City of Billings Water Quality Report

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Public Works

“Working for You”

THE LAKE IS COMING! The City of Billings Public Works Department has begun design of a new west end water storage lake and water treatment plant. The additional treatment plant and lake fulfill a critical redundancy need. More exciting is the dual-use that the lake will have as a recreation area for Billings. The lake will add approximately 300 acres (about 4 times the size of Lake Elmo) of water recreation area and approximately 4 miles of walking trails. The lake will be located between 48th St. West and

Shiloh Road southwest of Shiloh Crossing (old Knife River gravel pits).

The current plan is to have the lake and treatment plant online in the next 3-4 years. Below is an architect’s rendering of the new lake.

You can see a video about the lake and new water treatment plant by searching “Billings Lakes” on YouTube or typing https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=7AvBMju0NCk&t=54s into your web browser.

MEET THE CITY OF BILLINGS WATER TREATMENT MANAGER – JASON FLADLAND four years traveling the United States and Canada on a harvesting crew operating combines and in the off-season driving tractor-trailer.

With the wandering out of his system and realizing that being part of a harvesting crew was not a long-term career path he returned to school in 1995. Jason graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Water Quality Technology with an emphasis on Environmental Health. While in college he completed two internships one with the City of Great Falls in the laboratory and the other as an operator with the City of Glasgow.

Jason Fladland is the newest member of the Public Works Water Quality Division team. Jason started on April 3 as the Water Treatment Plant Manager and we are fortunate to have him. Below is a little history of his life and work experience: Jason graduated from Malta High School in 1991 and spent the following

After graduating from college, Jason accepted an operator position with the City of Helena operating the Tenmile Water Treatment Plant and the Missouri River plant until 2003.

He then took on a new challenge with Lewis and Clark County Health Department as a registered Sanitarian evaluating on-site septic systems, conducting restaurant inspections, junk vehicle control, and responding to community decay complaints.

He also worked with the Montana Department of Quality on the Air Quality Program. In 2008 Jason made the decision to go back into his chosen career field and returned to the City of Helena as the Water Treatment Superintendent. This position was responsible for managing eight operators, managing the Tenmile watershed, the operation of two surface water treatment plants and one ground water source, eight finished water reservoirs, three pump stations and maintaining compliance with all rules and regulations.

While superintendent, Jason completed a source water protection plan that included a forest project to remove pine beetle killed trees from public and private lands to mitigate fire danger and protect the City of Helena’s Chessman Reservoir and the Red Mountain Flume water source. Jason utilized a multi-agency approach working with the Forest Service and DNRC. The project received a governor’s award for excellence. He also implemented electrical and chemical savings

projects that included a new HVAC system that utilized a heat exchange system and reprogramming of pump plc’s/controls. Both projects resulted in cutting kilowatt demands and usage.

Over the last 20 years, Jason’s children (two boys and a girl) have been his hobbies shuttling them to their activities and sports throughout the years - whether it be class trips to Glacier or Yellowstone, football, wrestling, and the latest rage being rugby for his daughter. Jason said that it has been quite the adventure with all of them. He lost a bet to his son several years ago at a wrestling tournament in Denver which resulted in his latest hobby - restoring a 1969 Chevelle with his son as well as being out on the water with his daughter on a set of jet skis.

Jason has a passion for all aspects of water and firmly believes we should provide clean, safe, and aesthetically pleasing water to our communities. We look forward to working with Jason for many years to come and are happy to have him on our team.

What is this Report?

The City of Billings Water Quality Division is pleased to provide you with our 2018 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. We want to keep you informed about the excellent water and service we have delivered to you over the past year. Our goal is and always has been, to provide to you a superior and dependable supply of drinking water. We continually monitor our finished (tap) water to ensure it has no regulated contaminant at a level considered to be a health issue by either EPA or the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Your water meets or exceeds the requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. All of the water we provide to you comes from the Yellowstone River. A study of the susceptibility of the Yellowstone River to contamination has been conducted.

The analysis showed that our source water’s susceptibility to contamination is low.

The Source Water Protection plan is available through the Billings Public Works, Environmental Affairs Division, (406-247-8517) SPECIAL NOTE TO OWNERS/MANAGERS OF ASSOCIATIONS AND/OR INCOME PROPERTIES: To ensure the City of Billings 2018 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report reaches ALL consumers, please post for residents

WATER QUALITY DATA TABLE DEFINITIONS The tables on the next two pages list all of the drinking water contaminants detected for 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 these tables is from testing done in the calendar year of the report.

In the following section you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions: ABREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS ppm or mg/l

Parts per million or Milligrams per liter - or one ounce in 7,812 gallons of water.

ppb or μg/l

Parts per billion or Micrograms per liter - or one ounce in 7,812,000 gallons of water.

NTU

Nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water.

AL – Action Level

The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

TT – Treatment Technique

A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

The MCL is 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.

• Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) (406) 444-4400

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)

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.

• WANT TO LEARN MORE? Group tours of the water treatment plant are available. To schedule your tour, please call the Water Treatment Plant at (406)247-8683 or online https://ci.billings.mt.us/forms.aspx?fid=130&admin=1

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)

The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contamination.

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL)

The SMCL represents reasonable goals for drinking water quality and provide a guideline for public water suppliers. Secondary contaminants affect mainly the aesthetic qualities such as undesirable taste or odors.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)

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 contamination.

ND

Not Detected

Where Can I Get More Information?

• Water Quality Laboratory at 406-657-8346 • The goal of the Water Quality Division is to provide to you the best water possible. We work hard to protect your water resources and to treat your drinking water to the highest standards. We want to meet your expectations but cannot identify issues without your help. If you would like more information or have any water quality concerns please contact the Water Quality Laboratory.

Special Population Advisory Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as people 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/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection

by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-hotline http://epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/npwdr_complete_table.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulations The City of Billings Water Quality Division routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State regulations. The following tables show the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2018. (Some of our data may be more than one year old because the state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less often than once per year.)

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. 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. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily

indicate that water poses a health risk.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Long Term 2 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) From April 2015-March 2017, the City of Billings completed a second round of monitoring for Cryptosporidium in the Yellowstone River in accordance with the EPA Long Term 2 Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2).

Samples were collected monthly for two years; the results from this testing were favorable and the City is not required to add additional treatment processes to meet the requirements of the rule.

Final Notes

Asbestos On June 2, 2011, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued an asbestos monitoring waiver to the City of Billings through the year 2019. The City of Billings distribution system contains no asbestos cement pipe.

Arsenic While your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

Lead If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components

associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Billings Water Quality Facility is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead .

Cryptosporidium Microscopic organism that, if ingested, can cause fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. Cryptosporidium is removed from water through a successful treatment combination of sedimentation and filtration.

WATER QUALITY DATA Violation Yes/No

Contaminant

Highest Level Detected

Range Detected

MCL

Likely Source of Contamination

MCLG Microbiological Contaminants

Total Coliform Bacteria

No

Turbidity (NTU)

0.0%

No

0.023

5% positive 0.017 – 0.060

TT=95% of samples <0.3

0

Naturally present in the environment

N/A

Soil runoff. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. This is monitored because it is a good indicator of water quality.

Inorganic Contaminants Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes

Arsenic (ppb)

No

2

1-5

10

0

Free Chlorine (ppm)

No

0.91

0.14 – 1.78

MRDL=4

MRDLG=4

Water additive used to control microbes

4

4

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

1.3

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

Fluoride (ppm)

No

0.39

0.15 – 0.68

Nitrate - NO3 (ppm)

No

0.26

0.06-0.44

Copper (ppm)

No

Lead (ppb)

No

AL=1.3 Action Level – 90% of samples must be below this level.

AL=15 Action Level – 90% of samples must be below this level.

0.255 = 90th percentile No sites above AL (2017 sampling data) 5 = 90th percentile No sites above AL (2017 sampling data)

Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

0

Volatile Organic Contaminants Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb) Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (ppb) Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

No

43

34 - 43

60

N/A

By-product of drinking water chlorination

No

54

33 - 54

80

N/A

By-product of drinking water chlorination

TT

N/A

Naturally present in the environment and has no health effects.

No

The percentage of (TOC) removal was measured each month and all removal requirements were met.

SECONDARY CONTAMINANTS Contaminant

Range Detected*

SMCL

Noticeable Effects at Elevated Levels

Aluminum (ppb)

ND – 15

50 - 200

Colored Water

Chloride (ppm)

6 – 12

250

Salty Taste

Sulfate (ppm)

16 – 83

250

Salty Taste

Total Dissolved Solids (ppm)

94 – 316

500

Hardness; deposits; colored water; staining; salty taste

pH (s.u.)

7.5 – 8.4

6.5 - 8.5

Low pH: bitter metallic taste; corrosion High pH: slippery feel; soda taste; deposits

White or milky looking water is caused by tiny air or gas bubbles in the water. You should be able to see the bubbles float to the surface and disappear within a few minutes.

WATER CLEARS UP FROM BOTTOM TO TOP

Other Parameters Total Hardness (ppm)

53 – 194

None

Spots; Deposits

Alkalinity (ppm)

58 - 142

None

None

Potassium (ppm)

2.0 – 3.9

None

None

Sodium (ppm)

9.1 – 30.0

None

None

Magnesium (ppm)

5.6 – 17.0

None

None

*The concentration of these contaminants varies seasonally with the highest values in the winter and the lowest values during spring run-off. As you can see by the table, our system had no violations.

We are proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements.

The Mission of the City of Billings Water Quality Division is TO BE A TRUSTED STEWARD OF THE COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES WE MANAGE BY PROVIDING EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND RELIABLE WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY SERVICES.

David Mumford

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Jennifer Duray

DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Louis Engels

UTILITY SYSTEMS ENGINEER WATER QUALITY DIVISION

Providing the best water possible is a goal of the Water Quality Division. We work hard to protect your water resources and to treat your drinking water to the highest standards. We want to meet your expectations but cannot identify issues without your help. If you have any water quality concerns please contact us; we are more than happy to speak with you. 406-657-8346 Water Quality Laboratory

BEHIND THE SCENES The treatment and monitoring of drinking water and the management of the water distribution system is a comprehensive process that continues to evolve.

Part of that evolution is seen through the eyes of a water treatment technician.

Learning for a technician never ends. Initially, they are required to pass the State Department of Environmental Quality’s operator certification test.

Two additional certification levels are acquired by further study and testing. Every two years continuing education credits are mandatory. Technicians must demonstrate knowledge of heavy equipment operations, computers, mechanical, plumbing, heating and control systems as well as water sampling and testing. They possess not only the ability to troubleshoot problems, but also keep pumps and various monitoring and chemical treatment instruments calibrated and running smoothly. Technicians currently maintain and keep records of over 1,300 pieces of equipment. Working in confined spaces, using respirators

and self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA), safely handling hazardous chemicals, and working outside in both hot and cold temperatures is a regular occurrence. Flexibility and the ability to prioritize workloads are necessary. Amidst all of this they demonstrate professionalism and good customer service to the public.

A technician must be willing to take on significant responsibilities. It is essential that they are ready to respond in an emergency and can think quickly in stressful situations. A small mistake can have large consequences. An adjustment in the water treatment process may take hours before it is known if the effects were satisfactory. Experience in understanding the ever changing nature of our source water, the Yellowstone River, assists a technician in being able to successfully anticipate and act before a problem arises.

They do all of this behind the scenes, 24 hours a day, every day of the year so that everyone in the City of Billings can enjoy good quality drinking water.

STORMWATER AND YARD WASTE MANAGEMENT Organic materials are found everywhere in the environment. Plants grow and die; it is the cycle of life.

Nutrient components of plants are concentrated in the plant and then redistributed back to the environment after its death.

How does yard waste become a contaminant of lakes and streams? Rain or melting snow in urban areas flows across lawns or impervious surfaces such as rooftops, paved areas and bare soil. As it flows, this runoff transports sediments, leaves, grass clippings, litter and other landscape waste into streets and gutters and into the storm sewer. Unlike wastewater, stormwater runoff receives no treatment. Sediments and nutrients transported in the stormwater runoff end up in the Yellowstone River. When excess nutrients are in rivers and streams it encourages algae growth. An overabundance of algae in a water body can lead to oxygen depletion, fish kills, strong odors, toxin production, unsightly surface scum and reduced recreational opportunities.

organic mulch, and plant materials from vegetable and flower gardens. By weight, grass is the largest component, averaging half of all yard waste.

tities of fertilizer more frequently rather than large amounts less frequently.

Sound yard waste management benefits the landControlling organic yard waste and reducing poten- scape as well as surface water resources. For a Green tial contamination of surface water can be achieved in Barrel, contact Solid Waste at 657-8260. Everyone can do something to improve or maintain water quality. several ways.

• Keep paved areas and storm drains clear of yard debris; • Do not blow leaves or grass clippings into streets, streams, or swales. Place them on the lawn, compost pile or green barrel; • Recycle grass clippings and their nutrients on the lawn with a mulching lawn mower; • Keep fallen leaves out of the streets and gutters; • Do not dump yard waste down a storm drain or near surface water; • Plan landscaping with the environment in mind; and

Although plant material and nutrients gradually • Recycle organic waste through composting pracaccumulate in water bodies, a neighborhood or comtices or the green barrel program. munity with improperly managed yard waste practices Proper fertilization maintains a healthy lawn withcan be a significant contributor of excess amounts of out excessive growth. For moderate, even growth nutrients and cause unnecessary degradation of rivuse a combination of quick release and slow-release ers and streams. Sources of landscape waste include nitrogen fertilizers. It is better to apply smaller quangrass clippings, leaves, tree and shrub trimmings,