2017 WATER QUALITY REPORT JBLM‐LEWIS (McChord Field) Public Water System 52200 J/ Joint Base Lewis‐McChord, WA The Quality of Your Water Is Our Primary Concern The Joint Base Lewis‐McChord (JBLM) Directorate of Public Works (DPW) produces and distributes drinking water from systems permi ed by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). We are pleased to present this year's Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) required by the Environmental Protec on Agency (EPA) requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 141.155[a]) and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) requirements (Washington Administra ve Code WAC 246‐290‐72001 thru 720012). The JBLM water report is designed to provide details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. This report is a snapshot of last year's (2017) water quality. Your water is safe to drink. This water report is prepared for consumers on the JBLM‐McChord Field system, which includes three subsystems: Base, SAGE, Housing. A separate and similar water report for JBLM Lewis Main / North drinking water consumers is available as well. This report contains important informa on about your drinking water. Spanish (Espanol) : Este informe con ene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua beber. Traduscalo o hable con alguien que lo en enda bien. French (Francais): Ce rapport con ent des informa ons importantes sur votre eau potable. Traduisez‐le ou parlez en avec quequ'un qui le comprend bien.
Where Does My Water Come From? The source of water supply for McChord Field consists of 10 ground‐ water wells located on base in various loca ons which are broken down into three interconnected subsystems: Mil‐ itary Family Housing, SAGE (Semi‐ Automa c Ground Equipment), and Main Base. These sources pull ground‐ water from the Vashon and Salmon Springs Aquifers which was first appro‐ priated in the 1930s and 1940s when the Base’s subsystem wells were first constructed. These aquifers were se‐ lected due to their natural and physi‐ cal condi ons that allow them to un‐ dergo natural filtra on and that they’re less suscep ble to surface sources of contamina on. Replenish‐ ing (recharge) of these aquifers comes from local rainfall.
JBLM‐LEWIS (PWS 26505) Community Water System Source Informa on DOH Source ID# S01
JBLM Well Name
South Well
Water Sub‐System
Source Use
Base
Emergency
S02
North Well
Base
Permanent
S03
East Well
Base
Permanent
S04
Sage Well 1
Sage
Permanent
S05
Sage Well 2
Sage
Permanent
S06
Housing Well 3
Housing
Permanent
S07
Housing Well 2
Housing
Permanent
S08
Housing Well 1
Housing
Permanent
S09
Mars Hill
N/A
Permanent
S11
Replacement Well 1
Base
Permanent
Water Treatment Process The water treatment process for JBLM McChord Field re‐ This treatment process helps improve the quality of water, and quires that all individual wells are treated at the source prior to insure safe consump on for consumers as entering the distribu on system. All the wells are treated regulated by WA Department of Health. with sodium hypochlorite and the housing wells are treated with fluorosilicic acid.
Chlorina on Sodium hypochlorite solu on is generated and then added to the water before it enters the drinking water well to provide disinfec on and to maintain a chlorine residual within the well. WA Department of Health requires each produc on well in all three subsystems to maintain disinfec on sources to provide virus inac va on. Fluorida on Fluorosilicic acid is added to the water distributed from the Family Housing Wells to help prevent tooth decay. Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavi es (also called tooth decay) by about 25% in children and adults. For more informa on please visit the following links: h p://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/ DrinkingWater/FluorideinDrinkingWater h ps://www.cdc.gov/fluorida on/index.html
Contacts For ques ons about your water: JBLM Public Works
WA Department of Health
Water Systems Manager
1‐800‐525‐0127
253‐966‐1692
h p://www.doh.wa.gov/
Drinking Water Purveyor
EPA Region 10
253‐966‐1768
1‐800‐424‐4372
Madigan Environmental
1‐800‐426‐4791
Health Service
(Safe Drinking Water Hotline)
253‐968‐4331
h ps://www.epa.gov
Why Are There Contaminants in My Drinking Water? The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bo led water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioac ve material, and can pick up sub‐ stances resul ng from the presence of animals or from human ac vity.
Drinking water, including bo led water, may reasona‐ bly be expected to contain at least small amounts of some con‐ taminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More informa on about contaminants and poten al health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1‐800‐426‐4791.
SPECIAL NOTICE Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general popula on. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be par cularly at risk from infec ons. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infec on by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1‐ 800‐426‐4791). Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
Poten al Contaminants
Type
Microbial
Viruses &
Contaminants
Bacteria
Inorganic Chemical
Salts & Metals
Organic Chemical (Pes cides & Herbicides)
Pes cides & Herbicides
Organic Chemical
Synthe c &
(Synthe c & Vola le)
Vola le
Radioac ve
Sources Viruses, bacteria and other microbes that may come from sewage treatment plants, sep c systems, agricultural livestock opera ons, and wildlife. Naturally occurring or result rom urban storm water runoff, industrial or domes c wastewater discharges, oil and gas produc on, mining, or farming. Chemical substances resul ng from a variety of sources, such as agricultural and urban storm water runoff, and residen al uses. Substances including synthe c and vola le organic chemicals, which are by‐ products of industrial processes and petroleum produc on, and also may come from gas sta ons, urban storm water runoff, and sep c systems.
Natural & Man
Substances that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas
Made Deposits
produc on, and mining ac vi es.
Informa on the EPA and WA Department of Health Would Like You to Know. groundwater contamina on in these areas, JBLM operates a groundwater remedia on pump and treat system. There has The SWAP evaluates poten al threats to the safety of our wa� been great success in containing the TCE plume(s) over me ter supplies by assessing sources of contamina on. Addi onal and reducing the threat of TCE contamina on to the drinking informa on is provided in the form of assessment reports and water supplies. GIS coverage and can be found at:
Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP)
http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/ SourceWater/SourceWaterProtection.aspx Interactive Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/eh/maps/SWAP/index.html JBLM McChord Field primary and seasonal drinking water sources have susceptibility ratings ranging from low to high. Historically the higher susceptibility is associated with wells in closer proximity to trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated groundwater. In the past, TCE a colorless solvent, was used primarily in industrial processes to remove grease from metal parts and in dry cleaning opera ons. In order to reduce TCE
NITRATE
LEAD
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and compo‐ may rise quickly for short periods of me because of rainfall or nents associated with service lines and home plumbing. Joint agricultural ac vity. If you are caring for an infant, you should Base Lewis McChord is responsible for providing high quality ask for advice from your health care provider. 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 con nues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentra ons and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
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 thirty seconds to two 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 or at http://www.epa.gov/ safewater/lead.
Water Quality Analysis In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regula ons which limit the amount of contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. Although many more contaminants were tested, only those substances listed below were found in your water. All sources of drinking water con‐ tain some naturally occurring contaminants. At low levels, these substances are generally not harmful in our drinking wa‐ ter. Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive, and in most cases, would not provide increased protec on of public health. A few naturally occurring minerals may actually improve the taste of drinking water and have nutri onal value at low levels. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from tes ng done in the calendar year of the re‐ port. The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentra‐ ons of these contaminants do not vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamina on. As such, some of our data, though repre‐
senta ve, may be more than one year old. In this table you will find terms and abbrevia ons that might not be familiar to you. To help you be er understand these terms, we have provided the defini ons below the table.
Contaminants
MCLG MCL, or TT, or MRDLG MRDL
Detect In Your Water
Range Low
High
Sample Viola on Date
Typical Source
Disinfectants & Disinfec on By‐Products (There is convincing evidence that addi on of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants) TTHMs [Total Trihalome‐ thanes(ppb)
NA
80
15.6
3.3
15.6
2017
No
By‐product of drinking water disin‐ fec on
Haloace c Acids (HAA5) (ppb)
NA
60
7.7
ND
7.7
2017
No
By‐product of drinking water chlorina on
Arsenic (ppb)
0
10
5.37
.029
5.37
2017
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics produc on wastes
Barium (ppm)
2
2
.0061
.00251 .0061
2017
No
Discharge of drilling wastes; Dis‐ charge from metal refineries; Ero‐ sion of natural deposits
NA
.00503
.00015 .00503
2017
No
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural depos‐ its
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper ‐ source water (ppm)
Contaminants
MCLG or MRDLG
MCL, TT, or MRDL
Detect In Your Water
Low
High
Sample Date
Viola on
Typical Source
Range
Microbiological Contaminants Total Coliform (RTCR)
NA
TT
NA
NA
NA
2017
No
Naturally present in the environment
Turbidity (NTU)
NA
5
4.7
NA
NA
2017
No
Soil runoff
E. coli (RTCR) ‐ in the distribu on system
0
*
0
NA
NA
2017
No
Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way
Radium 228 (pCi/L)
0
5
.86
NA
.86
2017
No
Erosion of natural deposits
Gross alpha (pCi/L)
0
15
ND
ND
ND
2017
No
Erosion of natural deposits
Radioac ve Contaminants
Vola le Organic Contaminants Trichloroethylene (ppb)
0
5
1.9
NA
1.9
2017
No
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories
cis‐1,2‐ Dichloroethylene (ppb)
70
70
.9
NA
.9
2017
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
* Rou ne and repeat samples are total coliform posi ve and either is E. coli ‐ posi ve or system fails to take repeat samples fol‐
lowing E. coli posi ve rou ne sample or system fails to analyze total coliform posi ve repeat sample for E. coli.
Undetected Contaminants The following contaminants were monitored for, but not detected in your water. MCLG or MRDLG
MCL, TT, or MRDL
Your Water
Viola on
1,1,1‐Trichloroethane (ppb)
200
200
ND
No
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories
1,1,2‐Trichloroethane (ppb)
3
5
ND
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,1‐Dichloroethylene (ppb)
7
7
ND
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,2,4‐ Trichlorobenzene (ppb)
70
70
ND
No
Discharge from tex le‐finishing factories
1,2‐Dichloroethane (ppb)
0
5
ND
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,2‐Dichloropropane (ppb)
0
5
ND
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
An mony (ppb)
6
6
ND
No
Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder; test addi on.
Benzene (ppb)
0
5
ND
No
Discharge from factories; Leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills
Beryllium (ppb)
4
4
ND
No
Discharge from metal refineries and coal‐burning factories; Dis‐ charge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries
Contaminants
Typical Source
MCLG or MRDLG
MCL, TT, or MRDL
Your Water
Viola on
Cadmium (ppb)
5
5
ND
No
Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of natural deposits; Dis‐ charge from metal refineries; runoff from waste ba eries and paints
Carbon Tetrachloride (ppb)
0
5
ND
No
Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial ac vi es
Chlorobenzene (monochlorobenzene) (ppb)
100
100
ND
No
Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories
Chromium (ppb)
100
100
ND
No
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits
Ethylbenzene (ppb)
700
700
ND
No
Discharge from petroleum refineries
4
4
ND
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Water addi ve which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fer lizer and aluminum factories
Haloace c Acids (HAA5) (ppb)
NA
60
ND
No
By‐product of drinking water chlorina on
Lead ‐ source water (ppm)
NA
ND
No
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Mercury [Inorganic] (ppb)
2
2
ND
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from refineries and facto‐ ries; Runoff from landfills; Runoff from cropland
Nitrate [measured as Nitro‐ gen] (ppm)
10
10
ND
No
Runoff from fer lizer use; Leaching from sep c tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits
Nitrite [measured as Nitro‐ gen] (ppm)
1
1
ND
No
Runoff from fer lizer use; Leaching from sep c tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits
Contaminants
Fluoride (ppm)
Typical Source
MCLG or MRDLG
MCL, TT, or MRDL
Your Water
Viola on
Typical Source
Selenium (ppb)
50
50
ND
No
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; Erosion of natu‐ ral deposits; Discharge from mines
Sodium (op onal) (ppm)
NA
ND
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching
Styrene (ppb)
100
100
ND
No
Discharge from rubber and plas c factories; Leaching from land‐ fills
Tetrachloroethylene (ppb)
0
5
ND
No
Discharge from factories and dry cleaners
Thallium (ppb)
.5
2
ND
No
Discharge from electronics, glass, and Leaching from ore‐ processing sites; drug factories
Toluene (ppm)
1
1
ND
No
Discharge from petroleum factories
Vinyl Chloride (ppb)
0
2
ND
No
Leaching from PVC piping; Discharge from plas cs factories
Xylenes (ppm)
10
10
ND
No
Discharge from petroleum factories; Discharge from chemical factories
p‐Dichlorobenzene (ppb)
75
75
ND
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
trans‐1,2‐ Dichloroethylene (ppb)
100
100
ND
No
Discharge from industrial chemical factories
Contaminants
Lead and Copper Monitoring at Consumer Taps
Contaminants
MCLG
AL
Your Water
Sample Date
# Samples Exceeding AL
Exceeds AL
2016
0
No
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
No
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Typical Source
Lead and Copper (Ac on Level at Consumer Taps)
Copper � ac on level at consumer taps (ppm)
Lead � ac on level at consumer taps (ppb)
1.3
0
1.3
15
.37
1
2016
0
Secondary Contaminants The Environmental Protec on Agency has established Na onal Secondary Drinking Water Regula ons (NSDWRs) that set non‐ mandatory water quality standards for 15 contaminants. EPA does not enforce exceedances of these "secondary maximum con‐ taminant levels" (SMCLs). They are established only as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water for aesthe c considera ons, such as taste, color and odor. These contaminants are not considered to present a risk to human health at the SMCL. Water systems may experience increased levels of secondary contaminants in associa on with changes in pressure, system maintenance and intermi ent use of seasonally operated source wells. Examples of secondary contaminants in potable water supplies include iron or rust that may turn water brownish‐red and give it an undesirable metallic taste, while manganese may give water a blackish hue.
Contaminants
Secondary MCL
Low
Color (color units)
15
ND
Copper (mg/L)
1.0
Fluoride (mg/L)
2.0
ND
Iron (mg/L)
0.3
Manganese (mg/L)
High Exceedance No
visible nt
No
metallic taste; blue‐green staining
.18
No
tooth discolora on
ND
1.13
Yes
black to brown color; black staining; bi er metallic taste
0.05
.00091
.147
Yes
rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining
6.5‐8.5
5.95
7.42
Yes
Silver (mg/L)
0.10
ND
ND
No
skin discolora on; graying of the white part of the eye
Sulfate (mg/L)
250
1.2
8.1
No
salty taste
TDS (mg/L)
500
94
160
No
(Total Disolved Solids) hardness; deposits; colored water; staining
Zinc (mg/L)
5
ND
.0468
No
metallic taste
pH
ND
No ceable Effects above the Secondary MCL
.00015 .00503
2017 Voluntary Monitoring for Perfluorinated Compounds In May 2016, the EPA issued a life me Health Advisory Level of 70 ppt for individual or combined concentra ons of Perfluoro‐ heptanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water. JBLM Leadership is commi ed to providing safe drinking water for everyone served by JBLM water systems. They are working to iden fy, fix, and prevent adverse impacts created by these chemicals in JBLM’s water supply. Name Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA Health Advisory Level
Detected Range in Distribution System Low
High
N/A
ND
7.1
N/A
N/D
3.8
N/A
5
24
N/A
N/D
ND
70
3.1
4.6
70
N/D
5
PFBS (ppt) Perfluoroheptanoic acid PFHpA (ppt) Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid PFHxS (ppt) Perfluorononanoic acid PFNA (ppt) PFOS (ppt) Perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA (ppt)
EPA Health Advisory Level Health advisory levels include a significant margin of safety to ensure they are protec‐ ve of the most sensi ve popula ons. Un‐ l more research is conducted to confirm or rule out the possible associa ons be‐ tween PFOA and PFOS exposure and po‐ ten al nega ve health effects, the Army is being proac ve and reducing PFOA and PFOS exposure to the extent possible. If you have concerns about your health or the health of your family members please contact your primary healthcare provider or pediatrician.
The data presented in these tables are from tes ng done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentra ons of these contaminants do not vary signifi‐ cantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamina on. As such, some of our data, though representa ve, may be more than one year old. In this table you will find terms and abbrevia ons that might not be fa‐ miliar to you. To help you be er understand these terms, we have provided the defini ons below the table.
Unit Descrip ons Term
Defini on
ppm
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb
ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L)
ppt
ppt: parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
pCi/L
pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioac vity)
NTU
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effec veness of our filtra on system.
NA
NA: not applicable
ND
ND: Not detected
NR
NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.
posi ve samples
posi ve samples/yr: The number of posi ve samples taken that year
Important Drinking Water Defini ons Term
MCLG
MCL
Defini on
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technol‐ ogy.
TT
TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
AL
AL: Ac on Level: The concentra on of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
More Important Drinking Water Defini ons Term
Variances and Exemp ons
Defini on Variances and Exemp ons: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment tech‐ nique under certain condi ons.
MRDLG
MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfec on level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant be‐ low which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
MRDL
MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drink‐ ing water. There is convincing evidence that addi on of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
MNR
MNR: Monitored Not Regulated
MPL
MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level
Informa on You Should Know about Water Contaminants and Monitoring Federal and State health regula‐ ons require that public drinking water providers have their water quality tested using EPA approved methods by a state cer fied laboratory on a regular schedule. In accordance with a sampling schedule dictated by the Wash‐ ington Administra ve Code (WAC), DPW has established a sam‐ pling and analysis program for each drinking water well and the water distribu on system. The WAC requires community sys‐ tems to test for various contaminates including chlorine, fluo‐ ride, disinfec on byproducts, microbial organisms, arsenic, lead and copper, pes cides, nitrates, radiological and vola le organ‐ ics.
Fluoride is added to water to help prevent tooth decay. Fluo‐ ride levels are monitored daily to ensure they are within the safe op mum range in order to avoid possible side effects such as dental fluorosis (mo ling). Microbial Tes ng. Every month at least 80 microbial samples are tested for the presence of total coliform bacteria and fecal coliform bacteria. Of the over 1000 bacteriological samples col‐ lected and processed in 2017, none tested posi ve or fecal coli‐ form bacteria.
Disinfec on Byproducts. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) and five Halo‐Ace c Acids (HAA5) are the most common type of disinfec on byproducts. The stage I and II Disinfectant and Dis‐ Chlorine is added to our water to control microbial growth safe infec on Byproduct Rules established by the EPA require Pub‐ levels and are monitored daily at each ac ve drinking water lic Water Systems to monitor for two groups of chlorinated by‐ source and throughout the distribu on system. Consuming wa‐ products which may occur in chlorinated water. ter containing chlorine levels in excess of recommended levels could cause irrita ng effects to the eyes, nose and stomach discomfort.
Lead and Copper Rule Tes ng. JBLM community public water systems must monitor lead and copper levels in drinking water. DOH requires monitoring to minimize the amount of lead and copper consumers get from drinking water. Unlike other con‐ taminants, lead and copper do not commonly occur in source water. Instead, they result when building plumbing, faucets, and water fixtures corrode. Therefore, the purpose of this mon‐ itoring is to determine if water systems are distribu ng corro‐ sive water. Systems with corrosive water must inves gate and determine the best way to control corrosion. The current sampling frequency for Lead and Copper Analytes includes at least 30 samples to be collected once eve‐ ry three years. The most recent round of sampling included 35 samples at loca ons around JBLM in 2016. None of these sam‐ ples exceeded Federal Ac on Levels (AL). Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). The Un‐ regulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) provides EPA and other interested par es with scien fically valid data on the occurrence of contaminants in drinking water. UCMR3 sam‐ pling occurred during 2013‐2015.
Special Sampling for Perflourinated Alklyl Substances (PFAS). As part of the Army’s commitment to supplying quality drinking water to its Service members, Family Members, and Civilians, the Army implemented a comprehensive PFOS and PFOA tes ng program. Based on tes ng completed in 2016, North and South Wells exceeded the new EPA advisory level. As a re‐ sult, both wells were shut down and isolated from the JBLM drinking water system. All other JBLM‐McChord Field drinking water wells and springs test results fell below the EPA LHA.
Conserva on and Sustainability Approach As JBLM and surrounding communi es con nue to grow, the demand for water increases along with the need for conserva on. Water conserva on levels ensure a sustainable water supply exists for present and future training needs at JBLM (FL Regula on 11‐5). In 2017, irriga on conserva on measures were developed according to specific soil condi ons, plant needs, and historic water demand. By determining soils’ water loss through evapora on and bal‐ ancing that with plant needs, effec ve irriga on methods were iden fied to ensure op mum water uptake by the root systems during mes of drought or diminished water supply. Water Conserva on Levels At certain mes of the year, JBLM may be subjected to drought condi ons or periods of diminished water supplies. This can affect water produc on capabili es for mee ng water supply demands. To meet water needs, individuals in the JBLM community are required to reduce outdoor water use as outlined by water conserva on levels. JBLM strives to meet Execu ve Order water conserva on goals, Army Net Zero Water goals, apply water conserva on. best prac‐ ces, and sustain our quality of life in the Pacific Northwest. Irriga on allowed Irriga on allowed from 0700‐0900 OR 1700‐2000 10 minutes in front yard and 10 minutes back yard Do not allow water to run into storm drains Do not water if raining Private vehicle washing not permi ed ‐ Use commercial car wash
The number of days between irriga on change based on conserva on levels as shown in weekly schedules below. Level I (Green)
Areas
Secure water supplies for mission
McChord Field‐Even Housing #
support while maintaining Water Efficiency requirements
Irrigation replaces plant watering for optimum growth (GREEN Level II (Amber)
SUN
MON X
McChord Field‐Odd Housing #
WED
X
Lewis North MON
X X
X WED
SAT
X
X
TUES
FRI
X
X SUN
THU
X X
Lewis Main
Areas
TUES
THU
X FRI
SAT
Occurs during drought conditions or diminished water supply
Reduced irrigation still ensures
McChord Field‐Even Housing #
X
McChord Field‐Odd Housing #
X
plant growth under these conditions Lewis Main (the grass will still be green)
Lewis North
X X
X X
X X
Level III (Red)
Outdoor water use not allowed.
Washing limited to commercial car wash facili es using recycled water.
Water use is restricted to that required for human health, fire protec on, permi ed landscape areas and mission support opera‐ ons. Some irriga on exemp ons are permi ed with wri en permission from the JBLM Water Program.
Play Your Part, Be Water Smart Source Water Protec on Tips Water use Reduc on and Source Protec on Tips
Protec on and conserva on of drinking water is everyone’s responsibility. You can do your part in several ways: Take short showers ‐ a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath.
Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallons a month.
Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month
Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fer lizers and pes cides ‐ they contain hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source.
Water plants only when necessary.
Pick up a er your pets. Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is wa‐ Dispose of chemicals properly; take used tered. Apply water only as fast as the soil motor oil to a recycling center. can absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evapora on. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense and h p:// Teach your kids about water conserva‐ www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/ on to ensure a future genera on that wtrcnsv.html for more informa on. uses water wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month's water bill!
Help us make a difference now and for the future. Using water efficiently and avoiding waste, is essen al to ensure that we have adequate water today and into the fu‐ ture. Water is a finite resource and the supplies on Earth today are no more than what was here at the beginning of the planet.
Frequently Asked Ques ons Sometimes customers notice that their tap water has a brownish, yellow, or rusty color. The off color is often first noticed against a white background, such as a sink, bathtub, or toilet, and usually appears suddenly. In most areas of Joint Base Lewis‐McChord, changes in water quality are localized and temporary, generally caused by some nearby activity. Is discolored water safe to drink? There is no indica on that the dis‐ colored water is unsafe. However, in the event of an unusual episode of discolored water, JBLM recommends that residents avoid drinking the water un l the appearance has returned to normal. It’s also best to postpone doing laundry un l the water has cleared up because the residue can stain clothing.
es, and opening or closing a fire hydrant or valve. Hydrants are rou‐ nely opened to flush a water main a er repair, address a water qual‐ ity problem, fill a street sweeper or other mobile tank, or to exercise the valves to ensure fire protec on. JBLM crews flush water mains on a quarterly basis as part of our preven ve maintenance program. The schedule for any planned flushing program is publicized in advance to alert residents to possible water quality effects in their neighborhood. Some parts of JBLM, especially older areas, are served by iron water mains that have become rusty over me. To correct this problem, corrosion‐resistant pipes are now used in the distribu on system when possible and older water mains will be upgraded as they are replaced.
Doesn’t flushing the water mains and household plumbing waste wa‐ ter? Although JBLM encourages responsible water use, achieving and maintaining good water quality must some me take precedence over conserva on. Any water used beneficially is not truly wasted, and flushing water mains and home plumbing is some mes necessary. At home, you can conserve by flushing the taps into large containers and using the water for plants, or by using the sprinklers or garden hose What causes brown water? “Brown” or discolored water is usually to flush the pipes and water the lawn or garden at the same me. caused by deposits, sediment, or rust that may have accumulated in the water mains over me. Iron and Manganese are poten al causes of brown water at JBLM, McChord (see secondary contaminants sec‐ on). Any ac vity that disturbs the pipes or results in a rapid change in water pressure can cause a temporary discolora on of the water. Such ac vi es include water main repairs, construc on, power outag‐ How can I get rid of discolored water? The first step is to flush out the household plumbing. This is best accomplished by turning on sev‐ eral cold water taps and le ng them run for 10 to 20 minutes. JBLM does not recommend running the hot water as it may result in pulling sediment into the water heater. If the problem doesn’t clear up, wait about 30 minutes and flush the taps again.
Get Involved. Your Work and Opinions Ma er! Much of the language in this report is required by the Environmental Protec on Agency (EPA), but we’ve done what we can to make it easier to understand and read. If you are interested in learning more about your water service and water quality at JBLM, or have sugges ons on how we could improve this report, please feel free to contact the Water Program Manager at JBLM Public Works Environmental Division at (253) 967‐1768. JOINT BASE LEWIS‐MCCHORD 2017 DRINKING WATER REPORTS AVAILABLE ONLINE 1 JULY 2018 DPW is no longer distribu ng the annual Drinking Water Reports in bulk mailing to resi‐ dents of JBLM. Customers will be able to view the JBLM‐Lewis Main and McChord Field water quality reports online. JBLM MWR h p://www.jblmmwr.com/ h p://www.jblmmwr.com/calendar/
For the JBLM Lewis Main and North report: h p://www.lewis‐mcchord.army.mil/publicworks/docs/envir/LewisH2O.pdf For the JBLM McChord Field report: h p://www.lewis‐mcchord.army.mil/publicworks/docs/envir/McChordH2O.pdf
Facebook JBLM Community Outreach h ps://www.facebook.com/ SOSWASTATE
This report contains important informa on about the sources and quality of your drink‐ ing water. Please call 253‐967‐1768 if you would like a paper copy of this report sent to your home.