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Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2022
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2022
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2022
2022 LONGMONT
DRINKING WATER
QUALITY REPORT
YOUR WATER!
The City of Longmont is pleased to
present the 2022 Drinking Water
Quality Report. Inside you will find
information about Longmont’s
drinking water and results of the most
recent tests that were done on the
drinking water.
The City of Longmont is proud to report we met all applicable federal and state drinking water
standards in 2022. One monitoring violation occurred; more information regarding
the monitoring violation is provided on page 8.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If you prefer to receive this report in printed format, please call 303-651-8416.
WHERE LONGMONT
LONGMONT
BEFORE TREATMENT?
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 materials, and can
pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
LONGMONT’S WATER?
Longmont is fortunate to have high-quality water point for public water systems to evaluate potential
sources that originate in mountain watersheds. The contaminant risks.
North St. Vrain Creek watershed is mainly wilderness
The City collects and tests samples of water throughout
and is affected only by naturally occurring elements.
the watershed as part of its watershed monitoring
Water from the South St. Vrain Creek may be impacted
program. Monitoring locations include reservoirs,
by runoff from abandoned mines. The watersheds that
St. Vrain Creek and major tributaries. The watershed
feed the C-BT project may contain contaminants related
monitoring program provides important information
to recreation, wastewater treatment plant effluents
on Longmont’s drinking water sources and assesses the
and runoff from pastures. St. Vrain Creek below Lyons
quality of water throughout the watershed. Information
is transferred to the treatment plants by irrigation
on the water sources and upper watershed can be used
ditches and can be affected by agricultural and livestock
to help with the operation of the City’s water treatment
activities.
plants to maintain our high quality drinking water.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Longmont is also participating in watershed monitoring
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes that is being coordinated by the Northern Colorado
regulations which limit the amount of certain Water Conservancy District (NCWCD) to evaluate test
contaminants in water provided by Longmont and methods and levels of emerging contaminants such
other public water systems. The City’s treatment plants as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, hormones, etc. in
reduce any contaminants in the source waters to levels our drinking water sources. More information on the
that meet all Federal and State requirements. NCWCD study can be obtained from NCWCD at
http://www.northernwater.org.
A Source Water Assessment Report for the City
of Longmont has been prepared by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE). A copy of the report can be obtained by
calling 303-651-8416 or by accessing the SWAP
website at https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/
source-water-assessment-and-protection-swap.
The Source Water Assessment Report is a screening-
level evaluation of the likelihood that a potential
contamination problem could occur, not an indication
that potential contamination has occurred or will
occur. The assessment results are provided as a starting
Probable Source of
Contaminant Range of Levels MCL MCLG
Contaminant
Inorganic and Physical
Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from
Barium1 0.01 ppm 2 ppm 2 ppm
metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive
Fluoride1 0.67 ppm 4 ppm 4 ppm that promotes strong teeth; Discharge from
fertilizer and aluminum factories
0.018 to 0.070 NTU 1.0 NTU and more than Not
Turbidity2 Soil runoff
100% of samples <0.3 NTU 95% of samples <0.3 NTU Applicable
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic
Nitrate (NO3) <0.10 ppm 10 ppm 10 ppm
tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits
Bacteria and Microorganisms
Treatment technique used to
Present in 1 sample out of 1,260 Not
Total Coliform Bacteria trigger follow-up assessments Naturally present in the environment
Applicable
of the water system.
E. coli Bacteria Not Detected 0% Present Human and animal waste
Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts
100% of samples > 0.2 ppm in all Treatment Technique Requirement:
months At least 95% of samples per month > 0.2 ppm
Chlorine3 Water additive used to control microbes
0.20 to 1.72 ppm 4 ppm
4 ppm (MRDL)
Max Monthly Average= 1.16 ppm (MRDLG)
13.3 to 21.0 ppb
Total Haloacetic Acids 60 ppb 0 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Max LRAA= 19.8 ppb
21.7 to 39.7 ppb
Total Trihalomethanes 80 ppb 0 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Max LRAA= 35.0 ppb
Radioactivity
Alpha Emitters1 Not Detected 15 pCi/L 0 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits
Uranium1 Not Detected 30 ppb 0 ppb Erosion of natural deposits
Combined Radium
Not Detected 5 pCi/L 0 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits
(226+228)1
Total Organic Carbon Source Water: 2.32 to 4.08 ppm
Average= 3.04 ppm
TOC is a measure of the effectiveness of a treatment
Total Organic Carbon Treated Water: 1.16 to 1.57 ppm
technique used by the water treatment plant to Naturally present in the environment
(TOC) Average= 1.31 ppm
remove organic material.4
Removal: 49.6% to 63.4%
Average= 56.4%
Organic Chemicals
Chloroform 19.4 to 37.1 ppb Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Average= 28.7 ppb
Dichloroacetic acid 4.7 to 10.8 ppb Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Average= 7.9 ppb
Bromodichloromethane 1.9 to 3.0 ppb Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Average= 2.4 ppb
Trichloroacetic acid 7.4 to 11. 9 ppb Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Average= 10.0 ppb
NON-HEALTH-BASED VIOLATIONS
This violation did not mean that there was a problem with the water quality. If there had been, the City would have notified customers
immediately.
Describe the steps taken to resolve the violation(s), and the anticipated resolution date:
The City of Longmont collected samples for 3rd quarter of 2022 and sent them to a contract laboratory. The samples did not meet the temperature requirements during
transport to the contract laboratory and were disqualified. The City was not immediately alerted to this fact by the contract laboratory. The City became aware of the failure
upon review of the analytical report received in August 2022, at which time it was too late to complete repeat sampling to avoid a violation. The City subsequently re-sampled in
August, and results met the drinking water standards for TTHMs and HAA5. The City has taken steps to ensure timely communications with its contract laboratories to prevent
re-occurrence of this issue.
Definitions of terms
90th percentile: 90% of the samples were below this level. MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: The information.
AL — Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. ppb — parts per billion: A measure of concentration of a
which, if exceeded triggers treatment or other There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant contaminant. Comparable to one penny in $10,000,000.
requirements which a water system must follow. is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
ppm — parts per million: A measure of concentration of a
LRAA — Locational Running Annual Average: The average MRDLG — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal: contaminant. Comparable to one penny in $10,000.
of analytical results for samples taken at a particular The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs ppt – parts per trillion: A measure of concentration
monitoring location during the previous four calendar of a contaminant. Comparable to one penny in
quarters. do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to
control microbial contaminants. $10,000,000,000.
MCL — Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level SU — Standard Units: The unit of measure for pH. A pH of
of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs NFWTP: Nelson Flanders Water Treatment Plant
7 SU is considered neutral. A pH less than 7 is acidic and a
are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best NTU — Nephelometric Turbidity Unit: Used to describe pH greater than 7 is basic.
available treatment technology. the cloudiness of water.
Treatment Technique: A required process intended to
MCLG — Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level pCi/L — PicoCuries per Liter: As a measure of radioactivity. reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is pH — The measure of how acidic or basic the water is,
no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a WGWTP: Wade Gaddis Water Treatment Plant
reported in Standard Units (SU). See SU definition for more
margin of safety.
Why is my water cloudy when it comes out of the Does Longmont test its water for pharmaceuticals
tap but clears up after several seconds? or other similar chemicals?
This is caused by small bubbles of air that are dissolved Longmont has tested for chemicals in the St. Vrain
in the water. Some air is already in the water delivered to watershed and is also participating in a testing program led
your tap and more can be added by aerators in faucets. by Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, which
During the winter, when tap water is colder, there is more manages the Colorado-Big Thompson water supplies. Trace
dissolved air in the water; as the water warms up, there concentrations of a few chemicals have been found in the
will be bubbles which clear from the bottom to the top of water sources. The sources and significance of these trace
the glass. If the water stays cloudy even after it has been levels is unknown. Longmont will continue to monitor
in a glass for several minutes, please call 303-651-8416 for scientific and medical information related to the effects
additional information. of pharmaceuticals and other similar chemicals in our
source water. There is currently no evidence that these
There has been a lot of recent publicity chemicals have any adverse effects on humans at the very
concerning the oil and gas industry’s practice low levels that have been detected. Longmont is fortunate
of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” and its to have water from rural and mountain watersheds that
potential effect on water supplies. Is Longmont’s are not affected by urban land uses that could be a source
drinking water affected by fracking? of chemical contaminants. If you have questions, please call
Longmont obtains its water from rural and mountain Utilities & Public Works at 303-651-8416.
watersheds that are not affected by the impact of oil and
gas drilling operations. As discussed in the “What about Is the water tested for contaminants other than
Longmont’s Water?” section of this report, actual and those listed in the Tables in this report?
potential pollutant sources in our watershed are identified Longmont tests for many other contaminants not listed in
in a source water assessment that was completed by the this report. The Water Quality Laboratory samples and tests
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for over 50 compounds, including organics, inorganics and
(CDPHE). Neither CDPHE nor the City has found any sources metals. The most recent tests showed no detectable levels
of contamination of our water supplies from oil and gas of these contaminants in Longmont’s water.
wells. In addition, all of our drinking water sources are
surface water, not groundwater. Groundwater is more
likely to be impacted by drilling or well operations. The
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC)
has much more information on its website about the oil and
gas industry, including locations of wells and discussions
of hydraulic fracturing and water quality. For more
information, please visit http://cogcc.state.co.us.
The City of Longmont takes pride in delivering safe, clean drinking water to every person
in our community. As your local water experts, we know how lead materials can affect our
water quality and our people. We are committed to eliminating any existing lead materials
in our water distribution system, but we need your help.
For more information about the health effects of lead, see page 5.
29.0 million
gallons were treated
on the peak day.