Orange Water and Sewer Authority
2004 Drinking Water Test Results Summary

 

Substance and                Unit Measurement

Highest Level Detected

Range Detected

Highest Level Allowed             (MCL)

Highest Level Goal (MCLG)

Major Source in Drinking Water

Microbiological

Total Coliform Bacteria (percent)

1

0 to 1

presence of coliform bacteria in greater than 5% of the monthly samples

0

Naturally present in the environment

E. coli Bacteria

(percent)

0

no range

a routine sample and a repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive

0

Human and animal fecal waste

Turbidity

(NTU)

0.32

 

and 99.95% of samples below 0.3

0.02 to 0.32

TT = 1.0

 

and 95% of samples

below 0.3

0.3

A measure of the cloudiness of water.  It may be caused by inorganic soil particles or fragments of organic matter that can interfere with treatment.

Radiological

Gross Alpha

(pCi/l)

 

BDL

no range

15

0

Erosion of natural deposits

Gross Beta

(pCi/L)

 

BDL

no range

50

0

Decay of natural and man-made deposits

Radium 226

(pCi/l)

 

BDL

no range

3

0

Erosion of natural deposits

Radium 228

(pCi/l)

 

BDL

no range

2

0

Erosion of natural deposits

Uranium

(pCi/l)

 

BDL

no range

20.1

0

Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganics

Substance and                Unit Measurement

Highest Level Detected

Range Detected

Highest Level Allowed             (MCL)

Highest Level Goal (MCLG)

Major Source in Drinking Water

Antimony

(ppb)

BDL

no range

6

6

Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder

Arsenic

(ppb)

BDL

no range

10

0

Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes

 

Asbestos

(MFL)

(last tested in 2002)

BDL

no range

7

7

Decay of asbestos-cement water mains; erosion of natural deposits

Last tested 9/93

Barium

(ppm)

BDL

no range

2

2

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

Beryllium

(ppb)

BDL

no range

4

4

Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories; discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries

Cadmium

(ppb)

BDL

no range

5

5

Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints

Chromium

(ppb)

BDL

no range

100

100

Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits

Copper

(ppm)

(last tested in 2002)

0.160

(90th percentile,

 with 0 sample sites above the action level)

0.026 to 0.580

1.3 (action level)

1.3

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

Cyanide

(ppb)

BDL

no range

200

200

Discharge from steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories

Fluoride

(ppm)

1.0

0.93 to 1.0

4

4

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Lead

(ppb)

(last tested in 2002)

4

(90th percentile,

 with 1 sample site above the action level)

BDL to 36

15 (action level)

0.0

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Mercury

(ppb)

BDL

no range

2

2

Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills; runoff from cropland

Substance and                Unit Measurement

Highest Level Detected

Range Detected

Highest Level Allowed             (MCL)

Highest Level Goal (MCLG)

Major Source in Drinking Water

Nitrate

(ppm)

BDL

no range

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Nitrite

(ppm)

BDL

no range

1

1

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Selenium

(ppb)

BDL

no range

50

50

Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines

Sodium

(ppm)

25

15.7 to 25

not regulated

20 [proposed]

An element that occurs naturally in soils

Sulfate

(ppm)

24

no range

not regulated

500 [proposed]

A mineral that occurs naturally in soils

Thallium

(ppb)

BDL

no range

2

0.5

Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories

Synthetic Organics, including Pesticides and Herbicides

Tested in 2 consecutive quarters, once every 3 years

Tested in May, July and August 2003

2,4-D

(ppb)

BDL

no range

70

70

Runoff form herbicide used on row crops

2,4,5-TP

(ppb)

BDL

no range

50

50

Residue of banned herbicide

Alachlor

(ppb)

BDL

no range

2

0

Runoff from herbicide used on row crops

Atrazine

(ppb)