City of Santa Fe 2020 Water Quality Table

Regulated Compliance Monitoring

2020 Water Quality Report

Key to Units, Terms and Abbreviations

(Range): The range represents the highest and lowest values. Range values are not provided if only one sample was taken during the range period.

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

LRAA: Locational running annual average - the average of analytical results for samples at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters. LRAA at each sampling location must be below the MCL (60 µg/L for Total Haloacetic Acids and 80 µg/L for Total Trihalomethanes)

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

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.

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 contaminants.

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 contaminants.

46. Treatment Technique: a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

The City of Santa Fe’s Water Division (the City) is pleased to provide the 2020 Water Quality Report for Water System NM3505126. A safe and dependable water supply is vital to our community and is the primary mission of the City. This report is provided annually and contains information on the quality of water obtained throughout the calendar year or most recent monitoring period. In 2020, the City’s drinking water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State drinking water quality limits. The report contains additional details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by federal and state regulatory agencies. It also provides educational

information on contaminants which may be a concern.

Sources of Supply

The City was served by four distinct sources of supply in 2020. The 17,000 acre Santa Fe Watershed provides surface runoff to the Santa Fe River where it is stored in the McClure and Nichols Reservoir prior to treatment. Surface water from the Santa Fe River and Rio Grande is treated through conventional and advanced treatment processes at the Canyon Road Water Treatment Plant and Buckman Regional Water Treatment Plant (BRWTP) (separate Water System NM3502826), respectively. The City Well Field is mostly located in close proximity to the Santa Fe River and consists of 6 active wells located within the City limits of Santa Fe. The Buckman Well Field consists of 13 wells located near the Rio Grande, approximately 15 miles northwest of Santa Fe. All four sources are treated with chlorine for protection of customers against disease-causing microorganisms (pathogens), including bacteria and viruses. Fluoride is added to the water supply to benefit the community as recommended by public health professionals.

In 2011, the Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) Project surface water supply was successfully integrated into the municipal distribution system and operated in conjunction with the City’s pre-existing sources of supply throughout 2020. The surface water treated at the BRWTP is taken directly from the Rio Grande. BDD not only improves sustainability for the area but also increases the City’s resilience under drought conditions, replacing current groundwater pumping that cannot be sustained, and making the City’s wells available as drought and emergency reserves rather than sources used to meet daily water demands.

Do I need to take special precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised 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 particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Map of Water Sources

Source of Supply

Source Water Assessment

and its Availability

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) completed a Source Water Assessment for the City of Santa Fe. This assessment includes a determination of source water protection areas and an inventory of pollution sources within the areas of concern. NMED concluded: “The Susceptibility Analysis of the City of Santa Fe water utility reveals that the utility is well maintained and operated, and the sources of drinking water are generally protected from potential sources of contamination based on an evaluation of the available information. The susceptibility rank of the entire water system is “moderately low”. A copy of the Assessment is available by contacting NMED at (505) 476-8638.

City ordinances adopted in 2005 built upon the recommendations in the Source Water Assessment. The “Safe Drinking Water and Source Water Protection” and the “Stormwater Illicit Discharge Control” ordinances provide additional controls and protections for the City’s ground and surface water supplies. In addition, the City established a Stormwater Program with the goal of reducing pollutants discharged to the Santa Fe River. Please contact (505) 955- 5644 to report illegal dumping in storm drains, streets and arroyos.

En Espanol

Este reporte contiene información importante sobre la calidad del agua en Santa Fe. Si tiene alguna pregunta o duda sobre este reporte puede hablarle a Patricio Pacheco al teléfono (505) 955-4220 o escribe a la dirección de arriba.

Contacts for Additional Information:

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this report please contact Jonathan Montoya at (505) 955-4373 or write to the above address.

WATER QUALITY REPORT 2021.indd 1

4/21/2021 8:49:11 AM

Why are there Contaminants

in my Drinking Water?

Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled 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, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants in drinking water may include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm-water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides, may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban storm-water runoff, and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring, man-made from nuclear facilities and atmospheric deposition from former above ground testing, or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

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

Nitrates

City of Santa Fe drinking water meets the federal drinking water standard of 10 PPM for nitrates (10 mg/L as N). Nitrates have been detected in some of

the City Wells up to 5.4 PPM. Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 PPM is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.

Arsenic

Arsenic is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. When arsenic-containing rocks dissolve and erode, they release arsenic into the groundwater. The drinking water standard for arsenic is 10 PPB, and the City’s drinking water continued to meet this standard throughout 2020. 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. Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that is common in surface waters. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection. Cryptosporidium is introduced into our source waters via wild animal populations and potentially via domestic livestock. Although the organism is readily removed by the conventional treatment process utilized at the Canyon Road Water Treatment facility, the oocyst, or transmission stage of the organism, is resistant to chemical disinfectants like chlorine and is the primary reason to determine if additional treatment is required.

In April 2007 the City began a two-year study to determine the average Cryptosporidium concentration in source water entering the Canyon Road Water Treatment facility. The sampling portion of the study was completed in March of 2009. The study was part of the requirements contained in the 2006 USEPA Long-Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. Cryptosporidium was detected in a single untreated sample in each of the following months: December of 2007, September 2008 and October 2008. The highest 12-month consecutive mean for this study was 0.018 oocysts/L. Since the concentration is <0.075 oocysts/L, no additional treatment at the Canyon Road Water Treatment Facility was necessary. The City began a second round of sampling, one sample a month, starting in October 2015 and completed in September 2017. No Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected during the second round of sampling during the October 2015 to September 2017 period, and consequently no additional treatment at the Canyon Road Water Treatment Facility is necessary. As with Cryptosporidium oocysts, no Giardia Lamblia cysts have been detected in the October 2015 to September 2017 time period at the Canyon Road WTP.

Any new water system treating surface water is required to monitor Cryptosporidium for 24 consecutive months. At the BDD the initial monitoring of untreated Rio Grande water for Cryptosporidium resulted in measured concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.4 oocysts/L. BDD began a second round of sampling starting in October 2015 and ending September 2017. No Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected during the second round of sampling except in a single measurement in July 2017 of 0.1 oocysts/L. Consequently no additional treatment at the Buckman Regional Water Treatment Facility is necessary.

Sodium

Sodium levels for all Santa Fe entry points range from 8.5 to 33 PPM. The system-wide average is 16 PPM.

Voluntary Monitoring

For the results of additional voluntary monitoring for the Canyon Road WTP, and the BRWTP, please see the City’s Water Quality page at www.santafenm.gov/water_ quality. To view voluntary monitoring results, go to the link for “2015 Water Quality Report”. Data in the report lists results from voluntary monitoring at entry points into the distribution system associated with BRWTP, and the Canyon Road WTP. Since these samples are collected at the point of entry of water into the City’s distribution system, the reported concentrations of contaminants may be further diluted in the distribution system through mixing with water from other City sources.

EPA has established secondary maximum contaminant levels (SMCL) for certain contaminants. Secondary Standards are non-enforceable standards that serve as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water. The presence of these contaminants typically results from the erosion of natural deposits. Aluminum and manganese containing materials are used as treatment aids in the water treatment process.

For the results of additional voluntary monitoring see the Buckman Direct Diversion website at www.bddproject. org. To view voluntary monitoring results click the “Quality” tab and then go to “Monitoring, Testing, and Reporting” followed by “Water Quality Sampling Reports.”

Monitoring for LANL

Derived Contaminants

In cooperation with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the New Mexico Environment Department, the City currently monitors Buckman Wells 1, 6 and 8 for Laboratory- derived contamination on a quarterly basis. Samples are analyzed for radionuclides, general inorganic chemicals, metals, high explosives and organics. This repeat sampling has occurred during the years 2001 – 2020 and has indicated that Laboratory-derived radionuclides are not present in the Buckman Wells 1, 2, 6 and 8. The results do indicate detectable levels of radionuclides associated with natural sources. These wells are part of the 13 wells that make-up the Buckman Wellfield. When these wells are used, water from these wells is delivered to the Buckman Tank prior to distribution into the system.

Microbial and Disinfection

Byproducts Rule

The Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts (M/DBP) Rules are a set of interrelated regulations that address risks from microbial pathogens and disinfectants/ disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection By- Products Rule (DBPR) focuses on public health protection by limiting exposure to DBPs (known carcinogens), specifically total trihalomethanes (TTHM), five haloacetic acids (HAA5), and bromate which can form in water through disinfectants used to control microbial pathogens.

The City of Santa Fe system has eight compliance sampling locations for TTHM and HAA5. Each location is sampled once per quarter. The average of analytical results for DBPs at a given location during the previous four quarterly samples is called the locational running annual average (LRAA). The LRAA at each location must be below the MCL (60 PPB for HAA5 and 80 PPB for TTHM). Results shown in the Table below indicate that the system is in compliance.

Bromate monitoring is required at the entrance to the distribution system whenever ozone is used to treat drinking water. BRWTP is the only treated water source that supplies ozonated water to the City of Santa Fe. Compliance is based on the running annual average (RAA) of monthly samples collected from BRWTP finished water. The results are summarized in the table below and indicate that the levels were in compliance with bromate requirements for all of 2020.

† = units are PPB (ug/L)

• = monitoring required at BRWTP only. Compliance value is based on running annual average (RAA) of quarterly averages of the monthly finished water results.

The Stage 2 DBPR also regulates the maximum residual for disinfectants: chlorine dioxide, free chlorine, and chloramines. The disinfectants are water additives used to control microorganisms, particularly as a residual disinfectant in distribution system pipes.

The City of Santa Fe water system uses free chlorine as a disinfectant. For the year 2020, sampling was performed at 80 monitoring locations each month. The results are summarized in the table below:

• = units are PPM (mg/L)

Lead and Copper Rule

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 Santa Fe is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact the City of Santa Fe at (505) 955-4373. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Tests for lead and copper are taken from customer taps located throughout the City once every three years. The most recent round of lead and copper testing took place in September 2018. Results for both lead and copper, summarized in the following table, were below the required Action Level (AL) - the concentration which, if exceeded, triggers additional treatment or other requirements.

• AL = Action Level
• Results of monitoring are used to determine the concentration at the 90th percentile (e.g., if 100 samples analyzed, the concentration at the 90th highest sample). Based on the number of samples analyzed in 2018 the 90th percentile is the 28th ranked sample for copper and lead.

2020

City of Santa Fe

Water Quality Table

The table on the following page lists contaminants which:

1. have associated primary Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) that are regulated and
2. were detected in testing conducted by the City and New Mexico Environment Department.

The table includes only those constituents found above detection limits during 2020 sampling, or during sampling in previous years if not analyzed during 2020. The EPA requires monitoring for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. The City is required to test for over 80 contaminants, and the vast majority of these contaminants were not found above detection limits. 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 water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791, or visiting www.epa. gov/safewater.

Please view separate 2020 Water Quality Table

(on the reverse side of this page)

Conserve Water...

every drop counts

For information regarding the City’s water conservation program, ways to conserve, and rebates, please contact the City’s Water Conservation Hotline at (505) 955-4225.

WATER QUALITY REPORT 2021.indd 2

4/21/2021 8:49:15 AM