HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Mail Packet - 6/14/2016 - Memorandum From Mark Kempton And Carol Webb Re: 2015 Drinking Water Confidence Report And The 2015 Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual ReportUtilities
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700 Wood Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6700
970.221.6619 – fax
970.224.6003 – TDD
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: 06/06/2016
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Mark Kempton P.E., Water Production Manager
Carol Webb, Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
RE: 2015 Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report, and the
2015 Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Federal and state regulations require drinking water providers to deliver an annual Drinking
Water Quality Report to their customers. The City’s Drinking Water Quality Policy also requires
Utilities to provide a separate report of the actions taken in support of the Policy.
We are pleased to submit both of these reports on drinking water for the 2015 data year to the
Mayor, City Council, Water Board and the City Manager.
Please contact me if you need additional information or have comments or questions.
CC: Water Board
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City of Fort Collins – Water Resources & Treatment
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Page | 1 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality
Policy Annual Report
The new Chlorine Contact Basin under construction at the Water Treatment Facility.
In October 1993, Fort Collins City Council Resolution 93-144 adopted the Drinking Water
Quality Policy (Attachment A). The purpose of the policy is to ensure the continuous delivery of
high quality drinking water to Fort Collins Utilities’ (Utilities) customers. This 22nd annual report
is a requirement of the Drinking Water Quality Policy and summarizes the actions taken in
support of policy goals during 2015.
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Page | 2 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Plant staff inspecting and cleaning
the East Finished Water Reservoir
The City will provide water services that meet or exceed
customer expectations for quality, quantity, and reliability.
Reliability, Capacity and
Redundancy
Fort Collins Utilities owns and operates an
87 million gallon per day capacity drinking
water treatment facility in northwest Fort
Collins. The facility operates 24 hours a
day, seven days a week to ensure a
continuous supply of high quality drinking
water is delivered to our customers. Utilities
staff is available at all times to respond to
customer complaints and concerns
regarding drinking water quality and
reliability of service.
The treatment plant has multiple systems
and processes in place to provide high
reliability with low risk of failure. For
example, Utilities has two water sources,
three raw water pipelines, multiple chemical
storage tanks, delivery systems, four
treatment trains, twenty three filters, and
four storage reservoirs.
Utilities also has a robust asset
management and preventative maintenance
program, which helps ensure the continual
provision of safe drinking water to the
community, and that standards are met for
community firefighting and emergency
response activities.
Vulnerability Assessment
Utilities performed a vulnerability
assessment on the water system in 2015. A
consultant analyzed the system from raw
water supply through distribution and
delivery to the customer taps, including
business processes such as billing and
customer service. They looked for areas
where the system is potentially vulnerable to
damage from natural disaster or man-made
event. The recommendations from the
vulnerability assessment will be used in
2016 to update the Water System
Emergency Response Plan.
Regulation Changes
As the new State requirements for
inspection of drinking water storage tanks
took effect in 2015, plant staff evaluated our
current procedures for compliance. Only
minor adjustments were required. Key staff
attended training on best practices for
storage tank inspections. Three of our four
storage tanks (reservoirs) underwent
thorough
inspection by
Bates
Engineering.
Page | 3 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The City will protect and maintain high water quality in the
development of all codes, policies, plans and specifications related to
the acquisition, production and delivery of water services to its
customers.
Distribution Maintenance System
The maintenance of Utilities’ water distribution system includes myriad activities: fire hydrant
inspections and repair, flushing of the distribution system, preventative maintenance on valves
and hydrants, identification of leaks, the repair of main breaks, and exercising water valves.
Additionally, staff responds to various service requests, both during and after regular business
hours, and replaces thousands of linear feet of water main each year to help improve the
distribution system.
GOAL 2
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Figure 1 – Number of Water Main Breaks Annually
2011-2015
0 50 100 150 200
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Miles
Figure 2 – Annual Miles of Water Main Surveyed for Leaks
2011-2015
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Page | 4 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Partnership for Safe Water
The Water Treatment Facility earned their
16th consecutive Director’s Award as a
member of the Partnership for Safe Water
(PSW). The Director’s Award is awarded to
top-tier water plants that have demonstrated
the commitment to providing superior quality
water to their customers, beyond the
requirements of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
regulations. The staff of the Water
Treatment Facility will be preparing an
application for the President’s Award, the
next level of participation in the partnership,
with a goal of submitting the application in
2016.
The Partnership is an alliance of six drinking
water organizations including the USEPA.
This voluntary program strives to enhance
water quality through continuous
optimization of treatment processes.
Operators, managers and administrators
are provided self-assessment and
optimization tools to improve performance
above and beyond current and proposed
regulatory levels.
The Partnership was originally designed
with a focus on the treatment of drinking
water, but has been expanded to inspire
and recognize excellence in distribution
systems. During 2014-2015, the Utilities
Field Services Division underwent a
comprehensive self-assessment for this
new Public Water System Distribution
Optimization program. Utilities completed
the requirements for Level III of the program
in March 2015. A national panel reviewed
our report and data analysis, which
documented the water quality throughout
our distribution system, pressure safety,
maintenance, water main breaks, and the
success of our leak detection program. In
June 2015, Utilities became the first utility in
Colorado (and one of the first dozen in
North America) to receive the Directors
Award for Distribution Excellence!
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Page | 5 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The City’s water supply, treatment, storage, delivery, and laboratory
facilities will be planned, designed, constructed, maintained, staffed,
and operated to assure safe, reliable, and cost-effective service to the
residents of Fort Collins and all those served by the City’s water
utility.
Source Water Protection Plan
In 2015, Fort Collins Utilities began working with the Colorado Department of Health and
Environment and the Colorado Rural Water Association to develop of a Source Water
Protection Plan (SWPP) for the City’s two major drinking water supplies - Horsetooth Reservoir
and the Upper Cache la Poudre River. A Source Water Protection Plan directly supports the
City’s Drinking Water Quality Policy:
“The City will protect raw water sources from contamination or any other activities that would
diminish the quality of water provided to customers, or that would result in increased treatment
costs.”
This planning effort consisted of public meetings with stakeholders including local citizens and
landowners, private businesses, water operators, local and state governments, and agency
representatives during the months of June 2015 to April 2016. Through the SWPP development
process, public water providers identify potential sources of contamination to water supplies,
rank those potential sources according to risk, and identify best management practices to
mitigate those risks.
The Fort Collins SWPP identifies Historical and Active Mines and Forest Health-Wildfires as the
top threats to Horsetooth and the Poudre River water supplies. The City of Fort Collins SWPP is
expected to be completed by June 2016. This planning document will guide the City’s future
source water protection and monitoring activities.
GOAL 3
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Page | 6 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Key Source Watershed Partnerships
Cache la Poudre River:
Since 2008, the Utilities Source Watershed Program has partnered with the City of Greeley and
the Tri-Districts in the Collaborative Upper Cache la Poudre Water Quality Monitoring Program
in the shared interest of sustaining this pristine water supply. This program assists partners in
meeting current and future drinking water treatment goals by reporting current water quality
conditions and trends in the Upper CLP watershed and issues that potentially impact watershed
health. Annual and 5-year water quality reports are available on the Source Watershed Program
website:
http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do/water/water-quality/source-water-monitoring/upper-
poudre-quality-monitoring.
.
Figure 3 – Cache la Poudre Watershed Map
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Page | 7 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Horsetooth Reservoir:
Fort Collins Utilities has actively monitored the water quality in Horsetooth Reservoir since the
mid-1980s. In 2010, Northern Water added
Horsetooth Reservoir to its water quality
monitoring network and since that time there
has been near full redundancy in monitoring
efforts. In 2015, Utilities entered into a cost-
share agreement with Northern Water for the
monitoring of Horsetooth Reservoir water
quality. A comparison of the monitoring
program and the data record confirmed good
comparability between the design and quality
of the programs, and the new agreement
ensures that Utilities receives up-to-date
information about water quality conditions in
the Reservoir. In exchange for monitoring
services, the Fort Collins Water Quality Lab
is providing in-kind contribution of
chlorophyll-a analysis for samples collected
from sites within Northern’s monitoring
network. The value of these analytical
services is approximately $3,930.
Water Quality data and Northern Water’s tri-
annual reservoir water quality reports are
made available at:
northernwater.org/WaterQuality/MonitoringPr
ograms.aspx.
Utilities will also continue to provide annual Horsetooth Reservoir water quality summaries at:
fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do/water/water-quality/source-water-monitoring/horsetooth-
reservoir-quality-monitoring
Sampling Horsetooth Reservoir
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Page | 8 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Coalition for the Poudre River
Watershed (CPRW):
CPRW was formed in 2013 following the
Hewlett Gulch and High Park Fires to
address post-fire restoration needs. The
City of Fort Collins, City of Greeley and
Larimer County provided the initial 2-year
funding commitments for the development
period and retain fixed seats on the Board
of Directors through September 2015. In
2016, a professional services agreement
was enacted to guide the City’s ongoing
funding and involvement with CPRW. The
City will retain a reserved seat on the Board
of Directors in 2016. Future involvement
and support will be determined based upon
program performance and project relevance
to Utilities interests in protecting water
supply and quality.
To date, the primary focus of this group has
been on reducing hillslope and stream
channel erosion within the Hewlett & High
Park burn areas, which continues to impact
the quality of Fort Collins and Greeley’s
Poudre River water supplies during
rainstorms or high flow conditions.
Beginning in early 2016, CPRW began work
with community stakeholders to develop the
Poudre Watershed Resiliency Plan which
will identify priority areas for future forest
health/wildfire risk reduction projects based
on watershed conditions and values at risk.
The plan is on-track for completion by
October 2016. Information about restoration
projects, Watershed Resiliency Plan
development, as well as CPRW members
and partnerships can be found at
http://www.poudrewatershed.org/.
Big Thompson Watershed Forum
(BTWF):
Fort Collins Utilities is a major funder and
member of the Board of Directors for the Big
Thompson Watershed Forum along with the
City of Greeley, the Tri-Districts, City of
Loveland, Weld County, and Northern
Water. The BTWF manages a routine water
quality monitoring program, through a
contract with the US Geological Survey, on
the Big Thompson River, a major
component of the C-BT system, which
delivers water to Horsetooth Reservoir.
Northern Water also monitors additional C-
BT Project canals and reservoirs upstream
of Horsetooth. This sustainable approach to
monitoring large watersheds reduces
sampling costs and provides a significant
shared knowledge base. More information
about the BTWF can be found at
http://www.btwatershed.org/.
Page | 9 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Certified Laboratory
The City of Fort Collins is required to comply with State and Federal drinking water
standards. These standards mandate that a certified laboratory perform all regulatory
compliance testing. The City’s Water Quality Lab staff provides state-certified regulatory
compliance testing and reporting for Utilities as well as ten other regional water agencies.
The City’s Water Quality Lab first achieved Certification in bacteriology testing in 1978. Since
that time the lab has gained certified status for a large array of water quality tests. Certified
status is achieved through a multi-step process:
FIGURE 4 – CERTIFIED LABORATORY STATUS ACHIEVEMENT PROCESS
CERTIFIED
STATUS
Application
The application process
includes documentation
regarding the qualifications
of lab staff, training,
equipment, quality
assurance documentation,
facilities and budget as well
as proof of successful
analysis of “unknown"
performance audit samples
each year.
Audits
These annual audits involve
analysis of samples from
USEPA and other providers
that contain unknown
quantities of unknown
constituents. This rigorous
approach covers an array of
parameters and weeds out
possible reporting of false
positive and false negative
results.
Inspections
Evaluation of lab staff
includes review and
verification of their formal
educational qualifications,
lab training, and lab-related
work experience as well as
hands-on demonstration of
laboratory skills. In addition,
details of written and actual
test methods and
procedures are audited to
ensure “to-the-letter”
compliance with required
EPA
specifications. Certification
inspections also include
review of the lab’s budget,
equipment, facilities and
work processes.
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Page | 10 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Water Quality Complaints
In 2015, the City received 40 drinking water quality complaints, equating to a rate of 1.15 per
1,000 customers. This was 17% fewer complaints than 2014. Staff responded to 34 of the
complaints in person at the site to talk with customers and collect water samples. Based on the
most recent QualServe report from the American Water Works Association, 49 other
participating utilities had a median number of technical water complaints of 5.31 per 1,000
customer accounts. The “best” quartile rate observed by other participating utilities was 2.06
per 1,000; at 1.15 per 1,000, the City was “better than the best.”
FIGURE 5 – 2015 COMPLAINT TYPES BY QUARTER
0
5
10
15
20
25
Air Chlorine Dirt/Rust Illness/Health Lead Other Taste/Odor Total
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
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Page | 11 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Asset Management
Utilities continued risk-forecasting efforts within its water production and distribution asset base
throughout 2015. The Asset Management risk forecast is a process to evaluate the condition of
the equipment, piping, and facilities, the types of risks associated with the system and
determinations as to timeline for replacement.
Some 2015 progress highlights:
• Staff continued adding asset information
to the IBM Maximo Enterprise Asset
Management System for the Water
Treatment Facility and the distribution
system.
• Staff began using data from the IBM
Maximo Enterprise Asset Management
System system to analyze and
benchmark maintenance metrics.
• The Water Treatment Facility updated
its Master Plan in 2015. This process
identified and prioritized capital projects
at the facility for the next five years,
necessary to maintain system integrity
and continue to protect the public
health.
• The Water Treatment Facility completed
an inventory and condition assessment
of valves on the raw water piping and
finished water piping, and completed all
identified repairs.
• Three of four drinking water storage
tanks (reservoirs) underwent thorough
inspection by Bates Engineering,
resulting in minor repairs.
• In 2015, Utilities replaced 6,695 linear
feet, or 1.27 miles, of water mains out of
550 total miles of pipe in the system.
This equates to an annual replacement
rate of ~0.23%. The 2015 replacement
rate was 14% higher than the 2014
replacement rate. Plans are being
developed to increase this rate to 1%
replacement per year by 2020.
• Checked 162 miles of water distribution
pipes for leaks.
• Performed 339 backflow and cross
connection Surveys and 558 High Risk
Inspections, to ensure protection of our
water system from accidental
contamination by customers.
Utilities crews replacing a water line
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Page | 12 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The Pleasant Valley Pre-Sedimentation Basin
Pleasant Valley
Presedimentation Basin
In 2013, a presedimentation basin was put
in service ahead of the Pleasant Valley
pipeline, as a water quality buffer between
the pipeline and the canal carrying water to
the pipeline from North Poudre Irrigation
Company’s Munroe Diversion off the
Poudre River. The basin was operated for
90 days in 2015. A study was conducted in
2015 comparing multiple water quality
parameters between the influent and
effluent of
the basin to
further verify
the
efficiency of
the basin
and its value
in protecting
water quality
for our
customers.
Data
demonstrate
d a 39% reduction of total suspended solids
(TSS) in the effluent from the basin as
compared to the influent. This equates to
removal of approximately 2.4 tons of
sediment per day.
Chlorine Contact Basin
The Water Treatment Facility began
construction on the Chlorine Contact Basin
in January. This heavily baffled basin will
provide sufficient detention time prior to the
drinking water storage reservoirs to meet
the disinfection contact times required by
State regulations at all production rates.
Currently, a portion of the volume of the
treated water storage reservoirs is reserved
to meet these requirements. With the
commissioning of this 2 million gallon basin,
the Water Treatment Facility will gain back
nearly 10 million gallons of usable storage
capacity in our reservoirs.
State Certified Operators
The water treatment facility operators are all
certified by the Colorado Water and
Wastewater Facility Operators Certification
Board as ‘Certified Water Professionals’.
The plant superintendent and most plant
operators have
earned the highest
level of classification
as Class A. Those
who have not yet
achieved ‘A’
certification are
Page | 13 2015 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Environmental Management
System
The Water Treatment Facility has
established a formal Environmental
Management System (EMS) that has been
certified to conform to the ISO 14001:2004
standard.
A key aspect of this EMS is reduction in
energy usage and greenhouse gas footprint.
In support of this, the facility has
participated in the Colorado Industrial
Energy Challenge, sponsored by the
Colorado Governor’s Energy Office and the
U.S. Department of Energy. The facility
achieved a 7.66% reduction in electrical
usage from 2014, which is a 30% reduction
from 2005 levels.
The facility also conducted technical energy
audits and engineering studies. Plant staff
continues to pursue energy efficiency
improvements such as solar powered street
lights in order to shrink the greenhouse gas
footprint, and control operating costs
associated with energy in the face of rising
treated water demands.
Environmental Leadership
Program
The Environmental Leadership Program
(ELP) is a statewide environmental
recognition and reward program
administered by CDPHE’s Sustainability
Program.
The ELP offers benefits and incentives to
members that voluntarily go beyond
compliance with state and federal
regulations, and who are committed to
continual environmental improvement.
As the result of process improvements and
the ISO 14001:2004 certification of the
EMS, the facility has received recognition as
an ELP Gold Leader.
This report was compiled by the Regulatory and Government Affairs and Water Production
Divisions with contributions from:
• Environmental Services Division
• Water Field Operations
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Attachment A
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2015
DRINKING WATER
QUALITY REPORT
Para más información de este informe de su cualidad
de agua potable en español, llame Fort Collins Utilities
a 970-221-6700, TDD 970-224-6003 o mande preguntas
en español a utilities@fcgov.com.
Photo by Dick Stenzel, Applegate Group, Inc.
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fcgov.com/utilities • utilities@fcgov.com • 970-212-2900 • V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado page 2
There are
544 miles
of distribution
system pipe bringing
drinking water to
homes and businesses
in the city.
D
i
d
y
o
u
k
n
o
w
?
Utilities’ water comes from both Horsetooth Reservoir
and the Cache la Poudre River. Beginning as rain and
snow in the mountains, Horsetooth water is delivered
from the western slope via the Colorado-Big Thompson
Water Project, while Poudre River water originates on the
eastern slope, northwest of Fort Collins.
Our Water Treatment Facility produces nearly all the
water it distributes; however, customers may occasionally
receive a blend of water treated by Utilities and the
Soldier Canyon Filter Plant (SCFP). Both treatment
facilities use Horsetooth Reservoir and the Cache la
Poudre River as sources of water. The SCFP is owned by
East Larimer County, North Weld County Water District,
and the Fort Collins Loveland Water District.
Where Our Water Originates
Continuing Our Commitment
Know your H2O. Learn where your drinking water comes from and how it compares to federal standards by checking
out this report. Fort Collins Utilities remains committed to delivering high-quality drinking water and meeting the
challenges of source water protection, water conservation and community education.
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Regulated in the Distribution System
Parameter
Month with the
highest percentage
of positive samples Results Sample Size MCL MCLG Meet Standard? Typical Sources
Coliform September 0.75%
positive 134
Less than or equal to 5%
positive samples per period 0 Yes
Naturally present in
the environment
Parameter Year Average Range
Sample
Size
Unit of
Measure MCL MCLG
Highest
Compliance
Value
Meet
Standard? Typical Sources
Total Haloacetic Acids
2015
22.35 7.8 to 37 31 ppb 60 N/A 26.95 Yes
Byproduct of
drinking water
disinfection
Total Trihalomethanes 31.23 19.1 to 52.7 32 ppb 80 N/A 47.12 Yes
Chlorite 0.16 0.06 to 0.33 30 ppb 1.0 .8 N/A Yes
Regulated at the Consumer’s Tap—52 Homes Were Tested
Parameter
Monitoring
Period 90th Percentile
Number of
Samples
Unit of
Measure
Action
Level
Number of Sample
Sites Above
Action Level
Meet
Standard? Typical Sources
Copper
08/25/2014 to
09/29/2014
0.08 52 ppm 1.3 0 Yes Corrosion of
household plumbing
Lead 2 52 ppb 15 0 Yes systems
Water Quality Test Results
The monitoring results below are representative of water treated by Utilities and the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant (SCFP). In
compliance with regulations, the copper and lead data are from monitoring completed during 2014; all other data are from
monitoring completed during 2015. Acronym definitions are listed at the bottom of this page.
Acronym Definitions
AL: Action level - the concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded,
triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
CDPHE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
ELP: Colorado Environmental Leadership Program
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Sampled at the Entry Point to the Distribution System
Parameter Month Level Found TT Requirement
Meet
Standard?
Typical
Sources
Turbidity, Utilities April Highest single measurement:
0.3 NTU Maximum is 1 NTU for any single
measurement
Yes
Turbidity, SCFP February Soil Runoff
Highest single measurement:
0.08 NTU Yes
Turbidity, Utilities and SCFP All months
of 2015
100% of samples were less than
0.3 NTU
In any month, at least 95% of samples
must be less than 0.3 NTU Yes
Turbidity has no known health effects; however, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and may provide a medium for microbial growth.
Parameter Result
Number
of Samples Unit of Measure MCL MCLG
Meet
Standard? Typical Sources
Barium, Utilities 0.02 1 ppm 2 2 Yes
Erosion of natural deposits
Barium, SCFP 0.02 1 ppm 2 2 Yes
Fluoride, Utilities 0.64 1 ppm 4 4 Yes
Water additive promoting strong teeth
Fluoride, SCFP 0.57 1 ppm 4 4 Yes
Nitrate, Utilities 0.07 1 ppm 10 10 Yes
Runoff from fertilizer use
Nitrate, SCFP 0.11 1 ppm 10 10 Yes
Raw and Finished Water Ratio
Parameter Average Range
Number
of Samples
Unit of
Measure
TT Minimum Ratio
(the higher the better)
Meet
Standard? Typical Sources
Total Organic Carbon Ratio, Utilities 1.36 1.00 to 1.70 12 Ratio 1.00 Yes Naturally present in
the environment
Total Organic Carbon Ratio, SCFP 1.15 0.79 to 1.47 12 Ratio 1.00 Yes Naturally present in
the environment
D
i
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fcgov.com/utilities • utilities@fcgov.com • 970-212-2900 • V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado page 5
Plant operators clean a process basin
Cryptosporidium and Giardia
Cryptosporidium and Giardia come from animal and human waste in the
watershed and are common in untreated surface water. When ingested,
the organisms may cause fever, nausea and diarrhea. They are removed
by a well-maintained water treatment process.
In 2015, Utilities tested the untreated source water for the organisms.
Giardia was found in the Poudre River samples. Neither organism was
found in Horsetooth Reservoir samples.
Treating Source Water
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably
be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. The presence of these contaminants does not
necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.
As water travels over the land’s surface or through the
ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can
pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals
and humans. To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the CDPHE
regulates the amount of certain contaminants in water from
public water systems. Source water may contain:
• 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
may 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 byproducts of
industrial processes and petroleum production. These
contaminants also may come from gas stations, urban
stormwater runoff and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which may be naturally occurring
or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
For more information about contaminants and potential health
risks, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791
or visiting epa.gov/safewater.
Measuring streamflow on the Little South Fork
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HAA5 values, µg/L
Date/Site 001 002 003 004 005 007 008 Maximum Level Allowed
February, 2015 7.8 19.1 18.7 20.4 19.6 17.5 17 60
Date/Site 006 Maximum Level Allowed
May, 2015 37
August, 2015 19.8 60
November, 2015 24
Utilities is required to monitor your drinking water for specific
contaminants on a regular basis. Monitoring results are an
indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health
standards. HAA5s are required to be monitored at eight
locations every quarter. City staff collects the HAA5 samples
and a private laboratory performs the analysis. The HAA5
sample collected at one site (006) in February of 2015 was
not analyzed properly, resulting in an inaccurate value of
zero. When the City initially inquired about the result, the
lab provided assurance that the value was valid and it was
reported to the state with other compliance data. Upon further
investigation the result was found to be invalid.
The HAA5 values for the other seven sample sites in February
of 2015, as well as the other three quarterly samples at site
006 throughout 2015, were well within the standard allowed.
As a result, Utilities is confident that the drinking water
was within the standard at Site 006 in February of 2015. A
procedure to provide a more rigorous review of the private lab
data has been implemented to prevent further occurrences.
See the tables below for more information.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring
The City of Fort Collins’ drinking water supply comes from
two water sources, the Cache la Poudre River and Horsetooth
Reservoir. Utilities collaborates with local drinking water
providers to monitor and assess water quality in the upper
Cache la Poudre watershed. We are a member of the Coalition
for the Poudre River Watershed (poudrewatershed.org) and
the Big Thompson Watershed Forum (btwatershed.org).
Monitoring data are used to support the protection of the
City’s drinking water sources. The City’s source watersheds
continue to provide reliable, high-quality drinking water.
In 2015, the Upper Poudre Watershed continued on its path
toward recovery following the Hewett and High Park Fires of
2012. Utilities continued to use early-warning technology and
targeted water quality monitoring to mitigate post-wildfire
impacts on water treatment operations and evaluate the
watershed recovery process. Utilities treated more Poudre River
water in 2015 compared to any pre-fire year, while continuing
to meet the standards for high quality drinking water. Utilities
will continue to monitor watershed recovery and work with
watershed stakeholders to protect our source water supplies.
Utilities has been working collaboratively with the Coalition for
the Poudre River Watershed and other stakeholders since 2013.
The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed has been working
to 1) identify remaining post-wildfire restoration priorities
in the Upper Cache la Poudre Watershed; and 2) develop a
community-driven watershed plan that aims to prioritize areas
in the watershed to improve and protect resiliency to future
fires and other watershed risks.
Monitoring and Protecting Our Water Sources
Additional information about the City’s Source
Water Monitoring Program and source water quality
fcgov.com/utilities • utilities@fcgov.com • 970-212-2900 • V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado page 7
Collecting grab sample from the Mainstem Poudre below the town of Rustic
Environmental Leadership
The Water Treatment Facility is committed to protecting the
environment by identifying and reducing its environmental
impacts in order to increase its operating efficiency. To
help achieve this goal, the facility has established a formal
Environment Management System (EMS). In 2015, the facility
was recertified as being in conformance to the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2004 standard.
The goals of an EMS are to prevent pollution, comply with
legal requirements, and continually improve environmental
performance. The key environmental objectives set by the
facility include reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by
reducing energy and fuel consumption, and sustainably
managing the facility’s landscape to minimize risks to public
safety, private property and the environment. The ISO 14001
standard was revised in 2015 and the facility EMS team
is evaluating what will be needed to conform to the new
standard. The transition to the new standard must be complete
by September 2018.
In addition, the facility participates in the Colorado
Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), an environmental
recognition and reward program administered by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment Division of
Environmental Health and Sustainability. As a result of its
continuing environmental stewardship and the successful ISO
certification of the EMS, the facility was recognized as an ELP
Gold Leader in 2015.
The Water Treatment Facility earned their 16th consecutive
Director’s Award as a member of the Partnership for Safe
Water. The Partnership is an alliance of six drinking water
organizations including the EPA. The director’s award is only
awarded to top-tier water facilities that have demonstrated
the commitment to providing superior quality water to their
customers, beyond the requirements of the EPA regulations.
Fort Collins Police Services
uses a portion of the Water
Treatment Facility for
K9 training.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
fcgov.com/utilities • utilities@fcgov.com • 970-212-2900 • V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado page 8
Fluoridation
As directed by City Council and our customers, Utilities adds
fluoride to the water, resulting in levels that range from 0.60 to
0.75 milligrams of fluoride per liter of treated water.
If you or members of your household are sensitive to fluoride or
fluoridation-related substances or if you provide our water to
an infant younger than six months of age, please consult your
physician or another health expert regarding precautions you
may want to consider. Visit fcgov.com/water/fluoride.php for
more information.
Vulnerable Populations
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in
drinking water than the general population. Particularly at risk
are immunocompromised persons, such as those undergoing
chemotherapy; those who have received organ transplants;
people with HIV/AIDS or other immune-system disorders; and
some elderly and infants. These people should seek advice
about drinking water from their healthcare providers.
Guidelines to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium
and other microbial contaminants are available the EPA/Center
for Disease Control. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
(800) 426-4791 or visit epa.gov/safewater.
Lead
How can I learn more about lead in the
City of Fort Collins’ drinking water?
Since 1984, eight years before EPA began regulating lead in
drinking water, Utilities has used best management practices
to provide conditions that keep lead levels low in our finished
drinking water. The Water Treatment Plant operators manage
the water quality by raising the calcium level and reducing the
corrosiveness of the treated drinking water. As a check to make
sure our corrosion control approach is effective, Utilities also
monitors lead levels in the drinking water of 50 homes every
three years. All of these tests have shown the level of lead in
our drinking water to be substantially below EPA’s action level.
The source of lead in drinking water is primarily the materials
and components associated with service lines and home
plumbing. Lead service lines have been prohibited by City
building codes since before the 1950s. Utilities staff report
that they have only found three lead service lines in the past
40 years of service line maintenance. The three lines were
connected to very old buildings in the city. Lead service lines
are replaced when found. Lead-tin solder was banned by City
code in 1986. These safeguards limit the potential for lead
contamination of drinking water.
View a presentation on the City’s approach to keeping lead
levels low.
While Utilities is responsible for providing high-quality
drinking water, we have limited control over the variety of
materials used in plumbing components. If your water has
been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential
for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two
minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you have
questions or comments related to water quality, contact the
City’s Water Quality Lab at 970-221-6863.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health
problems, particularly for pregnant women and young
children. For more information, testing methods and steps
to minimize exposure, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: A6C19367EA8B46FFAE3DF57099CBFE80 Status: Delivered
Subject: PDF of CCR/WQR memo
Source Envelope: 693337C7045149289BCF0CB20D5A8F60
Document Pages: 25 Signatures: 0 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 1 Initials: 0 Katherine Martinez
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
215 N Mason Street
Fort Collins , CO 80522
kamartinez@fcgov.com
IP Address: 198.59.47.100
Record Tracking
Status: Original
6/7/2016 8:43:45 AM
Holder: Katherine Martinez
kamartinez@fcgov.com
Location: DocuSign
Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Katherine Martinez
kamartinez@fcgov.com
City of Fort Collins – Water Resources & Treatment
Operations
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Sent: 6/7/2016 8:54:19 AM
Viewed: 6/7/2016 8:54:23 AM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
ID:
In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp
Notary Events Timestamp
Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps
Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 6/7/2016 8:54:19 AM
Certified Delivered Security Checked 6/7/2016 8:54:23 AM
(800) 426-4791 or visit epa.gov/safewater/lead.
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The Water Treatment
Facility’s new chlorine
contact basin will contain
over 1 million pounds of
reinforcing steel.
The Water Treatment
Facility’s new chlorine
contact basin will contain
over 1 million pounds of
reinforcing steel.
Community Participation
Community members are welcome to attend Fort Collins Utilities’
Water Board meetings, a citizen committee that advises City Council on
matters of policy and budget. Please see the schedule and location at
fcgov.com/cityclerk/water.php.
Contact
fcgov.com/utilities
utilities@fcgov.com
970-212-2900
V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
seasonal updates and annual reports can be found
at fcgov.com/source-water-monitoring.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
There are 432
photovoltaic solar
panels generating
electricity at the Water
Treatment Facility. View
real-time production.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
EMS: Environmental Management System
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
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 - 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.
N/A: Not applicable
NTU: Nephelometric turbidity unit - measure of particles
in the water or clarity
ppb: Parts of contaminant per billion parts of water, µg/L
ppm: Parts of contaminant per million parts of water, mg/L
ppt: Parts of contaminant per trillion parts of water, ng/L
SCFP: Soldier Canyon Filter Plant
TOC: Total organic carbon
TT: Treatment technique - a required process intended to
reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
working toward that
goal. Several
personnel are also
certified as Level I or
II distribution system
operators. Other
plant personnel are
encouraged to pursue certification as plant
operators, as well as other professional
certifications that increase their skills. One
staff member received ‘Professional
Operator’ certification in 2015 through the
Certification Council for Environmental
Professionals, one of fewer than 80 people
worldwide to receive such certification to
date. Other certifications held by plant staff
include;
• Professional Engineer
• Certified Control Systems
Technician
• Hazardous Materials Technician
• Journeyman Electrician
• DOT Certification
• ASE Mechanic Certification
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
Volunteers sowing native grass seeds &
installing erosion matting at Skin Gulch,
May 2, 2015.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80
The reports
identified some
minor repairs,
which and have
been scheduled
for completion
in 2016/17.
No operational changes were required to
meet the new requirements for disinfectant
residual. Our established practices were
already achieving the 0.2 mg/L of free
chlorine throughout the distribution system,
as required.
GOAL 1
DocuSign Envelope ID: 693337C7-A6C19367-0451-EA8B-4928-46FF-9BCF-AE3D-0CB20D5A8F60 F57099CBFE80