Rhododendron Summer Homes Association

Consumer Confidence Report for the year 2004

Is my water safe? 

Last year, as in recent years past, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards. Local Water vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that our system has not violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard.  Except During the year 2004 we did not test for Volatile organic compounds, when we were notified of the error by the state, a test was conducted immediately to provide compliance with the rules and results confirmed the absence of the regulated containments.  The reason why we missed this test is it was required every three years and under the new rules it is now required every year.

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?

The Rhododendron Summer Homes obtains it source of water from Henry Creek with a diversion structure located in Mount Hood National Forest in the foot hills of Zig Zag Mountain.  The water is treated using Multimedia (sand) filters and Rosedale brand cartridge filters to remove turbidity and Giardia.  Sodium Hypo chlorite is added to provide a disinfection residual throughout the distribution system.

Source water assessment and its availability

A Source water assessment has been completed by the Department of Environmental Quality of the State of Oregon and the summary can be viewed at he following web site 

http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/dwp/SWAReports/PWS00702_Rhododendron.pdf

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.  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?

 Attend the Annual General Meeting, It is held every year on a Saturday in May. You can also help us keep costs down by reporting leaks and other maintenance issues to Scott Weber at home 971-235-4615 or David Jacob at office 503-622-3911 cell 503-310-9262 home 503-622-6631

Other Information

 Planned System Upgrades:  The board this spring will review a variety of projects including the installation of more valves and the replacement of some piping for projects to be completed during the summer. 


 

                                                          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.

 

Contaminants (units)

MCLG

MCL

Your water

Range

Sample Date

Violation

Typical Source

High

Low

Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products

Sodium Hypo-Chlorite (ppm)

4.0

4.0

0.5

Ave

1.28

0.21

Daily

No

Water additive used to control microbes

 

Dichloroacetic Acid (ppb)

 

 

1.5

1.5

1.1

12/15/04

 

 

Trichloroacetic Acid

(ppb)

 

 

1.3

1.3

.9

12/15/04

 

 

Total Halo Acetic Acids

n/a

60

2.8

 

 

 

No

By-product of drinking water chlorination

Bromodichlormethane

(ppb)

 

 

1.3

1.3

0

12/15/04

 

 

Chloroform

(ppb)

 

 

15

15

0

12/15/04

 

 

Total Trihalomethanes

n/a

80

15.3

 

 

 

No

By-product of drinking water chlorination

 

Contaminants (units)

MCLG

MCL

Your water

Range

Sample Date

Violation

Typical Source

High

Low

Microbiological Contaminants

Turbidity

n/a

<1

.040

average

.180

.023

Daily

No

Soil Runoff

Total Coliform

0

0

0

 

 

Monthly

No

Naturally present in the environment

 

 

Contaminants (units)

MCLG

MCL

Your water

Number of samples above action level

Sample Date

Violation

Typical Source

Inorganic Contaminants

Copper (ppm)

1.3

1.3

0.12

0

02/06/04

No

Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems.

Lead  (ppb)

0

15

5

0

02/06/04

No

Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems.

 

  Units Description:

  NA: Not applicable                                            ND: Not detected                                 NR: Not reported                     MNR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.

  ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)                                        ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L)

  NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water.  We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

  # of monthly positive samples: Number of samples taken monthly that were found to be positive

  Important Drinking Water Definitions:

  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.

  TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

  AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water

  system must follow.

  MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. 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.

  MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of

  microbial contaminants.

 

Spanish (Espanol)

Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua beber.  Traduscalo o  hable con alguien que  lo entienda bien.

French (Francais)

Ce rapport contient des informations importantes sur votre eau potable.  Traduisez-le ou parlez en avec quequ'un qui le comprend bien.

 

 

For more information contact:

 

President

                                                                   Craig Calvert            Phone: 503-622-4618

                                       (Owner of Alpine Hut)

 

Vice President, Filter plant operator, Engineer

                                                                    David Jacob            Phone: 503-622-3911

                                                                     PO box 327            Cell 503-310-9262

                                           Rhododendron, OR  97049            E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Distribution System, Leak repair

                                                                    Scott Weber            Cell 971-235-4615

 

Billing

                                                                               RSHA

                                                          Attn: Lorry Lythgoe            Phone: 503-622-3506

                                                                   PO box 1002           

                                                      Welches, OR  97067

 

                                                                                           

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