HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/4/2016 - Memorandum From Mark Kempton And Carol Webb Re: Water Quality Monitoring1
Utilities
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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: 09/22/2016
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Mark Kempton, P.E. – Water Production Division Manager
Carol Webb, Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
RE: Water Quality Monitoring
This memo is in response to Mayor Troxell’s question at the September 19 Leadership Planning
Team meeting requesting further details on, “…Denver conducts proactive water quality testing
– what testing does Fort Collins conduct?”
Bottom Line:
Fort Collins Utilities Water Quality Lab proactively performs weekly testing of the City’s
drinking water to comply with the water quality requirements set forth by the Colorado
Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE). One of the tests performed by staff includes
lead and copper testing of the distribution system for homes constructed between 1982 and 1986.
To date there have been no issues of exceedance of the water quality standards, which is
primarily attributed to the application of corrosion control best practices in the water treatment
process at the Water Treatment Facility and in the water distribution system.
Summary:
The City has identified residences that were constructed between 1982 and 1986, prior to the
prohibition of tin-lead solder in water service lines. Water Quality Lab staff test the water in
these homes on a three year basis, which includes screening for the presence of lead and copper.
To date, none of these homes have exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
mandated maximum contaminant levels for lead and copper. These tests are also performed if
requested by a home or business owner.
In the mid 1980’s the City proactively implemented a pipe corrosion control program at the
Water Treatment Facility that treats the drinking water with lime and carbon dioxide. The
addition of these two chemicals ensures that there is minimal to no corrosion of any pipes within
the water distribution system. An overview of the City’s Corrosion Control program can be
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998
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found on the Utilities Water Quality web page at: http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-
do/water/water-quality/water-quality-report-2015
Also, in the 1980’s, in parallel with the Corrosion Control program, the City proactively
investigated suspected locations of service lines containing lead materials and replaced all found
services lines in the Water Utilities service area. If any services lines made of lead containing
materials still exist within the Utilities service area, they in themselves do not pose a threat. The
possibility of lead leaching from the pipes is controlled by the lime and carbon dioxide which
provide and maintain a protective film on the inside wall of the pipes. The water chemistry is
also controlled to reduce the corrosion potential of the water if it were to come into contact with
a non-film protected pipe. At this time, it is believed that there are very few services lines made
of lead containing materials in the Utilities service area. An effort to be 100% certain that none
of these lines exist would be very difficult, costly, and time consuming to implement as it would
involve excavating all service lines in the Utilities service area and inspecting them to determine
the pipe material. Utilities staff continue to evaluate existing service lines in the course of their
normal duties, and have a policy of replacing any services lines made of lead containing
materials that they may encounter.
Attached are two recent memos to Council on the topic of services lines made of lead containing
materials and water quality testing for the presence of lead and copper in the City’s drinking
water system. More information regarding the City’s water quality testing program, including
test results and information on lead pipes can be found on the Utilities Water Quality web page
at: http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do/water/water-quality
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998
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The testing lab must be certified by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment
(CDPHE) to perform and report those results. Data summaries are also provided in the annual
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Separate graphs of current compliance data for the lead
and copper 90
th
percentile action levels for the area water providers are presented below.
The difference in levels of corrosion byproducts shown in the graphs is the result of different
approaches to corrosion control. The City’s Water Treatment Facility uses a combination of
calcium and carbon dioxide to add hardness and buffering capacity to the finished water. The
Soldier Canyon Filter Plant reduces the acidity of the treated water by adding sodium hydroxide.
Both corrosion control methods are acceptable to CDPHE.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41628A4A-07B1-4AF2-BA0B-4B5C61023998