 4606M) Washington, D.C. 20460 Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791 water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm Otay Water District 2254 Sweetwater Springs Blvd. Spring Valley, CA 91978-2004 (619) 670-2222 opinion_form@otaywater.gov otaywater.gov 6 Otay Water District’s Annual Water Quality Report 2024 PARAMETER UNITS STATE OR FEDERAL MCL [MRDL] PHG(MCLG)[MRDLG] STATEDLR(RL) RANGE AVERAGE TWIN OAKSPLANT CARLSBADDESAL PLANT HELIX PLANT SKINNER PLANT MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER PRIMARY STANDARDS — Mandatory Health-Related Standards CLARITY Combined Filter NTU 0.3/0.1 NA NA Highest 0.09 0.08 0.13 0.07 Effluent Turbidity %95 NA NA %<=0.3 or <=0.1 (a)100 100 100 100 Soil runoff MICROBIOLOGICAL Total Coliform Bacteria (b)State Total Coliform Rule %5.0 (0)NA Distribution System-wide: Naturally present in the environmentOtay Distribution System = 0% E.coli (c) State Total Coliform Rule Num-ber 0 (0)NA Distribution System-wide: Human and animal fecal wasteOtay Distribution System=0% INORGANIC CHEMICALS Aluminum (d)ppb 1000 600 50 Range ND-160 ND 64-230 ND-160 Residue from water treatment process; natural deposits erosionAverage50ND14074 Arsenic ppb 10 0.004 2 Range NA ND ND-5 ND Residue from water treatment process; natural deposits erosion; glass and electronics production wastes Average NA ND 2 ND Barium ppb 1000 2000 100 Range 95-122 ND ND ND Discharges of oil drilling wastes and from metal refineries; erosion of natural depositsAverage113NDNDND FluorideTreatment-related ppm 2.0 1 0.1 Range 0.6-0.7 0.6-0.8 0.3-0.9 0.6-0.8 Erosion of natural deposits Water additive that promotes strong teethAverage0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 Otay Distribution System Range: 0.5-0.8 Otay Distribution System Average: 0.7 RADIOLOGICALS Gross AlphaParticle Activity pCi/L 15 (0)3 Range ND ND ND-4 ND-4 Erosion of natural deposits Average ND ND ND ND Gross BetaParticle Activity (e)pCi/L 50 (0)4 Range NA ND ND ND-5 Decay of natural and man- made depositsAverage4NDND4 Uranium pCi/L 20 0.43 1 Average 2-3 ND ND-3 ND-3 Erosion of natural deposits Average 2 ND 1 2 DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS, DISINFECTANT RESIDUALS, AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS PRECURSORS Total Trihalomethanes(TTHM) ppb Distribution System-wide:Otay Distribution System Range: 10.5-60.6 By-product of drinking water chlorination80 (f)NA (1.0)Highest LRAA: 47 Haloacetic Acids (five)(HAA5)ppb Distribution System-wide:Otay Distribution System Range: 3.2-24.4 By-product of drinking water chlorination60 (f)NA (1.0)Highest LRAA: 17 Total Chlorine Residual ppm Distribution System-wide:Otay Distribution System Range: 0.2-3.6 Drinking water disinfectant added for treatment[4.0] (g)[4.0](0.1)Highest RAA: 2.4 Bromate ppb 10 (g)0.1 1.0 Range ND-8.5 NA ND ND-6.0 By-product of drinking water ozonationAverage1.7 NA ND 1.5 DBP Precursors Control(TOC)ppm TT NA 0.30 Range 2.0-2.4 NA 2.1-3.2 2.3-3.0 Various natural and man-made sourcesAverage2.2 NA 2.6 2.6 7 SECONDARY STANDARDS — AESTHETIC STANDARDS Aluminum (d)ppb 200 600 50 Range ND-160 ND 64-230 ND-160 Residue from water treatment process; natural deposits erosionAverage50ND14074 Chloride ppm 500 NA NA Range NA 48-110 80-89 92-100 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; seawater influenceAverageNA808696 Color Units 15 NA (2.5)Otay Distribution System Range: ND-25 (l)Naturally occurring organic materialsOtay Distribution System Average: ND Odor Threshold TON 3 NA 1 Otay Distribution System Range: ND-1 Naturally occurring organic materialsOtay Distribution System Average: ND Specific Conductance µS/cm 1600 NA NA Range NA 242-551 760-830 903-917 Substances that form ions in water; seawater influenceAverage827431800910 Sulfate ppm 500 NA 0.5 Range 152-217 12-17 130-150 195-203 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; industrial wastesAverage19115140199 Total Dissolved Solids(TDS)ppm 1000 NA NA Range 474-614 149-311 460-500 560-572 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; seawater influenceAverage545240483566 Turbidity NTU 5 NA 0.10 Otay Distribution System Range: ND-3.2 (l)Soil runoff Otay Distribution System Average: 0.10 FEDERAL UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS MONITORING RULE (UCMR4) Otay Water District Sampled in 2019-2020 Haloacetic Acids (five) HAA5 ppb 60 (f)NA (h)Otay Distribution System Range: 3.9-25.1 By-product of drinking water chlorinationOtay Distribution System Average: 9.4 HAA6Br ppb NA NA NA Otay Distribution System Range: 3.3-20.0 By-product of drinking water chlorinationOtay Distribution System Average: 7.8 HAA9 ppb NA NA NA Otay Distribution System Range: 6.7-39.9 By-product of drinking water chlorinationOtay Distribution System Average: 14.4 Manganese ppb 50; NL= 500 NA (0.4)Otay Distribution System Range: ND-9.2 Leaching from natural deposits Otay Distribution System Average: 2.8 Otay Water District’s Annual Water Quality Report 2024 PRIMARY STANDARDS — LEAD AND COPPER RULE — SAMPLED AT HOME TAPS IN 2023 Copper (k) ppm AL=1.3 0.3 0.05 0 sites above AL out of 78 sampled90th percentile=0.19 Internal corrosion of household pipes; erosion of natural deposits Lead (k) ppb AL=15 0.2 5 0 sites above AL out of 78 sampled90th percentile=ND Internal corrosion of household pipes; erosion of natural deposits FEDERAL UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS MONITORING RULE (UCMR5) OTAY WATER DISTRICT SAMPLED IN 2023-2024 (M) Lithium ppb NA NA (9.0) Otay Distribution System Range: ND - 28.9 Naturally-occurring; used in electrochemical cells, batte-ries, and organic syntheses and pharmaceuticalsOtay Distribution System Average: 13.7 PARAMETER UNITS STATE OR FEDERAL MCL [MRDL] PHG(MCLG)[MRDLG] STATEDLR(RL) RANGE AVERAGE TWIN OAKSPLANT CARLSBADDESAL PLANT HELIX PLANT SKINNER PLANT MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER 8 Footnotes (a) The turbidity performance standards regulated by a Treatment Technique shall be less than or equal to 0.3 NTU in 95% of the measurements at Skinner and Helix plants and less than or equal to 0.1 NTU in 95% of the measurements at Twin Oaks and Carlsbad De-sal Plants. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water and is an indicator of treatment performance. (b) Total coliform MCL: No more than 5.0% of the monthly samples may be total coliform-positive. The highest monthly percentage of posi-tive samples is reported. The MCL was not violated. (c) E. coli MCL: The occurrence of two consecutive total coliform-positive samples, one of which contains E. coli, constitutes an acute MCL viola-tion. The total number of positive samples during the year is reported. The MCL was not violated. (d) Aluminum has both primary and secondary standards. (e) The gross beta particle activity MCL is 4 millirem/year annual dose equivalent to the total body or any internal organ. SWRCB considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles. (f) Compliance based on locational running annual average (LRAA). (g) Compliance based on running annual average (RAA). (h) AI < 10.0 = Highly aggressive and very corrosive water AI > 12.0 = Non-aggressive water AI (10.0 - 11.9 ) = Moderately aggressive water (i) Positive SI is non-corrosive, tendency to deposit calcium carbonate on pipes. Negative SI is corrosive, tendency to dissolve calcium carbonate. (j) Hardness can also be reported in grains per gallon. The distribution system range is 9.1-12.5 grains per gallon of hardness. The average is 9.9 grains per gallon of hardness. (k) Lead and copper are regulated as a Treatment Technique under the Lead and Copper Rule. It requires systems to take water samples at the consumers’ taps. The action levels, which trigger water systems into taking treatment steps if exceeded in more than 10% of the tap water samples, are 1.3 ppm for copper and 15 ppb for lead. Next triennial monitoring will be performed in 2026. (l) The high values for color and turbidity were from one sample taken at one location due to a main break in the area and are not typical. The ranges excluding data from the event are ND for color and ND to 0.20 for turbidity. (m) Under UCMR5, samples were collected and analyzed for 29 per- and polyfloroalkyl substances (PFAS). All results were ND. Otay Water District’s Annual Water Quality Report 2024 OTHER PARAMETERS CHEMICAL Alkalinity (as CaCO3)ppm NA NA NA Range 99-120 47-88 102-134 103-107 Runoff/leaching from natural depositsAverage11266118105 Boron ppb NL= 1000 NA 100 Range NA 440-920 ND-110 NA Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; industrial wastesAverageNA650ND130 Calcium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 20-60 48-55 61-62 Runoff/leaching from natural depositsAverageNA235162 Chlorate ppb NL= 800 NA (10)Range 220-380 NA NA NA By-product of drinking water chlorination; industrial processesAverage291NANA80 Chromium VI ppb 10 0.02 0.1 Range ND-0.3 ND ND ND Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; discharge from industrial waste factoriesAverageNDNDNDND Corrosivity (h) (as Aggressiveness Index)AI NA NA NA Range NA NA 12.2-12.3 12.3-12.4 Elemental balance in water; affected by temperature, other factorsAverageNANA12.3 12.4 Corrosivity (i) (as Saturation Index)SI NA NA NA Range NA NA NA 0.46-0.57 Elemental balance in water; affected by temperature, other factorsAverageNANANA0.52 Hardness (as CaCO3) (j)ppm NA NA NA Range NA 60-75 201-236 242-243 Runoff/leaching from natural depositsAverageNA68214242 Magnesium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 1-2 19-24 22-23 Runoff/leaching from natural depositsAverageNA12122 N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)ppt NL=10 3 (2)Range ND NA NA NA Byproducts of drinking water chloramination; industrial processesAverageNDNANA3 pH pH Units NA NA NA Otay Distribution System Range: 7.9-8.5 Otay Distribution System Average: 8.3 Potassium ppm NA NA NA Range NA NA 4.0-4.9 4.6-4.9 Naturally present in the environmentAverageNANA4.5 4.8 Sodium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 55-62 66-84 91-95 Naturally present in the environmentAverageNA577693 Vanadium ppb NL = 50 NA 3 Range NA NA ND-5 ND Naturally present in the environment, industrial waste dischargeAverageNDNANDND PARAMETER UNITS STATE OR FEDERAL MCL [MRDL] PHG(MCLG)[MRDLG] STATEDLR(RL) RANGE AVERAGE TWIN OAKSPLANT CARLSBADDESAL PLANT HELIX PLANT SKINNER PLANT MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER 9 Definitions 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 is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water. 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. 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. 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. Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS): MCLs, MRDLs and treatment techniques (TTs) for contaminants that affect health, along with their monitoring and reporting requirements. 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. Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Otay Water District’s Annual Water Quality Report 2024 Abbreviations AI Aggressiveness Index AL Action Level CaCO3 Calcium Carbonate DBP Disinfection By-Products DLR Detection Limits for purposes of Reporting LRAA Locational Running Annual Average MCL Maximum Contaminant Level MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goal MRDL Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level MRDLG Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal N Nitrogen NA Not Applicable ND Not Detected NL Notification Level NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Units NR Not Reported pCi/L picoCuries per Liter PHG Public Health Goal ppb parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/L) ppm parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) ppt parts per trillion or nanograms per liter (ng/L) RAA Running Annual Average Range Results based on minimum and maximum values RL Reporting Limit SI Saturation Index SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board TOC Total Organic Carbon TON Threshold Odor Number TT Treatment Technique µS/cm microSiemen per centimeter 10 Informe de confianza al consumidor 2024 (Publicado en el año 2025) Para consumo saludable y más: El papel vital del agua 11 Para consumo saludable y más: El papel vital del agua El Distrito de Agua de Otay le presenta el Informe de Confianza al Consumidor. Este informe describe detalladamente la calidad del agua durante el año 2024, incluyendo el origen del agua, su contenido y una comparación con los estándares de California. La información en este informe representa una pequeña fracción del esfuerzo que hace el Distrito para asegurar que usted reciba agua potable de la más alta calidad. El Distrito realiza revisiones exhaustivas del agua, en uno o más laboratorios certificados por el estado de California, que incluyen un amplio rango de elementos que tienen el potencial de degradar la calidad del agua. Únicamente los compuestos detectados en los suministros de agua fueron incluidos en este informe. Se concluyó, como en años anteriores, que el agua potable cumple con todos losestándares de salud de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos (USEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y los estándares para el agua potable del estado de California. El Distrito siempre está vigilante salvaguardando los suministros de agua, y una vez más, está orgullosos de informar que su sistema cumple con todos los estándares de calidad del agua y nunca ha excedido el nivel máximo de contaminantes que pudieran impactar su salud. Acerca del Distrito de Agua de Otay El Distrito es un proveedor de servicios públicos de agua establecido en 1956 por la Legislatura del Estado de California como un distrito especial. En la actualidad, el Distrito provee agua a aproximada- mente 238,000 habitantes dentro de un área de 125 millas cuadradas que incluye las comunidades del este de Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, áreas no incorporadas de El Cajón y La Mesa, y el este de Otay Mesa a lo largo de la frontera internacional con México. El Distrito compra el 100% de su agua tratada. Aproximadamente el 85% de esa agua es importada del río Colorado y el Proyecto Estatal de Agua de California, y el otro 15% proviene de suministros locales incluyendo almacenamientos de agua locales dentro del condado de San Diego y el océano Pacífico a través de la planta desalinizadora de agua de mar. El Distrito compra agua tratada a través de la Planta de Tratamiento Robert A. Skinner del Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California (MWD, por sus siglas en inglés); la Planta de Tratamiento de Agua Twin Oaks Valley de la San Diego County Water Authority; la Planta Desalinizadora Claude “Bud” Lewis de Carlsbad; y la Planta de Tratamiento de Agua R.M. Levy del Distrito de Agua de Helix. Evaluaciones de las fuentes de agua MWD evaluó la vulnerabilidad de su agua importada en 2020 en el río Colorado y en 2021 en el Proyecto Estatal de Agua. Estas fuentes de agua están expuestas a la escorrentía de aguas pluviales, actividades recreativas, descargas de aguas residuales, fauna silvestre, incendios y otros factores relacionados con las cuencas hidrográficas que podrían afectar la calidad del agua. El tratamiento para eliminar ciertos contaminantes específicos puede ser más costoso que las medidas para proteger el agua en su origen. Es por eso que MWD y otras agencias de agua invierten recursos para apoyar programas mejorados de protección de las cuencas hidrográficas. El Distrito de Agua de Helix evaluó el lago Jennings en marzo de 2021. Esta evaluación determinó que la calidad del agua del lago es vulnerable a las aguas residuales, la recreación, el desarrollo urbanístico, las propiedades con actividades ecuestres y el uso de pesticidas o herbicidas. Para obtener más información sobre las evaluaciones de las fuentes de agua, por favor comuníquese con el gerente de operaciones del sistema, Jake Vaclavek, al 619-670-2230. Informe de confianza al consumidor 12 La participación del público es importante El Distrito anima a sus clientes a que participen en las reuniones públicas. La junta directiva generalmente se reúne el primer miércoles de cada mes a las 3:30 p. m. en las oficinas del Distrito ubicadas en 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978. Usted puede asistir en persona a las juntas directivas, que también se transmiten en vivo en otaywater.gov. Para la dirección, agendas e información adicional, por favor llame al (619) 670-2222 o visite otaywater.gov. Agua segura Las fuentes de agua potable (tanto agua del grifo como embotellada) incluyen los océanos, ríos, lagos, arroyos, estanques, reservorios, manantiales y pozos. A medida que el agua viaja sobre la superficie de la tierra o a través del suelo, disuelve residuos de minerales naturales y en algunos casos, materiales radioactivos. También puede recoger sustancias que resultan de la presencia de animales o de alguna actividad humana. Se puede esperar que el agua potable, incluyendo el agua embotellada, contenga pequeñas canti- dades de algunos contaminantes. La presencia de contaminantes no indica necesariamente que el agua representa un riesgo para la salud. Para asegurar que el agua del grifo es segura para beber, la USEPA y la Junta Estatal han establecido normas que limitan la cantidad de ciertos contaminantes en el agua que se proporciona a través de los sistemas públicos de agua. Las normas de la Administración de Medicamentos y Alimentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) de los Estados Unidos y la ley de California también establecen límites para los contaminantes en el agua embotellada los cuales deben proporcio- nar la misma protección para la salud pública. Algunas personas pueden ser más vulnerables a los contaminantes en el agua potable que la población en general. Las personas con un sistema inmunológico debilitado como las personas con cáncer que reciben quimioterapia, las personas que han recibido trasplantes de órganos, las personas con VIH/SIDA u otras enfermedades del sistema inmunológico, algunas personas de la tercera edad y los lactantes pueden estar particularmente en riesgo de infecciones. Estas personas deben hablar con a su médico sobre el agua potable. Las normas de la USEPA y los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades sobre las medidas adecuadas para disminuir el riesgo de infección por Cryptosporidium y otros contaminantes microbianos están disponibles en la Línea Directa de Agua Potable Segura al (800) 426-4791. Para obtener más información acerca de los contaminantes y los posibles efectos en la salud, por favor llame a la Línea Directa de Agua Potable de la USEPA al (800) 426-4791 o visite epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water. Contaminantes que se pueden presentar en los suministros de agua • Contaminantes microbianos como virus y bacterias que pueden provenir de plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales, sistemas sépticos, actividades agrícolas o ganaderas y la fauna silvestre. • Contaminantes inorgánicos tales como sales y metales que pueden surgir naturalmente o como resultado de la escorrentía de aguas pluviales; descargas de desechos industriales o domésticos; producción de aceite y gas; minería o agricultura. • Los pesticidas o herbicidas que se pueden originar de la agricultura, escorrentía de aguas pluviales y usos residenciales. • Contaminantes químicos orgánicos incluyendo los químicos sintéticos y orgánicos volátiles que son productos derivados de procesos industriales y la producción de petróleo por lo que también pueden provenir de estaciones de servicio; Planta de Tratamiento de Agua Twin Oaks Valley La Junta Directiva del Distrito de Agua de Otay Jose Lopez, , Presidente ......................................................División 4 Gary Croucher, Vicepresidente ...............................División 3 Francisco X. Rivera, Tesorero .......................................División 1 Delfina Gonzalez, Directora ...........................................División 2 Mark Robak, Director ..............................................................División 5 13 escorrentía de aguas pluviales en zonas urbanas; aplicación agrícola; y sistemas sépticos. • Los contaminantes radioactivos que pueden surgir naturalmente o ser resultado de la producción de aceite y gas, así como actividades de minería. Contaminantes que pueden estar presentes en los sistemas de plomería del hogar El plomo, si está presente, puede causar serios problemas de salud, especialmente en las mujeres embarazadas y niños pequeños. El plomo en el agua potable proviene principalmente de materiales y componentes asociados con las líneas de servicio y la plomería del hogar. El Distrito es responsable de proporcionar agua potable de alta calidad, pero no puede controlar la variedad de materiales que se utilizan en los componentes del sistema de plomería. Cuando el agua ha estado asentada durante varias horas, usted puede minimizar la contaminación al plomo dejando correr el agua de la llave durante 30 segundos a dos minutos antes de utilizarla. Si usted está preocupado acerca del plomo en su agua, tal vez le interesaría analizar su agua. Para más información acerca del plomo en el agua potable, métodos de análisis y pasos para minimizar la contaminación, comuníquese a la Línea Directa del Agua Potable Segura al (800) 426-4791 o visite epa.gov/lead. Preocupaciones sobre el plomo en el suministro de agua Ninguna de las 737 millas de redes de distribución o líneas de servicio de agua del Distrito está hechas de plomo. Además, el Distrito está obligado por la USEPA a recoger muestras de agua en hogares seleccionados y examinarlas bajo la Norma de Plomo y Cobre de la USEPA. En el área de servicio del Distrito, los niveles de plomo están muy por debajo de los estándares de la USEPA y el 100% de las muestras de agua arrojaron niveles de plomo muy por debajo del nivel de acción de 15 partes por mil millones. Para más información acerca del plomo en el agua potable, visite epa.gov/lead. El Distrito terminó el inventario inicial de líneas de servicio de plomo requerido por las Revisiones de las Reglas sobre el Plomo y el Cobre de la USEPA. La fecha límite para los inventarios iniciales fue el 16 de octubre de 2024. Una vez que el Distrito terminó la revisión de los registros históricos e investigaciones de campo, determinó que no tiene líneas de servicio de plomo o galvanizadas que se necesitan reempla- zar en su sistema de distribución. Esto incluye cual- quier línea de servicio en propiedad privada o de clientes. Para solicitar el inventario, envíe un correo electrónico a opinion_form@otaywater.gov. La verdad sobre el agua del grifo Creencias: Los estudios muestran que la mayoría de los consumidores que beben agua embotellada lo hacen porque disfrutan su sabor o portabilidad. Otras personas beben agua embotellada porque creen que es más pura o segura que el agua del grifo. Verdad: ¿Sabía usted que una botella de agua promedio puede costar hasta 1,000 veces más que el agua del grifo? A pesar de lo que su alto costo nos hace creer, se calcula que el 25% o más del agua embotellada en el mercado es simplemente agua del grifo envasada. El agua del grifo está regulada por la USEPA bajo la Ley de Agua Potable Segura mientras que el agua embotellada está considerada como alimento y está regulada por la FDA. Si bien algunos embotelladores podrían exceder los estándares de la FDA, tanto el agua embotellada como los suministros de agua pública en los Estados Unidos deben cumplir con estándares similares para el agua potable segura. Para más información, visite drinktap.org. Usted tiene opciones: Es muy importante saber que usted tiene otra opción más económica que el agua embotellada. Aunque el agua de la llave es segura para beber a muchas personas no les gusta el sabor. A continuación, le presentamos algunos consejos para mejorar el sabor del agua y posiblemente ahorrarle dinero. Solo 1 minuto en 1,902 años Solo 1 centavo en $10 millones Solo 1 gota en una piscina olímpica(160 pies de longitud y de 6 a 9 pies de profundidad) Una parte por mil millones (1 PPMM)equivale a: 14 Para más información acerca de los aparatos para tratar el agua del hogar que están certificados por el estado de California, visite waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/device/Documents/ aparatos_para_tratar_el_agua.pdf. Información adicional El Distrito de Agua de Otay agradece todos sus comentarios y partici- pación activa. Si tiene preguntas sobre la información en este informe o en los procesos de pruebas, por favor comuníquese con Jake Vaclavek, gerente de operaciones del sistema, al (619) 670-2230 o visite otaywater.gov. También puede encontrar información muy útil si se comunica con las siguientes agencias: La Junta Estatal de Control de Recursos Hídricos P.O. Box 100 Sacramento, CA 95812-0100 División de Agua Potable: (916) 449-5577 waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code 4606M) Washington, D.C. 20460 Línea Directa del Agua Potable Segura: (800) 426-4791 water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm El Distrito de Agua de Otay 2254 Sweetwater Springs Blvd. Spring Valley, CA 91978-2004 (619) 670-2222 opinion_form@otaywater.gov otaywater.gov 1 2 Consejos para mejorar el sabor del agua de la llave Ponga a enfriar una jarra de agua del grifo en su refrigerador. Llene sus botellas reutilizables o termos con agua helada de una jarra. Esto es bueno para el medio ambiente y ofrece portabilidad a muy bajo costo. Instale un sistema de filtración de agua en el hogar. Estos sistemas son prácticos, son fáciles de usar y mejoran el sabor del agua. Estos aparatos logran los mismos resultados deseados a una fracción del costo del precio del agua embotellada. 15 otaywater.gov Ang pag-uulat na ito ay naglalaman ng mahalagang impormasyon tungkol sa inyong inuming tubig. Mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa Otay Water District, 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978 o tumawag sa (619) 670-2222 para matulungan sa wikang Tagalog. Báo cáo này chứa thông tin quan trọng về nước uống của bạn. Xin vui lòng liên hệ Otay Water District tại 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978, (619) 670-2222 để được trợ giúp bằng tiếng این گزارش حاوی اطلاعات مهمی در مورد آب آشامیدنی شماست. لتفا بر ای کسب اطلاعات به سازمان آب آشامیدنی Otay Warer District که در آدرس 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978 تماس بگیرید. شماره تلفن (619) 670-2222 است.