HomeMy WebLinkAboutConsumer Confidence Report - For calendar year 2015 (published in 2016)2016
ConsumerConfidenceReport
YOUR CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
Otay Water District is pleased to provide you with your annual
consumer confidence report. 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 state
standards.
The information included in this water quality report represents
only a small fraction of what we do to ensure high-quality
drinking water. Using one or more state-certified laboratories,
we routinely scrutinize the water supply for an entire 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, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) and state of California drinking water
health standards. The Otay Water District vigilantly safeguards
its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that
our system has never exceeded a health-related maximum
contaminant level or any other water quality standard.
ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT
Otay Water District is a California Special District established by
the State Legislature in 1956 as a public water service provider.
Today the District
delivers potable
water to more
than 217,000
residents
residing within
a 125.5 square
mile service
territory that
includes the
communities of
Spring Valley,
La Presa, Rancho
San Diego, and
Jamul, as well as
communities in the city
of Chula Vista and the city
of San Diego on Otay Mesa.
Otay Water District imports an average of 87 percent of its
water. Imported water is a blend of Colorado River water and
State Water Project water. The District purchases treated water
from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s
R.A. Skinner Treatment Plant (Skinner Plant), the County Water
Authority’s Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant (Twin Oaks
Plant), the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant
(Carlsbad Desal Plant) and from the Helix Water District’s R.M.
Levy Treatment Plant (Helix Plant).
SAFETY
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the USEPA and the State Water
Resources Control Board (SWRCB) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain
contaminants in water provided by public water systems. SWRCB regulations also
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection
for public health.
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 USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or online at
http://water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants 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 from
infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care
providers. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control (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 1-800-426-4791.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include the oceans,
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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Otay Water District appreciates your comments and active participation. If you have
questions about the information contained in this report or testing processes, please
contact Jake Vaclavek, System Operations Manager, at 619-670-2230 or visit our website at
www.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
916-449-5577
www.waterboards.ca.gov
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water (4101 M)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Safe Drinking Water Hotline:
1-800-426-4791
http://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
www.otaywater.gov
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENTS
The sources of water delivered by the Otay Water
District include the Colorado River, the State Water
Project, and local supplies. The agencies that supply
treated drinking water to the Otay Water District,
including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California, San Diego County Water Authority, and
the Helix Water District, are required to perform
Source Water Assessments on their raw water
supplies. If you would like copies of the Source Water
Assessments, please contact Mr. Jake Vaclavek
System Operations Manager, at 619-670-2230.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Otay Water District encourages public participation
from the customers we serve. The board of directors
generally meets on the first Wednesday of each month at
3:30 p.m. at District headquarters, 2554 Sweetwater
Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, 91978. We encourage the
public to attend these meetings.
For directions, agendas or for further information,
call 619-670-2222 or visit our website at
www.otaywater.gov.
Otay Water District Board of Directors
Mitch Thompson, President ....................... Division 2
Jose Lopez, Vice President ........................ Division 4
Tim Smith, Treasurer ................................... Division 1
Gary Croucher, Director .............................. Division 3
Mark Robak, Director ................................. Division 5
www.otaywater.gov
CONCERNS OVER LEAD IN THE WATER SUPPLY
Lead in the water supply in Flint, Michigan has been in the news and is the subject of
recent Congressional hearings. You might be wondering, “Could what happened in Flint
happen in the Otay Water District?”
In Flint, there are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 homes with lead service lines that
carry water from Flint’s drinking water system to homes and businesses. Lead service
lines were the primary source of high lead levels in Flint’s water supply.
None of Otay’s 730 miles of water mains or service lines are made of lead. In addition,
Otay is required by the USEPA to collect water samples from select homes and to test
that water under the USEPA’s Lead and Copper Rule. In Otay’s service area, lead levels
are well below USEPA standards and 90 percent of water samples showed lead levels
below the detection limit of five part per billion.
If you would like to learn more about lead in drinking water, visit the USEPA’s website
for basic information about lead in drinking water: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-
and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TAP WATER
Beliefs: Surveys have found that most consumers who drink bottled water do so
because they enjoy its taste or its portable convenience. Others drink bottled water
because they believe it to be more pure 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 25-40 percent of the bottled water on the market is simply repackaged
tap water.
Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe
Drinking Water Act, while bottled water is considered a food and is thus regulated
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Though some bottlers may voluntarily
exceed FDA standards, both bottled water and public water supplies in the United
States must meet similar standards for safe drinking water. For more information, visit
www.DrinkTap.org.
Your Options: It’s important to know that you have other, more affordable, options to
bottled water.
Chill a pitcher of tap water in your refrigerator.
Using the chilled water pitcher with refillable water bottles or thermoses is
environmentally friendly and allows for an inexpensive way to achieve refreshing
portability.
Residential water treatment devices.
Another possibility is to install a home water filter system. The systems are
convenient, easy to use, and enhance the taste of water. These systems achieve
the same desired results, while still costing a fraction of the price of bottled water.
For more information about California state-certified residential water treatment
devices, visit the State Water Resources Control Board’s website at http://www.
waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/device/watertreatmentdevices.shtml.
CONTAMINANTS THAT MAY BE PRESENT IN SOURCE WATER INCLUDE:
• 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 application, and
septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally
occurring or be 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 Otay Water District 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 at 1-800-426-4791 or
at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
www.otaywater.gov
PARAMETER UNITS STATE OR FEDERAL MCL [MRDL]
PHG(MCLG)[MRDLG]
STATEDLR 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 NA 0.1 Highest 0.02 0.04 0.8 0.10
Effluent Turbidity %95 (a)NA 0.1 % < 0.3 100 100 100 100 Soil runoff
MICROBIOLOGICAL
Total Coliform Bacteria (b)%5.0 (0)NA Distribution System-wide: Otay Distribution System=0%Naturally present in the environment
E. coli (c)(c)(0)NA Distribution System-wide: Otay Distribution System=0%Human and animal fecal waste
INORGANIC CHEMICALS
Aluminum (d)ppb 1000 600 50 Range ND ND 160 - 430 ND Residue from water treatment process; natural deposits erosionAverageNDND278ND
Arsenic ppb 10 0.004 2 Range NA ND ND ND Natural deposits erosion, glass and electronics production wastesAverage3NDNDND
Barium ppb 1000 2000 100 Range NA ND ND - 120 124 Oil and metal refineries discharge; natural deposits erosionAverage120ND113124
FluorideTreatment-related
ppm 2.0 1 0.1
Control Range 0.6 - 1.2 0.6 - 1.2 0.6 - 1.2 0.6 - 1.2 Water additive
Optimal Level 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
Otay Distribution System Range: 0.5 - 0.8
Otay Distribution System Average: 0.7
Nitrate (as Nitrogen)ppm 10 10 0.4 Range ND 0.7 - 0.9 ND ND Runoff and leaching from fertilizer use; septic tank and sewage; natural deposits erosionAverageND0.8 ND ND
ORGANIC CHEMICALS
Dichloromethane(Methylene Chloride)ppb 5 4 0.5 Range ND - 0.5 ND ND ND Discharge from pharmaceuticals and chemical factoriesAverageNDNDNDND
RADIOLOGICALS
Gross AlphaParticle Activity pCi/L 15 (0)3 Range ND ND ND ND - 5 Erosion of natural deposits
Average ND ND ND ND
Gross BetaParticle Activity (e)pCi/L 50 (0)4 Range ND ND ND 5 Decay of natural and man-made deposits
Average ND ND ND 5
Uranium pCi/L 20 0.43 1 Range 1.7 - 2.3 ND ND 1 - 2 Erosion of natural deposits
Average 2.0 ND ND 2
DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS, DISINFECTANT RESIDUALS, AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS PRECURSORS
Total Trihalomethanes(TTHM) ppb Distribution System-wide:Otay Distribution System Range = 18 - 41 By-product of drinking water chlorination
80 (f)NA 1 (h)Highest LRAA = 33
Haloacetic Acids (five)(HAA5)ppb Distribution System-wide:Otay Distribution System Range = 2.8 - 14 By-product of drinking water chlorination
60 (f)NA 1 (h)Highest LRAA = 12
Total Chlorine Residual ppm Distribution System-wide:Otay Distribution System Range = ND - 3.6 Drinking water disinfectant added for treatment
[4.0] (g)[4.0]NA Highest RAA = 2.4
Bromate ppb 10 (g)0.1 5.0 Range 1.8 - 10 NA ND - 9.8 1.1 - 9.9 By-product of drinking water ozonation
Average 4.2 NA ND 4.3
DBP Precursors Control(TOC)ppm TT NA 0.30 Range 2.0 - 2.4 ND - 1.2 2.1 - 3.6 2.0 - 2.6 Various natural and man-made sources
Average 2.2 ND 2.6 2.3
PRIMARY STANDARDS — LEAD AND COPPER RULE — SAMPLED AT HOME TAPS IN 2014
Copper (k) ppm AL=1.3 0.3 0.05 0 sites above AL out of 73 sampled Internal corrosion of household pipes; erosion of natural deposits90th percentile = 0.3
Lead (k) ppb AL=15 0.2 5 0 sites above AL out of 73 sampled Internal corrosion of household pipes; erosion of natural deposits90th percentile = ND
ABBREVIATIONS
DEFINITIONS
AI .........Aggressiveness Index
AL .........Action Level
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
TOC ........Total Organic Carbon
TON .......Threshold Odor Number
TT .........Treatment Technique
UCMR .....Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
µS/cm .....microSiemen per centimeter
• 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.
• 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 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.
• Notification Levels: Notification Levels are health-based advisory levels established by SWRCB for chemicals in drinking water that lack maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). When chemicals are found at concentrations greater than their notification levels, certain requirements and recommendations apply.
• Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
• Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS): MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.
2015 WATER QUALITY DATA
PARAMETER UNITS STATE OR FEDERAL MCL [MRDL]
PHG(MCLG)[MRDLG]
STATEDLR RANGE AVERAGE TWIN OAKSPLANT
CARLSBADDESAL PLANT
HELIX PLANT SKINNER PLANT MAJOR SOURCES IN DRINKING WATER
SECONDARY STANDARDS — AESTHETIC STANDARDS
Aluminum (d)ppb 200 NA 50 Range ND ND 160 - 430 ND Residue from water treatment process; natural deposits erosionAverageNDND278ND
Chloride ppm 500 NA NA Range NA 44 - 54 89 - 100 102 - 105 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; seawater influenceAverage1104495104
Color Units 15 NA NA Range ND ND 1 1 Naturally occurring organic materials
Average ND ND 1 1
Odor Threshold TON 3 NA 1 Range NA ND ND - 2 2 Naturally-occurring organic materials
Average 2 ND ND 2
Specific Conductance µS/cm 1600 NA NA Range NA 281 - 318 1000 1000 - 1050 Substances that form ions in water; seawater influenceAverage100029610001020
Sulfate ppm 500 NA 0.5 Range NA 15 - 18 240 - 260 237 - 249 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits;industrial wastesAverage25017250243
Total Dissolved Solids(TDS)ppm 1000 NA NA Range NA 120 - 218 640 639 - 655 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; seawater influenceAverage690194640647
Turbidity NTU 5 NA 0.1 Otay Distribution System Range: 0.05 - 0.50 Soil runoff
Otay Distribution System Average: 0.06
FEDERAL UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS MONITORING RULE (UCMR3 List 1 and List 2)
Bromochloromethane ppt NA NA NA Otay Distribution System Range: 62 - 140 By-product of drinking water chlorination; industrial processesOtay Distribution System Average: 98
Chlorate ppb NL = 800 NA 20 Otay Distribution System Range: 20 - 430 By-product of drinking water chlorination; industrial processesOtay Distribution System Average: 178
Molybdenum ppb NA NA NA Otay Distribution System Range: ND - 4.4 Naturally present in the environment; industrial processesOtay Distribution System Average: 4.0
Strontium ppb NA NA NA Otay Distribution System Range: 140 - 990 Naturally present in the environment; industrial processesOtay Distribution System Average: 840
OTHER PARAMETERS - Chemical
Alkalinity ppm NA NA NA Range NA 45 - 56 120 - 130 125 - 130 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 120 50 125 128
Boron ppb NL = 1000 NA 100 Range NA ND 100 130 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; industrial wastesAverage140ND100130
Calcium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 15 - 23 61 - 74 75 - 78 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 77 20 69 77
Chlorate ppb NL = 800 NA 20 Range 130 - 320 NA NA 97 By-product of drinking water chlorination; industrial processesAverage220NANA97
Corrosivity (i) (as Aggressiveness Index)AI NA NA NA
Range NA 11.3 - 12.1 13 12.5 Elemental balance in water; affected by temperature, other factorsAverage1311.8 13 12.5
Hardness (j)ppm NA NA NA Range NA 40 - 60 290 - 300 290 - 307 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 310 50 295 299
Magnesium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 0.3 - 0.6 23 - 27 25 - 27 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 28 0.4 26 26
pH pH Units NA NA NA Range 7.7 - 8.3 8.0 - 8.7 8.0 - 8.1 8.1 - 8.2 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 8.1 8.5 8.1 8.1
Potassium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 1.0 - 1.6 4.3 - 4.7 4.7 - 5.1 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 4.9 1.4 4.5 4.9
Sodium ppm NA NA NA Range NA 32 - 94 82 - 94 96 - 103 Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Average 120 40 90 100
2015 WATER QUALITY DATA (CONTINUED)
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. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water and is an indicator of treatment performance.
(b) Total coliform MCLs: No more than 5.0% of the monthly samples may be total coliform-positive.
(c) E. coli MCL: The occurrence of two consecutive total coliform-positive samples, one of which contains
E. coli, constitutes an acute MCL violation. 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) TTHM and HAA5 are combinations of several disinfection by-product compounds. The State DLRs are for the individual compounds.
(i) AI <10.0 = Highly aggressive and very corrosive water
AI > 12.0 = Non-aggressive water
AI (10.0 - 11.9 ) = Moderately aggressive water
(j) Hardness can also be reported in grains per gallon. The distribution system range is 2.3-18.1 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’ tap. 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.
www.otaywater.gov
www.otaywater.gov
INFORME DE CONFIANZA AL CONSUMIDOR
El Distrito de Agua de Otay se enorgullece en presentar el Informe de Confianza al
Consumidor. Este informe describe detalladamente la calidad del agua del año pasado
incluyendo el origen del agua; su contenido; y una comparación con los estándares del
estado. La información incluida en este informe de la calidad del agua representa una
pequeña fracción de lo que hacemos para asegurar que usted reciba agua potable de la
más alta calidad. Hacemos 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 los estándares 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 de
Agua de Otay siempre está vigilante salvaguardando los suministros de agua, y una vez
más, estamos orgullosos de informar que nuestro sistema nunca ha excedido el nivel
máximo de contaminantes o ningún otro estándar de la calidad del agua que pudiera
impactar su salud.
ACERCA DEL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY
El Distrito de Agua de Otay es un Distrito especial establecido en 1956 por la Legislatura
del Estado de California como proveedor público de servicios de agua. En la actualidad,
el distrito provee de agua potable a más de 217,000 residentes que viven dentro de
un territorio de 125.5 millas cuadradas que incluye las comunidades de Spring Valley,
La Presa, Rancho San Diego y Jamul, así como las comunidades del este de la ciudad
de Chula Vista y la ciudad de San Diego en Otay Mesa. El Distrito de Agua de Otay
importa un promedio de 87 por ciento de su agua. El agua importada incluye agua del
Río Colorado y el Proyecto Estatal de Agua de California. El distrito compra agua tratada
al Distrito Metropolitano de Agua a través de la Planta de Tratamiento R.A. Skinner del
Sur de California (Planta Skinner); la Planta de Tratamiento de Agua Twin Oaks Valley de
la Autoridad de Agua del Condado (Planta Twin Oaks); la Planta Desalinizadora Claude
“Bud” Lewis en Carlsbad; y la Planta de Tratamiento de Agua R.M. Levy del Distrito de
Agua de Helix (Planta Helix).
UNA PLÁTICA DIRECTA SOBRE EL AGUA
Todos tienen interés en la calidad del agua y algunas personas se preguntarán, ¿puedo
sentirme seguro bebiendo agua de la llave? En el Condado de San Diego, la respuesta
es si. Algunos sistemas públicos de agua, tales como los que operan el Distrito de
Agua de Otay, deben cumplir con altos estándares para agua potable impuestos por
la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés).
El agua de la llave es regulada más rigurosamente que el agua embotellada y debe
cumplir con todos los estándares de calidad de agua, tanto federales como estatales.
Estas regulaciones incluyen los límites numéricos en las concentraciones, o cantidades
de ciertos contaminantes en el agua. Para poder cumplir con estas regulaciones, los
suministros de agua deben proporcionar un tratamiento específico, como desinfección y
filtración, para asegurar que el agua sea potable. Si todavía está preocupado o prefiere
beber agua con un sabor diferente, puede comprar agua embotellada, sin embargo,
puede costarle hasta mil veces más que el agua de la llave. Además, existen otras
opciones más económicas que comprar agua embotellada. Algunas opciones incluyen
sistemas de filtración para la casa que son prácticos, mejoran el sabor, y cuestan
únicamente una fracción del precio del agua embotellada. Los consumidores que decidan
comprar una unidad de tratamiento de agua para sus casas deben leer cuidadosamente
la información del producto para que comprendan lo que están adquiriendo. También,
deben seguir cuidadosamente las instrucciones de manufactura para la operación y
mantenimiento del sistema, y recordar cambiar el filtro con regularidad.
Mahalaga ang impormasyong ito. Mangyaring ipasalin ito
EVALUACIONES DE LAS FUENTES DE AGUA
Las fuentes de suministro de agua del Distrito de
Agua de Otay incluyen el Río Colorado, el Proyecto
Estatal de Agua de California, y suministros locales.
Las agencias que proveen de agua potable al Distrito
de Agua de Otay, incluyendo el Distrito Metropolitano
de Agua del Sur de California, la Autoridad de Agua
del Condado de San Diego y el Distrito de Agua de
Helix, realizan evaluaciones obligatorias y rigurosas
de sus fuentes de agua bruta. Si desea obtener las
evaluaciones del agua, por favor comuníquese con
Jake Vaclavek, gerente de Sistemas de Operación
del Distrito de Agua de Otay al 619-670-2230. Para
mayor información acerca de cómo minimizar el
riesgo de infección por causa del Cryptosporidium u
otros microorganismos contaminantes comuníquese a
la Línea Directa de Agua Potable al 1-800-426-4791.
PREOCUPACIONES SOBRE EL PLOMO EN EL SUMINISTRO DE AGUA
El plomo en el suministro de agua en Flint, Michigan ha estado en las noticias y ha sido
objeto de varias comparecencias en el congreso. Usted se preguntará si lo sucedido
en Flint podría pasar en el Distrito de Agua de Otay. En Flint existen aproximadamente
15,000 a 20,000 hogares con líneas de servicio hechas de plomo que transportan agua
del sistema de agua potable de Flint a los hogares y negocios. Las líneas de servicio
hechas de plomo fueron la fuente principal de los altos niveles de plomo en el suministro
de agua de Flint. Ninguna de las 730 millas de redes de distribución o líneas de servicio
de agua de Otay están hechas de plomo. Además, Otay está obligado por la USEPA
a recoger muestras de agua en hogares seleccionados y examinar esa agua bajo la
Norma de Plomo y Cobre de USEPA. En el área de servicio de Otay, los niveles de plomo
están muy por debajo de los estándares de USEPA y el 90 por ciento de las muestras
de agua arrojaron niveles de plomo mucho menores al límite de detección de cinco
partes por mil millones. Si desea aprender más acerca del plomo en el agua potable por
favor visite la página de Internet de la USEPA: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-
drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.
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 más 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 al 40 por ciento del agua embotellada en el mercado es simplemente
agua del grifo envasada.
El agua del grifo está regulada por la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados
Unidos bajo la Ley de Agua Potable Segura mientras que el agua embotellada está
considerada como alimento, por lo tanto, está regulada por la Administración
de Medicamentos y Alimentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés). 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 www.
DrinkTap.org.
Usted tiene opciones: Es muy importante saber que usted tiene otra opción más
económica que el agua embotellada.
Ponga a enfriar una jarra de agua del grifo en su refrigerador
Las jarras de agua fría, botellas reutilizables o termos son amigables con el medio
ambiente y le ofrecen portabilidad a muy bajo costo.
Aparatos de tratamiento de agua del hogar
Otra posibilidad es la instalación de un sistema de filtración de agua en el hogar.
Estos sistemas son prácticos, 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.
Para más información acerca de los aparatos de tratamiento de agua del hogar
certificados por el estado de California visite la página de Internet del Consejo
Estatal de Control de Recursos de Agua http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/
drinking_water/certlic/device/Documents/aparatos_para_tratar_el_agua.pdf.
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; 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 mineras.
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 de
Agua de Otay 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 el potencial de exposición
al plomo abriendo la llave del agua de 30 segundos
a 2 minutos antes de utilizar el agua para beber o
cocinar. 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 exposición comuníquese a la Línea Directa del
Agua Potable Segura al 1-800-426-4791 o visite
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.www.otaywater.gov