Heceta Water District

2011 Drinking Water Report

 The Board of Commissioners and Staff are proud to provide you with this report on the Heceta Water District’s drinking water. This report is for the period of January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. This report will inform you about your water and the possible contaminants in the water. If, after reading this newsletter you don’t understand something or still have questions please do not hesitate to call the district office.

Is my water safe?
During the calendar year of 2011, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Oregon drinking water health standards. HWD employees work vigilantly to provide you with safe drinking water and once again we are proud to report that our system has not violated any  maximum contaminant level.

Do I need to take special precautions?
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. EPA/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 Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

Where does my water come from?
Your drinking water comes from Clear Lake. For more information on Clear Lake and its protection zone please visit the distric't website at www.hecetawaterdistrict.com.   The  water is pumped from the lake to the district’s treatment plant where it is treated and then delivered through-out the distribution system and into our four finished water reservoirs. The treatment facility is located along side the district office. If you would like a tour of the treatment facility please call the district office and schedule a tour.

Source water assessment and its availability
In 2001, the district, in conjunction with Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Human Services completed a source water assessment. The purpose of the report is to provide information so that the public system staff, consumers, and community citizens can develop strategies to protect our drinking water source. You may review a copy of the assessment at the district office.

Why are there contaminants in my 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 Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). 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 pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity: 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, which 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, which 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, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and 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, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

How can I get involved?
The District has monthly Board of Commissioners meetings. They are held the second Tuesday of each month at 4pm. You may also call the district office for information.

Conservation Tips
Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost or no-cost ways to conserve water. Water your lawn at the least sunny times of the day. Fix toilet and faucet leaks. Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth and shaving; 3-5 gallons go down the drain per minute. Teach your kids about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month's water bill! Please visit www.epa.gov/watersense  for more water conservation ideas.

Water Quality Data Table

The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of 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 from testing done in the calendar year of the report.  The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

(If you have any trouble displaying this page or want a printable copy of this report, click here for PDF version)