2002 WATER QUALITY REPORT

Doe Bay Water Users Association

This report is a summary of the quality of water that we provided last year. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Washington State Department of Health (WADOH) standards.

We are providing you with this information because you deserve to know about your water quality. We believe that informed members can help us make the best choices about the future of our water system. For more information about your water, call (360) 376-4990 and ask for the General Manager - Ted Wixom.

In 2001, we conducted more than 178 analyses for 87 regulated and unregulated drinking water contaminants including lead, copper, volatile organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and trihalomethanes. In addition, we performed monthly tests for bacteria, daily tests for disinfectant residual in the distribution system and continuous analyses for turbidity and disinfectant levels in the finished water at the treatment plant. bacteria, and turbidity. Of the samples that we sent to a lab, 38 of the test results were above the laboratoriesπ minimum detection limits. However, all were below the maximum contaminant levels or action levels established by the EPA and the WADOH.

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 systems 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. EPA/Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, potential health effects, and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) includes 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 human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water before we treat it include:

∑ Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria. These may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

∑ Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals. These can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or wastewater discharges or farming.

∑ Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture and residential uses.

∑ Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring.

∑ Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Your water comes from Mountain Lake in Moran park. A Water Resource Assessment Technical Report was prepared in September, 1990 under the authority of the San Juan County Board of Commissioners. No significant sources of contamination of the source waters were identified in this report.

The Board of Directors encourages members to participate in their regular meetings. Call our office for details on upcoming meetings.

WATER QUALITY DATA

The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 2001 calendar year. The presence of these 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 done from testing done January 1 - December 31, 2001. The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year.

Terms and abbreviations used below:

∑ 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.

∑ AL: Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

∑ ppb: parts per billion ppm: parts per million NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units uS/cm: micro-Siemens per centimeter nd: not detected

	MCL	MCLG	DBWUA water	Range of detections	Sample date	Violation	Typical source of contamination
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper (ppm)	AL = 1.3	1.3	A 10-test group	nd ≠ 1.33	9/01	no (1 site above AL out of 10 tested)	Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Lead (ppb)	AL = 15	0	A 10-test group	nd - 9	9/001	no	Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Total Trihalomethanes (ppb)	100	0	24.8	14.7 ≠ 24.8	12/01	no	by-product of drinking water disinfection
Sulfate (ppm)	250	n/a	10	no range	12/01	no	Natural deposits
Turbidity (NTU)	1	n/a	.05	.05 - .09	Continuous	no	Soil runoff
Hardness (ppm)	n/a	n/a	39.1	no range	12/01	n/a	Natural deposits
Electrical Conductivity (uS/cm)	700	n/a	117	no range	12/01	no	Dissolved solids

About Lead: Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your homeπs plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your homeπs water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap water for 30 seconds to two minutes before using tap water. By agreement with the WADOH, we are undertaking a corrosion control implementation plan to help minimize lead levels. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).