City of Katy (Public Water System #1010017)

2011 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

SPECIAL NOTICE: You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Public Participation Opportunities City Council Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 910 Avenue C. To learn about future public meetings concerning your drinking water, or to request to schedule one, please call 281-391-4800. En Espanol: Este reporte incluye informacion importante sobre el agua para tomar. Para assistencia en espanol, favor de llamar al telefono 281391-4800. Where do we get our drinking water? A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for your drinking water sources is currently being updated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This information describes the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with your drinking water source based on human activities and natural conditions. The information contained in the assessment allows us to focus source water protection strategies. For more information about your sources of water, please refer to the Source Water Assessment Viewer available at the following URL: http://gis3.tceq.state.tx.us/swav/Controller/index.jsp?wtrsrc. Further details about sources and source water assessments are available in Drinking Water Watch at http://dww.tceq.texas.gov/DWW/. All Drinking Water May Contain Contaminants This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made by the water system to provide safe drinking water. 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 EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)426-4791. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also can come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems. Radioactive contaminants which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. 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, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pickup substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants may be found in drinking water that may cause taste, color, or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact the systems business office. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.

910 Avenue C .

Katy TX 77493 . 281.391.4800

Secondary Constituents Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium or iron), which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color, and odor problems. The taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not the EPA. These constituents are not causes for health concerns. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document but they may greatly affect the appearance and taste of your water. Health Information for Lead 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 City of Katy 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 our 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 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. We Welcome Your Comments The City of Katy has maintained a Superior Water System rating for more than 25 years and is dedicated to continuing this Superior Service to you, our citizens, customers and friends. To learn more about your Water Department and water quality or to request a speaker or tour, call Public Works at 281-391-4820. The Water Department is part of the city government.
Where Do We Get Our Water Our drinking water is obtained from ground water sources. The City of Katy owns and operates six well plants. Storage Capacity Well Plant Address #1 909 Avenue B #2 5450 Franz Rd. #3 25815 Kingsland Blvd. #4 6850 Franz Rd. #5 3300 Katy Hockley Rd. #6 27515 Highway 90 Ground 600,000 gal. 1,000,000 gal. 1,000,000 gal. 1,000,000 gal. 1,000,000 gal 1,000,000 gal. Elevated 100,000 gal. 250,000 gal. 500,000 gal. 500,000 gal. 500,000 gal. 500,000 gal.

This groundwater source comes from the Gulf Coast, Evangeline, Chicot Aquifers.

Definitions Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) the level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. 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 disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants MFL million fibers per liter (a measure of asbestos) Mrem/year 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 (ug/L) or parts per billion or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water ppm parts per million,or milligrams per liter (mg/L) ppt parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter (ng/L) ppq parts per quadrillion, or pictograms per liter (pg/L)
City of Katy

- 2011 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

Inorganic Contaminants
Year/Range Contaminant Avg Level 0.002 0.162 0.35 Min Level 0 0.15 0.13 Max Level 0.002 0.187 0.38 MCL MCLG Unit of Measure Ppb ppm ppm Source of Contaminant Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards, glass & electronics production wastes. Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits. Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth, discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits. Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines. Erosion of natural deposits. Erosion of natural deposits. Erosion of natural deposits.

2011 2011 2011

Arsenic Barium Fluoride

10 2 4

6 2 4

2011

Nitrate

0.01

0.02

10

10

ppm

2011 2011 2011 2011

Selenium Uranium Combined Radium 226 & 228 Gross alpha

0.15 2.9 2.5 8.1

0 .07 0 7.5

0.15 13.6 2.8 8.7

50 30 5 15

50 0 0 0

ppb ppb pCi/L pCi/L

Organic Contaminants Year/ Range Contaminant 2011 2011 2011 Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate Xylenes Ethylbenzene

Avg Level 0.12 0.5 0.3

Min Level 0 0 0

Max Level 0.2 1.5 0.6

MCL 6 10000 700

MCLG 0 10000 700

Unit of Measure ppb ppb ppb

Source of Contaminant Discharge from rubber & chemical factories Discharge from petroleum factories; discharge from chemical factories. Discharge from petroleum refineries.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Year Disinfectant 2011 Chlorine Residual, Free

Avg Level 0.55

Min Level 0.4

Max Level 0.7

MRDL 4

MRDLG 4

Unit of Measure ppm

Source of Disinfectant Disinfectant used to control microbes.

Disinfection Byproducts Year/ Range Contaminant

Avg Min Max MCL Unit of Source of Contaminant Level Level Level Measure 2011 Total Trihalomethanes 1.4 0 1.4 80 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection. Unregulated Initial Distribution System Evaluation for Disinfection Byproducts Waived or not yet sampled Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated (no associated adverse health effects) Year/ Range Constituent Avg Min Max Secondary Unit of Level Level Level Limit Measure 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 Bicarbonate Calcium Chloride Iron Magnesium Manganese Nickel pH Sodium Sulfate Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 Total Dissolved Solids Total Hardness as CaCO3 223 33.9 41.5 0.13 5.7 0.013 0.001 7.5 66 15.4 195 292 108 192 22.1 37 0.015 4.7 0.003 0 7.3 65 12 147 260 75 245 52.8 46 0.123 7 0.0136 0.001 7.8 68 18 218 324 161 NA NA 300 0.3 NA 0.05 NA >7.0 NA 300 NA 1000 NA ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm units ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm

Source of Constituent Corrosion of carbonate rocks such as limestone. Abundant naturally occurring element. Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification; byproduct of oil field activity. Erosion of natural deposits; iron or steel water delivery equipment or facilities. Abundant naturally occurring element. Abundant naturally occurring element. Erosion of natural deposits. Measure of corrosivity of water. Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oil field activity. Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of oil field activity. Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts.` Total dissolved mineral constituents in water. Naturally occurring calcium.

Unregulated Contaminants Bromoform, chloroform, dichlorobromomethane and dibromochloromethane are disinfection byproducts. There is no maximum contaminant level for these chemicals at the entry point to distribution. Year/ Range Contaminant Avg Min Max Unit of Source of Contaminant Level Level Level Measure 2011 Bromoform 0.67 0 0.9 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection. 2011 Dibromochloromethane 0.5 0 0.9 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection. Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 2 (UCMR2) Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. Any unregulated contaminants detected are reported in the following table. For additional information and data visit www.epa.gov/safewater/ucmr/ucmr2/index.html, or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)426-4791. Year Contaminant Avg Min Max Unit of Source of Contaminant Level Level Level Measure 2010 No Contaminant Detected NA NA NA NA NA Lead and Copper Year Contaminant 2010 2010 Lead Copper The 90th Percentile 3.9 0.184

Number of Sites Exceeding Action Level 0 0

Action Level 15 1.3

Unit of Measure ppb ppm

Source of Contaminant Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits. Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.

Turbidity Total Coliform Fecal Coliform

NOT REQUIRED REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO COLIFORM BACTERIA REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA.

City of Katy

- 2011 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report