A Message

from the Director:

Santa Rosa Water’s top priority is to provide our community with safe, reliable drinking water that meets or exceeds safe drinking water standards. As the world grappled with the COVID-19

Our Drinking Water from

SOURCETAP

pandemic over the past year and a half and our community dealt with local wildfires, our team of highly skilled operators, engineers, technical experts, administrative staff, and more monitored and maintained our water system 24/7 to ensure that the approximately 53,OOO homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in Santa Rosa continued to receive high-quality drinking water.

Our team has also worked diligently to protect and preserve our community’s precious water resources. In April 2O21, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a regional drought emergency in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, following two consecutive years of below average rainfall. Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma, the two reservoirs that provide the majority of our region’s water supply, are at the lowest levels ever recorded.

In May, the Santa Rosa City Council adopted a resolution requesting our community voluntarily reduce water use by 2O% community-wide compared to 2O2O usage and, in coordination with the Sonoma- Marin Water Saving Partnership launched a drought campaign—Drought is here. Save Water. It is critical that we all do our part to conserve water. Actions big and small will help to save water for future use.

Santa Rosans know how to conserve water in a drought. I am optimistic that collectively we will continue to be a water savvy community and reduce our water use to protect our water supply for essential everyday needs. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to take advantage of our WaterSmart incentives and rebates to reduce water use.

Thank you for taking the time to read our 2O2O Annual Water Quality Report. This report documents our ongoing commitment to water quality, supply reliability and customer service.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Burke

Director of Santa Rosa Water

The Russian River Watershed serves approximately 600,000 people in Sonoma and Marin Counties. It is also home to approximately 30 species of fish, three of which are listed as threatened or endangered—Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout.

Three reservoirs supply water to the Russian River Watershed: Lake Mendocino on the East Fork of the Russian River, Lake Sonoma on Dry Creek, and Lake Pillsbury on the Eel River which flows into Lake Mendocino through PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project. These reservoirs and regional groundwater wells provide water for drinking, fire protection, agriculture, industry, as well as habitat for fish and wildlife.

The Russian River, which defines the watershed, originates in Mendocino County, approximately 15 miles north of Ukiah and reaches the Pacific Ocean at Jenner, just 20 miles west of Santa Rosa. Water typically enters the watershed as rain and is either conveyed to streams, rivers, and reservoirs or seeps into the ground to recharge groundwater.

To collect water from the Russian River for most of the southern part of the watershed, Sonoma Water utilizes six collector wells that extend approximately 80 feet below the natural riverbed of the Russian River. As the water is collected, it is naturally filtered through layers of sand, gravel, and rock.

Water collected from the Russian River through deep collector wells requires no additional treatment with the exception of chlorine which is added for disinfection, and sodium hydroxide which is added

to adjust the pH of the water to reduce corrosion of lead and copper plumbing fixtures.

Water from the Russian River and our local groundwater wells are supplied to you through a complex water distribution system, the largest of which is the Sonoma Water aqueduct system. Drinking water is required by state law to be tested frequently to ensure that it meets or exceeds drinking water standards at your tap.

Water Supply

Portfolio

Water supplied from Santa Rosa’s Public Water system to homes and businesses is a combination of surface water from the Russian River and local groundwater.

95% Sonoma Water

(Russian river)

5% Groundwater

Testing & Monitoring

Water Quality

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and State Water Resources Control Board (State Board), Division of Drinking Water require water providers to routinely monitor their water supplies and report test results annually. In addition to Sonoma Water’s sampling to test for over 100 different contaminants, Santa Rosa Water collects water quality samples weekly from the City’s water distribution system for testing.

Sampling frequency is based on our population and the number of services connected to the water system. Santa Rosa Water takes over 200 water system samples per month. These samples are tested for coliform bacteria (an indicator of contamination) and chlorine residuals (level of disinfection). Santa Rosa Water also takes pH samples. The results of the samples are sent to the State Board at the end of each month. Certain water sampling is required less often due to U.S. EPA regulations. Quarterly, we take trihalomethane and haloacetic acid samples based on the disinfection by- products rule, and every three years, we sample 50 residences for compliance with the lead and copper rule.

This Water Quality Report shows your water supply is carefully managed and your tap water meets or exceeds all health-based standards established by the U.S. EPA and State Board for safe drinking water.

your drinking water

is tested200times before reaching

your tap.

Your Water’s Characteristics

FLUORIDE: Santa Rosa does not add fluoride to the water supply. Fluoride naturally occurs in the water supply, however, it is below the detection level and does not provide a dental benefit.

HARDNESS: Santa Rosa Water is moderately hard at an average level detected of 112 ppm. Water that is too soft (below 30 ppm) can be corrosive to plumbing pipes, and water that is too hard (above 300 ppm) causes scale to form on plumbing fixtures and cooking utensils.

WATER CLOUDINESS: One of the many properties of water is its ability to dissolve gases, including air. Sometimes the air comes back out of the water in the form of many tiny bubbles, giving the water a temporary milky white appearance. To determine if the white color in the water is due to air, fill a clear glass with water and let it sit for a few minutes. If the white color is due to air, the water will gradually clear from bottom to top. This is completely normal; the water is safe to use.

Air bubbles dissipate from the bottom of the glass to the top in just a minute or two.

SRCITY.ORG/WATERQUALITYREPORTS | JUNE 2021 3

PRIMARY STANDARDS Detected Regulated Contaminants with Primary MCLs or MRDLs

Major Source

in Drinking Water

Parts per million – One ppm is equal to 1 teaspoon in 1,300 gallons.

Parts per billion – One ppb is equal to 1 teaspoon in 1.3 million gallons.

The concentration of a constituent, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements.

The amount from lowest to highest of a detected constituent in the drinking water.

DEFINITIONS

These terms are used throughout this report

AL: Regulatory Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

DLR: Detection Limit for purposes of Reporting. Detections above this level must be reported.

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

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 are set by the U.S. EPA.

MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal. 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.

NA: Not applicable.

ND: Not detected. Constituent was not detected at the reporting level.

NS: No standard. Officials have not developed a Public Health Goal or MCLG standard.

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. A measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

PDWS: Primary Drinking Water Standard. MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

PHG: Public Health Goal. The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHG’s are set by the California EPA.

MFL: million fibers per liter

pCi/L: picocuries per liter

ppm: parts per million (or milligrams per liter)

ppb: parts per billion (or micrograms per liter)

ppt: parts per trillion (or nanograms per liter)

Note: Listed in the table opposite are substances detected in the City’s drinking water. A full listing of sample results is on our website.

1 Sonoma Water has 10 different groundwater sources that can be blended together. The range detected and the reporting value are the high, low, average, and weighted average of the 6 sources that supplied water to the Santa Rosa area in 2020.

2 Santa Rosa Water data includes sampling taken in the distribution system and from source water wells.

Our two drinking water wells are sampled separately. The Manganese reporting value is after treatment.

3 Fluoridation to fight tooth decay has not been implemented in Santa Rosa. The optimal dose of fluoride in water to fight tooth decay is 0.7 ppm.

4 Radon is a radioactive gas that can get into indoor air when released from tap water from showering or running a faucet. Radon entering the home through tap water is a

very small source of radon in indoor air. EPA is proposing to require community water suppliers to provide water with radon levels no higher than 4,000 pCi/L, which contributes about 0.4 pCi/L of radon to the air in your home. More information is available at EPA website: epa.gov/radon. The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year. Our radon data for Santa Rosa’s source, though representative, was sampled in 2009.

5 Water quality data collected 2018.

6 We participated in the fourth stage of the U.S. EPA’s UCMR4 program by performing additional tests on our drinking water. UCMR4 sampling benefits the environment and public health by providing the U.S. EPA with data on the occurrence of contaminants suspected to be in drinking water in order to determine if U.S. EPA needs to introduce new regulatory standards. For more information call (800) 426-4791.

REGULATED CONTAMINANTS WITH SECONDARY MCLs

There are no adverse health effects from exceeding the secondary (aesthetic) standards.

DROUGHT

IS HERE

SAVE WATER

Outdoor Water-Saving Tips

• Make sure all hoses have an automatic shut off nozzle.
• Limit irrigation to the hours of 8pm to 6am.
• Use the City’s weekly WaterSmart irrigation recommendations to update your irrigation run times weekly.
• Replace high water use turf with low water use landscaping
• Sweep hard surfaces instead of using water (driveways, sidewalks, patios).
• If you need to get your car washed, go to sites that recycles the water.
• Cover pools and spas when not in use to prevent evaporation.
• Install a greywater system so you can reuse your laundry water to irrigate your yard.
• Add 2-3” of mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

Indoor Water-Saving Tips

• Complete a do-it-yourself WaterSmart check up.
• Check toilets for leaks every few months.
• Replace old showerheads, toilets, and aerators with high efficiency models.
• Fix leaks quickly.
• Take shorter showers.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving.
• Only run dishwashers and clothes washers with full loads.
  For more ways to save, visit srcity.org/drought

NOTICE FROM THE EPA

Lead & Copper

The “lead and copper rule,” or LCR, was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 1991 to limit the concentration of lead and copper allowed in public drinking water at the consumer’s tap as well as to limit the corrosivity due to the water itself. Our water supplier, Sonoma Water, implemented the addition of sodium hydroxide to the drinking water in 1995 to increase the pH slightly as a corrosion control treatment. Higher pH levels reduce the corrosivity of the water

thereby reducing significantly the copper and lead levels. Lead originates from the solder used to connect plumbing fittings inside the home, and copper is used widely in small diameter plumbing pipe. Lead and copper levels are consistently below the action level in Santa Rosa.

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 Santa Rosa Water Department 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 U.S. EPA’S Safe Drinking Water Hotline or website: 800-426-4791 or epa.gov/lead

The 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 that may be present in source water include the following:

• Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria that may come from wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals that 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 that 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 that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. State Board regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of 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

U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791.

Drinking water standards are established by both the State Board and by the U.S. EPA. Primary standards are set to protect public health from substances in water that may be immediately harmful to humans or affect their health if consumed for long periods of time. The primary drinking water standards are defined by maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements and surface water treatment requirements.

Secondary standards govern aesthetic qualities of water such as taste, mineral content, odor, or clarity. These standards specify limits for substances that may influence consumer acceptance of the water and are not harmful to public health.

HEALTH-RELATED NOTICE

Precautions for Vulnerable Populations

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons that 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. U.S. EPA/Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the U. S. EPA’s

Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791.

You can participate in decisions about your water . . .

For more information regarding Santa Rosa Water, you may attend the Santa Rosa Water Board of Public Utilities meetings, which are held every first and third Thursdays of the month at 1:30PM:

Santa Rosa Water, Board of Public Utilities

Santa Rosa City Hall Council Chambers

100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

707. 543-4200 | (707) 543-3031 TDD

To view meeting dates, agendas, including online participation and viewing instructions, go to: Santa-Rosa.Legistar.com

For more information regarding Sonoma Water, you may attend their Board meetings, which are held every Tuesday at 8:30 AM in conjunction with the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors:

Special Districts Supervisors’ Chambers

Sonoma County Administration Building

575 Administration Drive, Room #102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403-2887

(707) 565-2241

Web access with meeting dates and agenda: sonomacounty.ca.gov/board-of-supervisors

For questions regarding water quality, please call our Water Quality Hotline at

707. 543-3965 (TDD Public Works (707) 543-3827) or fax (707) 543-3937.
     Or email: waterquality@srcity.org

If you would like additional copies of this report, please contact us. We encourage business owners to provide this information to their employees.

En Español

Este folleto contiene información importante acerca de la calidad de su agua de beber. Si usted apreciaría hablar con alguien en español llame al

(707) 543-3965.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Santa Rosa Water

35 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401-4446 TEL 707.543.4200

FAX 707.543.3937

TDD 707.543.3827 - Public Works

Evenings, weekends and alternate Fridays, please call 707.543.3805 or 707.528.5276 (TDD Police Department)

Web access: srcity.org/water

It’s that time of year, and it’s more important than ever to be water smart. Start saving today with these simple tips:

• Check your irrigation system for leaks.
• Irrigate during pre-dawn hours.
• Utilize free weekly watering recommendations.
• Prioritize watering of shade trees.
• Upgrade to a drip irrigation system

(REBATE AVAILABLE).

• Transform your lawn into a low water-use landscape

(REBATE AVAILABLE).

• Mulch to reduce evaporation and discourage weeds.
• Install a graywater or rainwater
  harvesting system (REBATE AVAILABLE).

srcity.org/watersmart

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