Sunnyslope County Water
District
Este informe contiene
información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo
entienda bien.
We're pleased to present to you this year's Annual Water Quality Report.
The purpose of this report is to increase your understanding and confidence in
the quality of drinking water delivered to you by the Sunnyslope County Water
District. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply
of drinking water.
Please note that tenants, employees and
students may not receive the report since they are not direct customers of the
District. You may make this report available to such people by distributing
copies or posting in a conspicuous location.
The District is pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and
meets all Federal and State requirements.
In order to ensure that your drinking water is safe to
drink the Environmental Protection Agency prescribes specific limits for the
amount of certain contaminates in drinking water. The presence of contaminants
does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health
risk.
Sunnyslope County Water District routinely monitors for contaminants in
your drinking water according to Federal
and State laws. Unless otherwise noted, the following tables show the results of
our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December
31st, 2003. The data presented in this report are from the
most recent testing done in accordance with the regulations. All drinking water, including bottled drinking
water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. It's important to remember that the presence of these contaminants
does not necessarily pose a health risk.
The
Sunnyslope County Water District obtains potable drinking water from the local
groundwater aquifer pumped from the District’s four active deep groundwater
wells located throughout the district and San Felipe surface water treated at the
LESSALT Water Treatment Plant.
The
other sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include
rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs and springs. 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.
Contaminants that may be present in source water
include:
S Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
S
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and
metals, that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff,
industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or
farming.
S
Pesticides and herbicides, which may come
from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and
residential uses.
S
Organic chemical contaminants, including
synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial
processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban
storm water runoff, and septic systems.
S
Radioactive contaminants, which can be
naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining
activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe
to drink, United States Environmental Protection Agency and the California
Department of Health Services Division of Drinking Water and Environmental
Management prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminates
in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish
limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection
for public health.
Drinking Water Source Water
Assessment and Protection
Groundwater: An assessment of the following Sunnyslope Ground Water
Wells: Southside Well 02, Enterprise Well 07, Ridgemark Well 05, and Ridgemark
Well 08 were completed in March 2002. These sources are considered most
vulnerable to the following activities not associated with any detected
contaminants: Agricultural Drainage, Septic Systems – low density, Sewer
collection systems, Wells – agricultural/Irrigation and
grazing.
Surface Water: An
assessment of the LESSALT Water Treatment Plant Surface Water Source was
completed in March 2002. This source is considered most vulnerable to the
following activities not associated with any detected contaminants: Recreational
Area, Government Agency Equipment Storage, Road, Streets, Septic Systems, Sewer
Collection Systems, Grazing Animals, Farm Machinery, Wells and
Irrigation.
A copy of the completed assessments may be viewed at the
following locations:
Sunnyslope County Water District
Department of Health Services (DHS)
3416 Airline Highway
Drinking Water Field Operations Branch
Hollister, CA 95023-9702
1 Lower Ragsdale Dr., Building 1 Suite 120
Monterey, CA 93940
Definitions
To help you understand our test results on the following
tables, we are providing the following definitions of terms and abbreviations
you may not be familiar with.
Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is
not present.
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 to protect the
odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.
Public Health Goal or PHG – The level of
a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk
to health. The California Environmental Protection Agency sets
PHGs.
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 and are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the
radioactivity in water.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter
(mg/l) – 1/ 1,000,000 - a measurement of concentration on a
weight or volume basis.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per
liter (ug/l) –
1/1,000,000,000 - a measurement of concentration on a weight or volume
basis.
Primary Drinking Water Standards
(PDWS): MCLs for contaminants that
affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water
treatment requirements.
Secondary Drinking Water Standards: refer to those constituents present in water, which do
not affect the public health. These tests performed assure that your water meets
certain unenforceable standards in appearance, odor and
taste.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are produced in the course of treatment as by-products
of the chlorination process. Some THMs are thought to be cancer causing agents
at certain levels. The California EPA MCL for TRIHALOMETHANES is 100 parts per
billion (ppb).
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the
clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average
person.
Methyl Tertiary – Butyl Ether (MTBE) this gasoline additive was tested for in 2002 and was
not detected in our groundwater source.
Million Fibers per Liter (MFL) A measurement used for Asbestos in drinking
water.
Treatment Technique – TT - A
required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking
water.
Lead and Copper Testing - The 1994 Federal Lead & Copper Rule mandates a
household testing program for these substances. According to the rule, 90% of
the samples taken from high-risk homes must have levels less than 0.015
milligrams per liter of lead and 1.3 milligrams per liter of copper. If our
results are above the 90% Action Level, corrective measures are to be taken. A
high risk home is defined as a structure that contains lead pipes or copper
pipes with lead solder installed between January 1983 to June 1986. Sunnyslope
County Water Districts Lead and Copper results have always been below the Action
Level.
New
analytical instruments and techniques make it possible to measure quality of
constituents in water that were undetectable in the past. The water quality
results in this report show parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter
(mg/l) and even parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (ug/l) of
detectable substances.
|
Primary Regulated
Contaminants | |||||||||||||||||
|
Contaminant |
Violation Y/N |
Average Level Detected |
Range |
Unit |
MCL |
PHG MCLG |
Likely Source of
Contamination |
Health Effects
Language | |||||||||
|
Radioactive Contaminants 2001 – 2002 | |||||||||||||||||
|
Gross Alpha |
No |
3.89 |
0 – 6.58 |
PCi/L |
15 |
N/A |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a
form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water
containing alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting cancer. | |||||||||
|
Gross Beta |
No |
3.58 |
2.56 - 4.92 |
PCi/L |
50 |
N/A |
Decay of natural and manmade
deposits |
Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms
of radiation known as photons and beta radiation. Some people who drink
water containing beta and photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many
years may have an increased risk of getting
cancer. | |||||||||
|
Total Strontium 90 |
No |
0.16 |
0 – 0.379 |
PCi/L |
8 |
N/A |
Decay of natural and manmade
deposits |
Some people who drink water containing Strontium 90
in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting
cancer | |||||||||
|
Total Tritium |
No |
2.63 |
0 – 10.5 |
PCi/L |
20,000 |
N/A |
Decay of natural and manmade
deposits |
Some people who drink
water containing Tritium in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting
cancer | |||||||||
|
Inorganic Contaminants
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Aluminum |
No |
8 |
0 - 40 |
ppb |
1000 |
600 |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Some people who drink water containing aluminum in
excess of the MCL over many years may experience short-term
gastrointestinal tract effects. | |||||||||
|
Arsenic |
No |
1 |
0 - 3 |
ppb |
50 |
N/A |
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from
orchards |
Some people who drink water containing arsenic in
excess of the MCL over many years may experience skin damage or
circulatory system problems, and may have an increased risk of getting
cancer. | |||||||||
|
Asbestos 2002 |
No |
0.04 |
0 – 0.1883 |
MFL |
7 |
7 |
Internal corrosion of asbestos cement water mains;
erosion of natural deposits |
Some people who drink water containing asbestos in
excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of developing
benign intestinal polyps. | |||||||||
|
Barium |
No |
34.9 |
27.4 – 40.1 |
ppb |
1000 |
2000 |
Discharges from oil drilling wastes and from metal
refineries; Erosion of natural deposits |
Some people who drink water containing barium in
excess of the MCL over many years may experience an increase in blood
pressure. | |||||||||
|
Chromium |
No |
7 |
0 – 11 |
ppb |
50 |
100 |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Some people who use water containing chromium in
excess of the MCL over many years may experience allergic
dermatitis. | |||||||||
|
Fluoride |
No |
232 |
0 - 360 |
ppb |
2000 |
1000 |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Some people who drink water containing fluoride in
excess of the federal MCL of 4000 ppb over many years may get bone
disease, including pain and tenderness of bones. Children who drink water
containing fluoride in excess of the state MCL of 2000 ppb may get mottled
teeth. Mottling (dental fluorosis) may include brown staining and/or
pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in developing teeth before they
erupt from the gums. | |||||||||
|
Mercury |
No |
0.01 |
0 – 0.02 |
ppb |
2 |
1.2 |
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from
refineries and factories; runoff from landfills; runoff from
cropland |
Some people who drink water containing
mercury in excess of the MCL over many years may experience mental
disturbances, or impaired physical coordination, speech and
hearing. | |||||||||
|
Nickel |
No |
0.4 |
0 - 1 |
ppb |
100 |
12 |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Some people who drink water containing nickel in
excess of the MCL over many years may experience liver and heart
effects. | |||||||||
|
Nitrate (NO3) |
No |
14.35 |
2.2 – 24 |
ppm |
45 |
45 |
Runoff and leaching from fertilizer use; leaching
from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural
deposits |
Infants below the age of six months who drink water
containing nitrate in excess of the MCL may quickly become seriously ill
and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue
baby syndrome. Pregnant women who drink water containing nitrate in excess
of the MCL may experience anemia. | |||||||||
|
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 45 ppm is
a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. Such nitrate
levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s
blood to carry oxygen, resulting in serious illness; symptoms include
shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 45 ppm
may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other
individuals, such as pregnant women and those with specific enzyme
deficiencies. If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you
should ask advice from your health care
provider. | |||||||||||||||||
|
Nitrate + Nitrite as Nitrogen
(N) |
No |
3.1 |
1.4 - 5.2 |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
Runoff and leaching from fertilizer use; leaching
from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural
deposits |
Infants below the age of six months who drink water
containing nitrate in excess of the MCL may quickly become seriously ill
and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue
baby syndrome. Pregnant women who drink water containing nitrate in excess
of the MCL may experience anemia. | |||||||||
|
Selenium |
No |
3.6 |
0 - 7 |
ppb |
50 |
50 |
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from livestock
lots
(feed additive) |
Selenium is an essential nutrient. However, some
people who drink water containing selenium in excess of the MCL over many
years may experience hair or fingernail losses, numbness in fingers or
toes, or circulation system problems. | |||||||||
|
Disinfection
Byproducts | |||||||||||||||||
|
TTHM
[Total
trihalomethanes] |
No |
19.4 |
1.6 – 140 |
ppb |
100 |
N/A |
By-product of drinking water
chlorination |
Some people who drink water containing
trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience liver,
kidney, or central nervous system problems, and may have an increased risk
of getting cancer. | |||||||||
|
HAA5
[Haloacetic
Acids] |
No |
6.9 |
0 – 110 |
ppb |
60 |
N/A |
By-product of drinking water
disinfection |
Some people who drink water
containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have
an increased risk of getting cancer. | |||||||||
Secondary Regulated
Contaminants |
| |||||||||||||||||
Contaminant Year 2003 |
Violation Y/N |
Average Level Detected |
Range |
Unit Measurement |
MCL |
Typical Source of
Contaminant |
| |||||||||||
Aluminum |
No |
8 |
0 – 40 |
ppb |
200 |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
| |||||||||||
Color |
No |
2 |
<2 – 8 |
Units |
15 |
Naturally-occurring organic
materials |
| |||||||||||
Iron |
No |
20 |
0 -100 |
ppb |
300 |
Leaching from
natural deposits |
| |||||||||||
Odor –
Threshold |
No |
1 |
1 |
Units |
3 |
Naturally-occurring organic
materials |
| |||||||||||
Turbidity |
No |
0.06 |
0.12 – 2.4 |
NTU |
5 |
Soil runoff |
| |||||||||||
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) |
No |
680 |
300 – 800 |
ppm |
1000 |
Runoff/leaching from natural
deposits |
| |||||||||||
Specific Conductance |
No |
1094 |
530 – 1260 |
micromhos |
1600 |
Substances that form ions when in
water |
| |||||||||||
Chloride |
No |
93 |
83 – 100 |
ppm |
500 |
Runoff/leaching from natural
deposits |
| |||||||||||
Sulfate |
No |
201 |
45 – 270 |
ppm |
500 |
Runoff/leaching from natural
deposits |
| |||||||||||
The data presented in this report are from the most recent
testing done in accordance with the regulations.
Distribution System Sampling for Lead
and Copper | ||||||||
Contaminant Year 2003 |
Above Action
Level |
90th
Percentile Result |
Range |
Unit |
Action Level |
Sample Sites |
Likely Source of
Contamination |
Health Effects
Language |
Lead 2-26-03 9-9-03 |
None |
1.4 3.64 |
0 – 4.3 0 – 20 |
ppb |
15 |
42 38 |
Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits |
Infants and children who drink water containing
lead in excess of the action level may experience delays in their physical
or mental development. Children may show slight defects in attention span
and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years may
develop kidney problems or high blood
pressure. |
Copper 2-26-03 9-9-03 |
None |
140 146 |
0–200 20-780 |
ppb |
1300 |
42 38 |
Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits |
Copper is an essential nutrient,
but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action
level over a relatively short amount of time may experience
gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper
in excess of the action level over many years may suffer liver or kidney
damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal
doctor. |
Up to 148
other contaminants were tested for in 2002-2003 and not
detected.
Unregulated
Contaminants | |||||
Contaminant |
Violation Y/N |
Average Level Detected |
Range |
Unit Measurement |
MCL |
Total Hardness (as CaCO3) |
No |
334 |
99 – 420 |
ppm |
N/A |
Boron yr 2002 |
No |
720 |
200 – 1000 |
ppb |
N/A |
Calcium (Ca) |
No |
60 |
22 – 83 |
ppm |
N/A |
Chromium, Hexavalent (CrVI) yr 2001-2002 |
No |
7.67 |
0 – 12 |
ppb |
N/A |
Magnesium (Mg) |
No |
45 |
13 – 56 |
ppm |
N/A |
Sodium (Na) |
No |
78 |
55 – 90 |
ppm |
N/A |
Potassium (K) |
No |
1.7 |
1 – 4.2 |
ppm |
N/A |
Total Alkalinity (as CaCO3) |
No |
252 |
81 – 310 |
ppm |
N/A |
Bicarbonate (HCO3) |
No |
252 |
81 – 310 |
ppm |
N/A |
Vanadium |
No |
4.6 |
4.0 – 5.0 |
ppb |
N/A |
pH (Laboratory) |
No |
7.79 |
7.7 – 8.0 |
Units |
6.5 – 8.5 |
The data presented in this report are from the most recent
testing done in accordance with the regulations
Treatment of Surface Water
Source LESSALT Water Treatment
Plant | |
Treatment Technique (TT) S: U S Filter
Memcor Microfiltration Treatment
Plant |
Turbidity
has no health effects. However, high levels of turbidity can interfere
with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may
indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as
nausea, cramps, and diarrhea and associated
headaches. |
Turbidity Performance Standards SS: water
treatment process |
Turbidity
of the filtered water must: 1
- Be less than or equal to
0.1 NTU in 95% of measurements in a month. 2
- Not exceed 1.0 NTU at any
time. |
Lowest monthly percentage of samples that met
Turbidity Performance Standard No. 1. |
100% |
Highest single turbidity measurement during the
year |
0.04
NTU |
The number of violations of any surface water
treatment requirements |
None |
Total Organic Carbon |
3.8
ppm |
S
A
required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking
water.
SS
Turbidity (measured
in NTU) is a measurement of the cloudiness of water and is a good indicator of
water quality and filtration performance.
Turbidity results which meet performance standards are considered to be
in compliance with filtration requirements.
2003 Water
Production 5277
Accounts |
2003 Average
Monthly Water use per Single Family Residence
1,916 Cubic
Feet or 14,330
Gallons | |
January Lowest
Month 996 Cubic
Feet or 7,450
Gallons |
August Highest
Month 3,178 Cubic
Feet or 23,771
Gallons | |
141,677,807 Total
Cubic Feet or 1,059,750,000
Total Gallons or 3,252
Acre-Feet |
Average City
Accounts 1,730 Cubic Feet
or
12,937
gallons |
Average County
Accounts 3,337 cubic Feet
or
24,962
gallons |
1 Cubic Foot =
7.48 Gallons S 100 Cubic Feet = 748 Gallons
S 1 Acre Foot = 325,828
Gallons |
SUMMARY
As you can see by the above tables, our system had no violations. We’re
proud that your drinking water meets or is lower than all Federal and State
requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing program that
some contaminants have been detected. The EPA has determined that your water IS
SAFE at these levels.
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 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. U S Environmental
Protection Agency and Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means
to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological
contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).
We at Sunnyslope
County Water District work to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask
that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of
our community, our way of life and our children’s future.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water
utility, please contact Bryan Yamaoka at (831) 637-4670. We want you, our
valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you wish to learn
more, look on our web site: http://www.sscwd.org/ or please attend any of
our regularly scheduled Board meetings. They are held in our District Office at
3416 Airline Highway on the second Thursday of every month 5:15
p.m.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about water:
IS MY WATER SAFE TO DRINK?
Yes, water supplied by the Sunnyslope County Water District meets or is below the stringent State and Federal regulations. These regulations require close monitoring of all water supplies, and we must report a summary of water quality monitoring to our customers each year.
Water hardness is dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium and occurs naturally in our water supply. There are no distinctly defined levels of what constitutes hard or soft water. Typically, if the amount of dissolved Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) is above 130 ppm or 8 grains per gallon, water is considered hard and can cause scale to build up in pipes, on faucets, and leave white spots on dishware. The District’s water hardness ranges from 99 to 420 ppm or 6 to 25 grains per gallon.
WHY DOES MY WATER LOOK CLOUDY? MILKY
WATER?
Cloudy or milky water is usually due to air bubbles in the water. Distribution pipes carry water under pressure, meaning air is dissolved in the water. These bubbles initially make a glass of water appear cloudy, but will slowly rise and disappear.
WHY DOES MY DRINKING WATER TASTE OR SMELL
FUNNY?
Taste comes from the dissolved minerals in the water. The two most common reasons for poor tasting or smelling water are:
1. Chlorine odor is usually a result of the chlorine used to disinfect the water supply. If the smell is particularly bothersome, let the water stand in an open container, the chlorine will dissipate. The container can then be covered for later use.
2. A rotten-egg odor in groundwater is caused by a non-toxic (in small amounts) hydrogen sulfide dissolved in the water and usually found from the hot water faucet. A remedy is to slightly turn up the temperature in your hot water heater. Also, if you let the water flush for a few seconds, the smell will disappear.
Chlorine is added to the water pumped from the districts wells and the surface water source from the LESSALT Water Treatment Plant to provide a high degree of disinfection over a long period of time. We measure the chlorine residual at various locations throughout our water distribution system daily and on a continuous basis at the LESSALT Water Treatment Plant utilizing two continuous chlorine residual analyzers.
The weekly microbiological tests we perform look for presence of indicator organisms called coliform bacteria. If these indicator organisms are detected, there is a potential that other pathogenic (disease causing) organisms may be present. Our system is protected against microbiological contamination and the water you drink contains a small amount of chlorine to maintain a disinfectant capability. We have never detected E. Coli in our water system.
No, fluoride is not added to the District’s water supply. However, fluoride does occur naturally and is present in the water supply between 0 ppb to 360 ppb. By comparison, the fluoride level does not exceed the California Maximum Contaminant Level of 2000 ppb.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I USE A SELF-REGENERATING WATER
SOFTENER?
Self-regenerating water softeners use salt, the type that uses rock salt or potassium, may deposit up to 600 pounds of brine into the sewer system and into the environment each year. That’s a problem because Sunnyslope County Water District wastewater treatment plant cannot remove these salts during the treatment process and these salts along with our wastewater effluent are recycled back into the groundwater.
WHAT TYPE OF WATER SOFTENER CAN WE
USE?
District Regulations require our wastewater customers to either have an “On-Demand” or “Replaceable Cartridge” type water softener installed by year 2005. Our Regional Water Quality Control Board Discharge Permit requires us to reduce the salt byproducts in our wastewater effluent.
IF I ALREADY OWN A SELF-REGENERATING WATER SOFTENER,
WHAT CAN I DO TO LESSEN ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
Water softeners use the least salt when they are set to regenerate “on demand”, after a certain amount of water has been processed, and not just on a timer. If you do not have an on-demand setting, make sure to turn the unit off when it is not being used, such as when you go on vacation. Also, set the unit at the lowest hardness level that will soften the water. Experiment with the settings to see what is acceptable to you.
FOR ADDITIONAL DRINKING
WATER INFORMATION.
All 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 the water poses a health risk.
More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained
by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791.
WATER
CONSERVATION
Services to Help You
Save Water and Save Money
The Sunnyslope County Water District is an active participant with the Water Resources Association of San Benito County. One of the main programs of the Association is Water Conservation. The following activities are available to our customers for your benefit:
S High Efficiency Washing Machine Rebate of $100.00 for residential.
S Free Ultra Low Flow Toilet to replace toilets older than 1991, for residential and commercial customers. Pickup dates are: May 22 & June 12, 2004 or weekly from June to September.
S Free Home & Landscape Water Audits, which evaluate your sprinkler systems and help, detect leaks. Includes Free showerhead, garden hose nozzles, and water conservation literature.
S Project W.E.T. (Water Education for Teachers) a teacher water education program.
S MAY is “Water Awareness Month”
For additional information and assistance on the above Water
Conservation Program and Activities call the Water Conservation Specialist at:
(831) 637-4378 or Web site: www.sbcwd.com
(click on water conservation).
READING YOUR WATER
METER
Your water meter can tell you how much water you’re using during a given time period, and can help you monitor the amount of water you use indoors and outdoors on a daily basis. It can also help you figure out how much water each appliance uses, and weather there is a leak inside or outside the house. But first you’ll need to learn to read it.
How is my meter
read?
The Sunnyslope County Water District reads meters on a monthly cycle, which is the basis for your water bills. District personnel read every meter every month.
The District is currently in the process of replacing old water meters with “state of the art” radio read meters. These meters transmit your meter reading to a remote reading device. If your meter is the new radio read type, there will be a black disk on top of your meter box lid. Care must be taken when removing the lid not to damage the wire connected to the water meter. Any damage to this device will be the responsibility of the property owner. S
How can I check my water
usage?
It is important that you know how to read your meter to understand how much water you are using or to find out if you have a “hidden leak”.
You will probably find your meter in front of your home or business, in the ground, surrounded by a concrete box and covered with a concrete lid.
To read your meter, open the metal meter reading lid. To know how much water you use, read all the numbers on the face of the water meter including any stationary numbers. Remove the two right digits then subtract the current reading you just took from the last reading on your most current water bill and that will give you the total water used in 100 cubic feet since your meter was last read. The bill you receive charges for every 100 cubic foot increment. To convert the usage to gallons multiply by 748.
How do I check for a small
leak?
You can also measure smaller amounts of water used to detect a leak. First, make sure all faucets and water-using appliances in and around your home are off. Even a small drip will be detected by your water meter. Depending on the meter manufacturer, the meter will have a sweep hand or a small dial. If any movement on the meter dials is observed, water is flowing through the meter indicating a leak. Check for moisture or wet spots under sinks, around toilets or in other areas where leaks might occur. If necessary, call a plumber for help.
What causes the water pipes
in my home to rattle or vibrate?
If the water pipes in your home vibrate in the walls. This condition is known as water hammer and generally, the cause can be traced to a faulty ball cock in one of the household toilet tanks. If necessary, call a plumber for help.
S If
your meter is the new radio read type there will be a black disk on top of your
meter box lid. Care must be taken when removing the lid not to damage the wire
connected to the water meter. Any damage to this device will be the
responsibility of the property owner.