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 and Central District Health guidelines on appropriate means to lessen risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

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 linkedto other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

Nitrate

Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 parts per million (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.

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 Nampa 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 and 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 at 800.462.4791 or www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my water hard?

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 regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

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:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which 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, which 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, which 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 or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

CITY OF NAMPA 2020

water QUALITY REPORT

Water becomes hard by picking up mineral as it moves through the soil and rock. Water is a good solvent, so it retains minerals easily. Hard water can leave residue on glassware and plumbing fixtures, but it does not pose a public health hazard. Vinegar or store-bought mineral removal products can prevent and remove mineral buildup on dishes or other glass surfaces.

Dear Customers,

We are pleased to share with you the City of Nampa 2020 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). We vigilantly safeguard the water supply and are proud to report that our system has met or exceeded all drinking water quality standards.

While meeting requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the water provided by the City is safe to consume, we also welcome this opportunity to share water system improvements and program management updates made in 2020. Reinvesting in water infrastructure is critical when striving to deliver the highest water quality possible to our customers - we have managed these improvements while maintaining affordable and sustainable rates.

A few improvements made to the water system in 2020 include the following:

• Preventative maintenance was performed on two domestic water pumping facilities. The preventative maintenance program helps ensure reliability of the City well supply to the distribution system.
• Water line tie ins from S. Juniper St. to S. Maple St. and S. Locust St.
• Alley water line and service upgrades between S. Olive St. and 12th Ave. Rd. from E. Sherman Ave. to 14th St. S.
• W. Flamingo Ave. water and service line upgrade from N. Cassia St. to N. Middleton Rd.

If you have any questions about this report, please go to www.nampawaterdivision.org, email us at water@cityofnampa.us, or call our office at 208.468.5860.

Sincerely,

Keith Begay

Nampa Water Division Superintendent

2020 Drinking Water Quality

In 2020 the City of Nampa Waterworks Division took approximately 550 water samples and monitored for over 75 contaminants as required by the EPA and IDEQ, including disinfectant byproducts: organic, inorganic, microbiological, and radioactive contaminants. All results are for 2020, unless otherwise noted. Only contaminants that fell within detectable levels were included in this report. The results continue to meet or surpass all State and Federal drinking water standards.

Tips for Reading Results

Each of the regulated contaminants compares to a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) as established by the EPA and IDEQ. Definitions for technical terms is included on the bottom of this page.

Disinfectants & Disinfectant By-Products (There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.)

Where Does Your Water Come From?

The City of Nampa’s drinking water supply is fully sourced by groundwater wells, 14 in total, which draw from the western Snake River Plain Aquifer. These wells serve over 99,277 customers. Water is delivered to individual homes and businesses through over 549 miles of pipe.

Source Water Assessment

In this water quality report, you will find an overview of the water testing programs in place to protect your drinking water system. In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to emphasize the protection of surface and ground water sources used for public drinking water. The amendments require that each state possessing primacy over its drinking water develop a source water assessment plan for drinking water sources, conduct assessments on all public water systems, and make the assessments available to the consumer. The City of Nampa’s Source Water Assessment can be requested through Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) by calling 208.373.0500. PWS #3140080 City of Nampa

Protect your family

Get your backflow

assembly tested

If you have a sprinkler system connected to the public water supply or own a commercial property, you are required by state law to have an approved backflow assembly installed and tested annually. Backflow

assemblies are mechanical

devices that safeguard

public health by preventing

contaminants from entering the

public water supply.

ppb: Parts per billion, also known as micrograms per liter (μg/L) which is equal to the number of micrograms of a substance in one liter of water.

ppm: Parts per million, also known as milligrams per liter (mg/L) which is equal to the number of milligrams of a substance in one liter of water. One part per million is equal to 1,000 parts per billion.

pCi/L: Picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)

Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua potable. Por favor lea este informe o comuniquese con alguien que pueda traducir la informacion.

Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present, or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. Lab test results indicated the presence of coliforms, indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution system. DEQ requirements dictated the City conduct assessment(s) to identify problems and to correct any problems that were found during these assessments.

During the past year the city was required to conduct one Level 1 assessment. This requirement is due to the “Idaho Rules for Public Water Systems” (IDAPA 58.01.08.305) which states more than 5% total coliform positive (E. coli absent) samples in the same month for systems taking 40 or more samples per month must be followed by a Level 1 Assessment. One Level 1 assessment was completed. Identified in the assessment were three corrective actions and all three corrective actions were completed. Documentation was submitted to DEQ for compliance.

During the past year, the City distribution system received a lab sample result detecting a presence for E. coli in the water sample, DEQ immediately notified the City of a positive sample. Action was taken after notification, samples were collected in the specified locations(s), following DEQ guidelines, and the resampled lab results were absent for coliform or E. coli. The system was not in violation of the E. coli MCL. These actions are required in accordance with the “Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems” (IDAPA 58.01.08.100 and 323).