City of Santa Rosa 2010 - Water System #4910009 Why You Receive Water Quality Report this Report

A Message from the while acknowledging the harsh realities The federal Environmental Protection Director of Utilities, of the economic downturn. Santa Rosa Agency (EPA) sets regulations on water Miles Ferris is like many other utilities that quality and ensures you are informed are facing the need to replace aging about your community’s water quality n behalf of through this required annual report. our Utilities infrastructure and maintain our current assets while keeping utility rates as We are mandated to provide certain staff and basic information but we also use the O reasonable as possible. The economy members of the opportunity to share other important has adversely affected the fees we Santa Rosa Board information about your water. This of Public Utilities, collect on new water and wastewater report is printed on 40% post-consumer I am pleased to present our annual connections and increased the number recycled paper. water quality report. This report covers of uncollectable utility bills due to home all testing completed from January foreclosures. The reduction of water usage through December 2010. Our goal is due to conservation and a cool summer to provide excellent customer service last year has also resulted in a significant Radiation Concerns from reduction to rate revenue. along with exceptionally high quality Fukushima Nuclear Plant water to your home or business. The The Santa Rosa Utilities Department has U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made significant strides to overcome our s a result of the (EPA) requires this printed report be current budget shortfall by participating incident _with delivered to you in accordance with in a City furlough equivalent to a 5% A the Fukushima the Consumer Confidence Report Rule. salary reduction, a freeze in most hiring, nuclear plant in Japan, Our primary goal is to provide safe, elimination of selected unfilled and several Environmental reliable services to all our customers temporary positions, and the distinct Protection Agency possibility of significant staffing cuts for (EPA) air monitors have the coming fiscal year. Our governing detected very low levels of radioactive Table of Contents board approved an approach to reduce material in the United States consistent structural fixed costs by eliminating with estimated releases from the Message from Director of Utilities Page 1 positions that do not significantly affect damaged nuclear reactors. The EPA has Nuclear Radiation Concerns Page 1 customer service while continuing stepped up monitoring of precipitation Drinking Water and Your Health Page 2 needed infrastructure capital projects. We and drinking water in response to the Health Related Notice Page 2 are also focusing on restoring our reserves Fukushima events. These detections in that were used to cover our declining air and precipitation were expected, and Monitoring Water Quality Page 3 revenues over the past few years. the levels detected have been far below Monitoring Results Page 4 levels of public-health concern. Water Quality Results Table Page 5 We are making difficult financial decisions while maintaining our obligation to In April 2011, the EPA released RadNet Water-Use Efficiency Page 6 deliver safe, reliable water and wastewater (EPA’s nationwide radiation monitoring Chromium 6 and Perchlorate Page 6 services. With any reductions to the system) results, which include the first Drinking Water Sources Page 7 operating budget we will always consider results for drinking water. Drinking water 10 Ways to Protect Creeks Page 8 our responsibility to you, our customers, samples from two locations, Boise, Idaho and Richland, Washington, showed trace Contact Information Page 8 and our commitment to complying with state and federal regulations. continued on page 8

Special Edition: Water Quality Report  Drinking Water and Your Health Notice from the EPA

he sources of drinking water (both products of industrial processes and tap water and bottled water) petroleum production, and can also T include rivers, lakes, streams, come from gas stations, urban storm ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. water runoff, agricultural application, As water travels over the surface of the and septic systems. land or through the ground, it dissolves • Radioactive contaminants that can naturally-occurring minerals and, in be naturally-occurring or be the some cases, radioactive material, and result of oil and gas production and can pick up substances resulting from mining activities. the presence of animals or from human activity. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, U.S. EPA and the State Department Contaminants that may be present in of Public Health prescribe regulations that source water include: limit the amount of certain contaminants • Microbial contaminants such as in water provided by public water systems. viruses and bacteria that may come Department regulations also establish from wastewater treatment plants, limits for contaminants in bottled water septic systems, agricultural livestock that provide the same protection for operations and wildlife. public health. 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 Health Related Notice indicate that water poses a health risk. Precautions for Vulnerable More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be Populations obtained by calling the United States EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800- ome people may be more 426-4791. vulnerable to contaminants in S drinking water than the general Drinking water standards are established population. Immuno-compromised by both the state of California Department persons such as those with cancer of Public Health and by the United States undergoing chemotherapy, persons EPA. that have undergone organ transplants, Primary standards are set to protect people with HIV/AIDS or other immune public health from substances in water system disorders, some elderly, and that may be immediately harmful to infants can be particularly at risk from humans or affect their health if consumed infections. These people should seek for long periods of time. The primary advice about drinking water from their • Inorganic contaminants such as salts drinking water standards are defined by health care providers. U.S. EPA/Center and metals that can be naturally- maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for for Disease Control guidelines on occurring or result from urban storm contaminants that affect health along appropriate means to lessen the risk of water runoff, industrial or domestic with their monitoring and reporting infection by Cryptosporidium and other wastewater discharges, oil and gas requirements and surface water microbial contaminants are available production, mining, or farming. treatment requirements. from the U. S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or at their web Secondary standards govern aesthetic • Pesticides and herbicides that may site at: epa.gov/safewater/. come from a variety of sources such qualities of water such as taste, mineral as agriculture, urban storm water content, odor or clarity. These standards runoff, and residential uses. specify limits for substances that may influence consumer acceptance of the • Organic chemical contaminants, water and are not harmful to public including synthetic and volatile health. organic chemicals that are by-

 Santa Rosa Utilities Update Monitoring Water Quality he United States Environmental oral health, and current issues, here is To participate in decisions Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Department of Public Health’s web about your water... T California Department of Public site: cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/ Health (agencies that oversee California’s Pages/Fluoridation.aspx. drinking water programs) require water Hardness: Water in the City of Santa Rosa For more information regarding the providers to routinely monitor their water is considered to be moderately hard at City of Santa Rosa water utility, you may supplies and report test results annually. an average level detected of 99.7 ppm attend the City of Santa Rosa Board In addition to the Sonoma County Water or 5.8 grains per gallon. Water that is too of Public Utilities meetings which are Agency’s sampling of over 100 different soft (below 30 ppm) can be corrosive to held every 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the contaminants, the City conducts their plumbing pipes, and water that is too month at 1:30PM: own contaminant testing on our local hard (above 300 ppm) causes scale to supply and monthly routine water form on plumbing fixtures and cooking City of Santa Rosa BPU samples are collected throughout the utensils. Hard water is found in over 85% water distribution system. City Hall Council Chambers of the United States water supplies. 100 Santa Rosa Ave Sampling frequency is based on our Santa Rosa, CA 95404 population and the number of services Water Hardness Scale (707) 543-4200 connected to the water system. The City of (707) 543-3031 TDD Santa Rosa takes over 120 representative samples per month. These samples are less than 1.0 less than 17.1 Soft For meeting dates and agenda call: tested for coliform bacteria (an indicator 1.0 - 3.5 17.1 – 60 Slightly Hard (707) 543-3397 or visit srcity.org/bpu. of contamination) and chlorine residuals 3.5 - 7.0 60 – 120 Moderately Hard (level of disinfection). The City also takes For more information regarding the 7.0 - 10.5 120 – 180 Hard Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), pH samples every sampling day. The over 10.5 over 180 Very Hard results of the samples are sent to the you may attend the SCWA Board California Department of Public Health at meetings, which are held every Tuesday the end of each month. Water Cloudiness: During certain at 8:30AM in conjunction with the periods, the City of Santa Rosa Utilities Sonoma County Board of Supervisors: Certain sampling is required periodically Department receives many calls about by the EPA based on specific rules. milky white water (also commonly Special Districts Supervisors’ Chambers Annually, we take trihalomethane and described as cloudy, hazy, soapy, or Sonoma Cty. Administration Bldg. haloacetic acid samples based on the foamy), which is usually caused by air in 575 Administration Drive, #102A disinfection by-products rule and every the water. One of the many properties Santa Rosa, CA 95403-2887 three years we sample 50 residences for of water is its ability to dissolve gases, (707) 565-2241 compliance with the lead and copper including air. Sometimes the air comes rule. back out of the water in the form of Web access with meeting dates and This water quality report shows your water many tiny bubbles, giving the water a agenda: sonoma-county.org/board/. supply is carefully managed and your tap temporary milky white appearance. To Should you have questions regarding water meets or exceeds all health-based determine if the white color in the water this report, or for information standards established by the U.S. EPA for is due to air, fill a clear glass with water concerning your water supply, please safe drinking water. and set it on the counter. Observe the glass of water for two to three minutes. If contact Peter Fulkerson, Water Quality Your Water’s Characteristics the white color is due to air, the water will Supervisor, at (707) 543-3965 or (707) begin to clear at the bottom of the glass 543-3968 (TDD Public Works (707) Sodium: There is currently no drinking first and then gradually clear all the way 543-3827), or fax (707) 543-3937. If water standard for sodium. Santa Rosa’s to the top. This is a natural phenomenon you would like additional copies of sodium averages 18.42 ppm, a level and is completely normal; the water is this report, please contact us. We unlikely to contribute to adverse health safe to use. encourage business owners to provide effects. this information to their employees. Fluoride: Santa Rosa does not add Este folleto contiene infomación fluoride to the water supply. The City’s importante acerca de la calidad de average naturally-occurring fluoride su agua de beber. Si usted apreciaría level of 0.014 ppm is considered to be hablar con alguien en español llame al too low to help prevent dental decay. (707) 543-3991. You may want to consult your dentist about ways to prevent tooth decay. For Air bubbles dissipate from the bottom of the more information about fluoridation, glass to the top in just a minute or two.

Special Edition: Water Quality Report  Water Quality: Monitoring Results

he City of Santa Rosa routinely and lead levels. Lead originates from the monitors for contaminants in your solder used to connect plumbing fittings T drinking water according to state inside the home, and copper is used and federal regulations. While most of widely in small diameter plumbing pipe. the data in the following tables are from Lead and copper levels are consistently January 1 to December 31, 2010, some below the action level in Santa Rosa. substances are monitored less than If present, elevated levels of lead can once per year because the levels do not cause serious health problems, especially frequently change. Although Santa Rosa’s for pregnant women and young children. water supplies are tested for all regulated Lead in drinking water is primarily from and many unregulated contaminants, only materials and components associated contaminates that have been detected with service lines and home plumbing. based on EPA requirements are included The Santa Rosa Utilities Department is in this report. Laboratory technology Lead and Copper Notice from responsible for providing high quality is improving continuously which has the Environmental Protection drinking water, but cannot control the the ability to detect contaminants in Agency variety of materials used in plumbing extremely small amounts. The “lead and copper rule,” or LCR, components. When your water has If you are still concerned with tap water was introduced by the Environmental been sitting for several hours, you can and purchase bottled water, please Protection Agency in 1991 to limit the minimize the potential for lead exposure consider that bottled water is actually concentration of lead and copper allowed by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 less regulated by the Environmental in public drinking water at the consumer’s minutes before using water for drinking Protection Agency than municipal water tap, as well as limiting the corrosivity due or cooking. If you are concerned about supplies. Simple and effective point- to the water itself. Our water supplier, lead in your water, you may wish to have of-use treatment devices can remove the Sonoma County Water Agency, your water tested. Information on lead specific substances of concern. For more implemented the addition of sodium in drinking water, testing methods, and information on water treatment devices hydroxide to the drinking water in 1995 steps you can take to minimize exposure see: greenerchoices.org/products.cfm? to increase the pH slightly. Higher pH is available from the Safe Drinking Water product=waterfilter. levels reduce the corrosivity of the water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or at epa.gov/ thereby reducing significantly the copper safewater/lead.

Definitions These terms are used throughout this report and in the NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. A table on the following page. measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person. AL: Regulatory Action Level. The MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level. PDWS: Primary Drinking Water Standard. concentration of a contaminant which, The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that when exceeded, triggers treatment or other drinking water. There is convincing evidence affect health along with their monitoring requirements that a water system must that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for and reporting requirements, and water follow. control of microbial contaminants. treatment requirements. MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level. MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level PHG: Public Health Goal. The level of The highest level of contaminant that is Goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant contaminant in drinking water below allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs below which there is no known or expected risk which there is no known or expected risk to are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits health. PHG’s are set by the California EPA. economically and technologically feasible. of the use of disinfectants to control microbial Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, contaminants. pCi/L: picocuries per liter taste, and appearance of drinking water. NA: Not applicable. ppm: parts per million (or milligrams per liter) MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. ND: Not detected. Constituent was not The level of a contaminant in drinking water detected at the reporting level. ppb: parts per billion (or micrograms per below which there is no known or expected liter) risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. EPA. NS: No standard. Officials have not developed a Public Health Goal or MCLG standard. ppt: parts per trillion (or nanograms per MFL: million fibers per liter liter)

 Santa Rosa Utilities Update TABLE OF DECTECTED CHEMICALS OR CONSTITUENTS IN 2010

Water Agency Santa Rosa Public Maximum Substance Health Goal Contaminant Range Reporting Range Reporting Major Source in Drinking Water (Parameter) {MCLG} Level Detected Value Detected Value

PRIMARY STANDARDS

Regulated Contaminants with Primary MCLs or MRDLs Microbiological Contaminants Total Coliform Bacteria from Santa Rosa 0 5% of NA NA 0% - 1.6% 0% Naturally present in the environment Distribution System monthly samples Inorganic Contaminants Barium (ppm) 2 1.0 ND ND No Range 0.13 Erosion of natural deposits Fluoride (ppm)* 1 2.0 ND ND No Range 0.2 Erosion of natural deposits Disinfection By-products, Residuals, and Running By-product Precursors in Santa Rosa System Average Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) NS 80 NA NA 19.8 – 20.1 19.95 By-product of drinking water chlorination Haloacetic acids (ppb) NS 60 NA NA 3.0 – 7.6 5.3 By-product of water disinfection

Disinfectant-Free Chlorine (CI2 ) MRDLG as MRDLG as NA NA 0.02 – 1.48 0.64 Disinfectant to control microbes Residual (ppm) CI2 4.0 CI2 4.0 pH (units) prior to pH adjustment NS NS 7.34 – 8.37 7.68 No Range 7.3 Average after pH adjustment: 8.32

Lead/Copper Rule 2010 data - Next round of samples: 2013 Monitored at the Customer’s Tap in Santa Rosa 90th Number of sites exceeded Action Level = 1 percentile Number of samples collected: 50 detected Copper (ppm) 0.3 1.3 (AL)) NA NA 0.01 – 0.49 0.088 Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits Lead (ppb) 0.2 15 (AL) NA NA ND – 36 3.6 Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

SECONDARY STANDARDS Aesthetic Standards Established By the State of California, Department of Public Health.

Regulated Contaminants with Secondary MCLs No adverse health effects from exceeding of standards. Groundwater Turbidity (NTU) NS 5 0.02 – 2.0 0.20 No Range 0.30 Natural river sediment; soil run-off Threshold Odor Number at 60°C NS 3 ND – 3.2 0.38 No Range ND Naturally-occurring organic materials Chloride (ppm) NS 500 5.3 – 22 8.2 No Range 26.2 Run-off/leaching from natural deposits

Sulfate (ppm) NS 500 2.0 – 15 11.2 No Range <0.5 Run-off/leaching from natural deposits Specific Conductance (umhas/cm) NS 1600 240 – 320 265 No Range 500 Substances that form ions when in water Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) NS 1000 130 – 180 150 No Range 360 Run-off/leaching from natural deposits Color (units) NS 15 No Range <3 No Range <1 Naturally-occurring organic materials Iron (ppb) NS 300 ND ND No Range ND Run-off/leaching from natural deposits Manganese (ppb) NS 50 ND – 41 3.2 No Range 3.7 Run-off/leaching from natural deposits

Additional Constituents Sodium (ppm) NS NS 8.1 – 44 15.7 No Range 54 Erosion of natural deposits

Total Hardness CaCO3 (ppm) NS NS 40 – 141 97 No Range 135 Erosion of natural deposits

Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 (ppm) NS NS 95 - 140 110.2 No Range 240 Erosion of natural deposits Calcium (ppm) NS NS 12 – 28 20.0 No Range 26 Erosion of natural deposits Total Radon 222 (pCi/L)** NS NS 98.5 – 403 156 445-455 450 Found in the ground throughout the U.S

Note: Listed in the table above are substances detected in the City’s drinking water. A full listing of sample results is on our web site. * Fluoride is not required to be included because it is below the detection level for reporting. Fluoride, however, is of interest to many consumers. Fluoridation to fight tooth decay has not been implemented in Santa Rosa. ** Radon is a radioactive gas that can get into indoor air when released from tap water from showering or running a faucet. Radon entering the home through tap water is a very small source of radon in indoor air. EPA is proposing to require community water suppliers to provide water with radon levels no higher than 4,000 pCi/L, which contributes about 0.4 pCi/L of radon to the air in your home. More information is available at EPA web site: epa.gov/radon/rnwater.html. The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year. Our radon data, though representative, was sampled in 2009. Special Edition: Water Quality Report  Water-Use Efficiency Statement on Chromium 6 and he City of Santa Rosa and its residents have had a long-standing Perchlorate T commitment to implementing water efficient technologies and practices. he Environmental Protection This has resulted in the installation of over Agency (EPA) in an effort to 50,000 water efficient toilets, more than T identify contaminants of concern 10,000 high-efficiency clothes washers for drinking water providers uses the and the conversion of 1.5 million square Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring feet of lawn. These efforts and more have Rule (UCMR) to evaluate and prioritize led to water savings of over 1.5 billion contaminants. Both the City of Santa gallons per year or 4 million gallons per Rosa and our wholesale water supplier, day. Due to reduction in the energy the Sonoma County Water Agency, needed to pump, distribute and treat participate in sampling under the UCMR. potable and wastewater, these water Our sampling indicated to the EPA and savings equate to an annual reduction in the California Department of Public the Utilities Department greenhouse gas The program also provides weekly lawn Health (CDPH) that our source water did emissions by over 6 million pounds per watering information through our Turf- not have chromium 6 or perchlorate. Both year and has further reduced customers’ Time line at (707) 543-3466 or srcity.org/ chromium 6 and perchlorate were below greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 12 turftime. the detection limits for reporting that the million pounds per year. CDPH requires. Additionally, the Water-Use Efficiency Although the drought is officially over and Program provides free home “Check- Chromium 6 can occur naturally from our reservoirs are full, there is never a time Ups,” in which expert staff come to your erosion of natural deposits or it can to waste our precious water resources. home, review your current water uses and come from man-made activities such as If you are looking for additional ways make recommendations for improving the use of wood preservatives, industrial to save water, the Water-Use Efficiency your water-use efficiency indoors and applications, steel plating or leather Program offers many ways to help save outdoors. For more information on tanning. There is currently not a drinking water and money. Some of these options current incentives, tips for reducing your water standard for chromium 6 but water use, or to request a free water include free high-efficient showerheads California is in the process of developing conservation “Check Up,” please contact and faucet aerators, rainwater harvesting a standard. During our monitoring of the Water-Use Efficiency Hotline at (707) rebates, graywater reuse incentives, lawn chromium 6, our results were below 1 conversion and irrigation upgrade rebates. 543-3985 or visit srcity.org/wue. part-per-billion (ppb) which is the state certified reporting limit. This is the lowest level of detection that is currently available Top 10 Ways to Reduce Water Use for a state certified laboratory.

1. Reduce irrigation by 20% through the Perchlorate is a regulated drinking water use of our Turf-Time information. You contaminant in California, with a maximum can call Turf-Time at (707) 543-3466 contaminant level (MCL) of 6 ppb. or visit srcity.org/turftime for weekly Perchlorate is used as a solid propellant for lawn watering requirements and drip rockets, missiles and fireworks. It can also watering recommendations. Turf-Time is be found in the production of matches, updated on a weekly basis, and watering flares and explosives. Perchlorate usually requirements are based on actual plant gets into drinking water as a result of needs per current weather conditions. environmental contamination from 2. Find and repair leaks now. historic aerospace or other industrial 3. Inspect and tune-up your irrigation system monthly. operations. During our monitoring for 4. Irrigate between midnight and 6:00 AM to reduce water loss from evaporation and perchlorate, our results were below 2 ppb wind. which is the state certified reporting limit. 5. Use a broom to clean driveways, decks or patios. News reports have highlighted these 6. Take your car to a car wash that recycles water. contaminants in drinking water supplies 7. Cover pools, spas and hot tubs to reduce evaporation. recently. You can be confident that the 8. Use front-loading washing machines. Contact the Water-Use Efficiency Program at (707) City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department 543-3985 for information on rebates offered for the purchase of qualifying machines. continues to provide high quality drinking 9. Run the dishwasher and clothes washer with full loads. water that meets or exceeds all applicable 10. Prevent and report water waste. EPA and CDPH regulations.

 Santa Rosa Utilities Update The map below shows the Santa Rosa’s Drinking Water City of Santa Rosa’s water system indicating aqueducts, Sources and Treatment pump stations and reservoirs.

n 2010, 95 percent of Santa Rosa’s the manganese before filtration. drinking water was supplied by Three main reservoirs in the Russian Where our water I the Sonoma County Water Agency River watershed, Lake Pillsbury, Lake comes from... (SCWA). Santa Rosa has two drinking Mendocino, and Lake Sonoma, replenish The SCWA transmission system into water wells which operate between May the aquifer which supplies the Russian and November and supply 7% of the Sant Rosa, and a detail of Santa Rosa’s River well systems. Sand and gravel storage, pump and well facilities total summer water use. The SCWA water beds beneath the Russian River provide supply originates from six specialized filtration. The natural filtration removes wells commonly called “radial collectors” organic material and turbidity leaving along the Russian River at Wohler and highly filtered drinking water for over Mirabel roads, four production wells 600,000 residents of Sonoma and Marin along the Russian River and, to a minor counties. The only treatment required LAKE PILLSBURY degree, three wells in the Santa Rosa PG&E’s is for bacterial disinfection and pH SCOTT DAM Plain. The Russian River water supply is adjustment. In addition to Santa Rosa, PG&E’s effectively filtered using the sand and CAP HORN DAM the SCWA system supplies water to many ver gravel beneath the river bed. SCWA treats Eel Ri cities and water districts from Windsor to Tunnel the water with gas chlorine for bacterial Marin County. disinfection, and sodium hydroxide (also COYOTE DAM Russian River East Fork known as caustic soda) to adjust the pH In addition to the City’s two active Russian River wells and treatment plant, we maintain Mendocino County before it is delivered to Santa Rosa. The Sonoma County Dry Creek pH treatment is necessary to comply three wells in “standby” status to WARM SPRINGS provide supplemental water in case of DAM with Environmental Protection Agency LAKE (EPA) regulations on the copper content emergencies or natural disaster. SONOMA in drinking water. Raising the pH helps Assessments of the drinking water minimize the leaching of copper and sources for SCWA and Santa Rosa were other metals from the distribution pipe completed in January 2001. The source into the drinking water. The SCWA has Wohler is considered most vulnerable to human Collectors Wohler Pumping a water supply interactive map that and animal activity in the watershed Plant explains the entire water system at: scwa. area. Specifically, the source is considered SCWA Water System INFLATABLE ca.gov/water-system/. most vulnerable to mining operations, DAM San A recreational areas (surface water), septic queduta Santa Rosa’s two drinking water wells Mirabel Rosa Collectors have elevated manganese levels which systems, agricultural operations and ct necessitated the addition of a treatment wastewater treatment and disposal. Chlorination Facility vessel to filter it out. Untreated water A copy of the complete assessment is SANTA ROSA containing manganese can cause available at the California Department of Forestville Chlorination Reservoirs discolored plumbing fixtures in high Public Health office, 50 D Street, Suite 200, Facility levels. Sodium hypochlorite (common Santa Rosa, CA 95404 or at: cdph.ca.gov/ Annadel Reservoir bleach) is added to Santa Rosa’s well certlic/drinkingwater/Pages/DWSAP.aspx. No. 2 Forestville supply for disinfection and oxidation of C Booster

otati Inter

SPRING LAKE

tie

Ralphine Reservoirs Water Supply Annadel Wells Reservoir No.  Kawana Reservoirs

Wilfred Booster ROHNERT PARK

P Aq etalum

u Cotati edu

Reservoirs ct a

Special Edition: Water Quality Report  CITY OF SANTA ROSA PRSRT STD Utilities Department US POSTAGE 69 Stony Circle PAID PERMIT NO 526 Santa Rosa, CA 95401 SANTA ROSA, CA

40% post-consumer recycled paper.

Postal Customer

Fukushima Nuclear Plant Top 10 Ways Your Activities Can Protect Your continued from page 1 Local Creeks and Waterways amounts of Iodine-131 – about 0.2 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in each case. An infant would have to drink almost 7,000 liters of this water to receive 10. Conserve Water—Less water for you a radiation dose equivalent to a day’s worth of means more water available for creeks the natural background radiation exposure we and the wildlife that live in and around experience continuously from natural sources of them. radioactivity in our environment. The applicable 9. Create a Rain Garden—Slow it. Spread Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of Iodine- it. Sink it. Paved surfaces create more 131 is 3 pCi/L for drinking water. It is important water runoff that quickly reaches creeks to note that the corresponding MCL for Iodine- through the storm drain system. These 131 was calculated based on long-term chronic large flows can erode creek banks and exposures over the course of a lifetime, 70 cause other damage. Rain gardens years. capture runoff to allow it to sink back into the ground. There is a balance between Earlier precipitation samples collected by the needing more water over time for creeks, EPA have shown trace amounts of radioactivity, but not in such a short period of time, so as to be destructive. so the EPA has expected to find results such as 8. Only Rain Down the Storm Drain—Storm drains are directly connected to our these in some drinking water samples. Similar creeks. Anything on the road will make its way to the creek and eventually to the findings are to be expected in the coming weeks ocean. Paint, concrete, trash, yard waste, wash water, and car fluids are only a depending on conditions at the Fukushima few of the pollutants from our homes that reach the storm drain system daily. Nuclear Plant. 7. Go Organic—Harsh fertilizers and pesticides pollute our creeks. To see the most recent sampling results, please 6. Clean Up After Your Pet—Bring recycled plastic bags whenever you walk your visit: epa.gov/japan2011/index.html. dog. 5. Take Your Car to a Car Wash—Or use a sponge to rinse your car and dispose of soapy water in the sink. Contact Information 4. Plant Native Plants and Landscapes—Native plants create a habitat which is beneficial to insects, uses less water and needs less care. CITY OF SANTA ROSA Utilities Department 3. Volunteer—Many hands make a big difference. Find an opportunity to join in a 69 Stony Circle creek restoration project. The Creek Stewardship Program, Laguna Keepers, or Santa Rosa, CA 95401-9506 the Cotati Creek Critters are some great places to start. TEL (707) 543-3965 or (707) 543-3968 2. Join us for a Creek Clean Up or Organize Your Own—The Creek Stewardship FAX (707) 543-3937 Program will provide all you need to get started. TDD (707) 543-3827 - Public Works 1. Get Out and Enjoy Your Creeks—Trails are great ways to enjoy creeks, and there Evenings, weekends and furlough Fridays are many. Remember that one of the easiest ways to help is to be the eyes and please call ears of the creek. Let us know what you see happening out there! (707) 543-3805 or (707) 528-5276 - TDD Police Dept. For more information on the Creek Stewardship Program, contact Alistair Bleifuss at [email protected] or call (707) 543-3845. Web access at: srcity.org/ut

 Santa Rosa Utilities Update