Emerging Water Quality Issues
PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES
PIERCE BURCH WTP JUNE 2024( μG / L)
perfluorobutanoic acid( PFBA) 0.00490 0.00547 perfluorobutanesulfonic acid( PFBS) 0.00405 perfluorohexanoic acid( PFHxA) 0.00300 perfluorooctanesulfonic acid( PFOS) 0.00463 perfluoropentanoic acid( PFPeA) 0.00308
JOHN F. KUBALA WTP MARCH 2024( μG / L)
Once every five years, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act( SDWA) requires the EPA to issue a list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems( PWSs). The latest round of required testing, known as the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule( UCMR 5), requires sample collection for 29 PFAS chemicals and Lithium. These tests are being conducted from 2023 to 2025. The table above shows chemicals in the UCMR that have been detected during testing in 2024. The presence of a compound does not necessarily equate to a health risk. The concentration of a compound is a far more important factor in determining whether there are health implications. To learn more about the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, visit www. epa. gov / dwucmr or www. DrinkTap. org.
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Table Definitions
Action Level( AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples.
Level 1 Assessment: A study of the water system to identify possible problems and determine( if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.
Level 2 Assessment: A very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine( if possible) why an E. Coli MCL violation has occured and / or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on multiple occassions.
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.
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 contamination.
MFL: Million fibers per Liter( a measure of asbestos).
mrem: Millirems per year( a measure of radiation absorbed by the body).
na: Not applicable.
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units( A measure of turbidity).
pCi / L: Picocuries per Liter( A measure of radioactivity).
ppb: Micrograms per Liter or parts per billion. ppm: Milligrams per Liter or parts per million.
ppq( pg / L): Parts per quadrillion, or picograms per Liter.
ppt( ng / L): Parts per trillion, or nanograms per Liter.
TT( Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Microbiological Substances
Tarrant Regional Water District analyzed all raw water sources for cryptosporidium in 2024. In January, 0.18 oocysts per liter were detected. For every other quarter in 2024, there were no detections of cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is a pathogen which may be found in water contaminated by feces. Although filtration removes cryptosporidium, it cannot guarantee 100 % removal.
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