Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2020

Latham Water District • 347 Old Niskayuna Road • Latham, NY 12110

(Public Water Supply ID # NY0100198) American Water Works Association member since 1952

TOWN BOARD MEMBERS

Paula A. Mahan, Town Supervisor

INTRODUCTION

To comply with State and Federal regulations, Latham Water District is annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your awareness of drinking water and understanding of the need to protect our drinking water sources. Last year, your tap water met all State drinking water health standards. We are proud to report that our system did not exceed any maximum contaminant level or violate any other water quality standard. This report provides an over view of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where you water comes from, what it contains and how it compares to State standards.

If you have any questions about this report or your drinking water, please contact the Superintendent of the Division of Latham Water is John W. Frazer, Jr. P.E. at 518-783-2750. This report can also be found

on our website – www.colonie.org/departments/lathamwater. We want you to be informed about your drinking water and the public is invited to participate in the decisions that affect the Division of Latham Water. These decisions are made by the Town Board at their regularly scheduled meetings or at special public hearings. Town Board member Linda J. Murphy is Latham Water’s liaison to the Board. Public notice of all meetings is printed in the Colonie Spotlight and can also be

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found on the Town of Colonie website at www.colonie.org/boards/townboard. Generally, Town Board meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.

WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?

In general, 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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Departments and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which

must provide the same protection for public health.

Latham’s raw water sources are a blend of the Mohawk River and five

5. wells located on Onderdonk Avenue. Although there has been no recorded contamination of the Reservoir, potential sources can include highway runoff (de-icing chemicals and sand), residential lawn care runoff, agricultural runoff and accidental spills.

The wells are located on the treatment plant property and are used year-round. One of the wells is used at all times in an effort to “cycle” recharge to the groundwater table. Although there has been no recorded contamination of the wells, potential sources can include agricultural runoff, industrial discharges and accidental spills.

The quality of our sources before treatment is good and the treatment plant finishes the job by removing any solids, metals (primarily iron and manganese), color-producing compounds or other organic and inorganic compounds. At the treatment plant, we continuously monitor the clarity and disinfectant level to ensure the bacteriological safety of the water. Chemical treatment consists of oxidation, coagulation, chlorination and pH adjustment. Physical treatment consists of flocculation, settling and filtration.

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SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENTS

The NYS DOH has completed a Source Water Assessment for the Mohawk River upstream of the Latham Water intake and the Stony Creek Reservoir. The assessments are summarized below. The assessments have identified potential contamination. It does not mean that the water delivered to your home is or will become unsafe to drink.

The assessment of the Mohawk River found that the amount of pasture in its watershed results in a potential for protozoa contamination. While there are many facilities present along the Mohawk that are permitted to discharge, they do not represent an important threat to source water quality.

The assessment of the Stony Creek Reservoir found that the amount of agricultural lands and the golf course in its watershed results in a potential for protozoa, phosphorus and pesticide contamination.

Latham’s water treatment plant performs multi-level treatment to insure you receive safe drinking water. Additionally, as this annual report shows, your water is routinely monitored to a great number of potential contaminants.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The total water produced for 2020 was over 3.64 billion gallons. Our water system serves approximately 82,000 people through 25,246 service connections, virtually, all of this water is sold through metered connections. A small portion of the water produced by the treatment plant, however, is not billed to our customers. Unbilled water is used for treatment plant operations, water main testing, fire hydrant flushing, firefighting, water main breaks, etc. We estimate this “unbilled” amount of water to be 19.6% of water produced. The daily average of water treated and pumped into the distribution system is 9,943,694 gallons per day. In 2020, customers were charged $3.60 per 1,000 gallons of water for an average annual charge, per residential user, of $319.79.

ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER?

As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include: total coliform, turbidity, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, radiological and synthetic organic compounds. The table presented below depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one-year-old.

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It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or the Albany County Health Department at 518-447-4620. Latham Water District routinely tests your drinking water for numerous contaminants. Bacteriological and Total Coliform testing is performed a minimum of 80 times per month and routine physical and chemical testing is performed every day, sometimes as often as every 4 hours.

Turbidity and chlorine residual monitoring is performed continuously, using automated on-line measuring devices. Other contaminants tested for include: turbidity, inorganic compounds, synthetic and naturally occurring organic compounds, nitrate, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethane and haloacetic acids. None of the compounds we analyzed for were detected in your drinking water above the maximum contaminant level as defined by the State drinking water standards. Results of Non-Detected Compounds are listed in the Supplement “A” found at the end of this report.

T ABLE OF DET ECT ED CONT AMINANT S

Microbiological Contaminants

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NOTES:

1 . Tu rbidity is a m easu sre of th e clou diness of th e w ater . We test it becau se it is a good indicator of th e effectiv eness of ou r filtration sy stem . State regu lations requ ire th at 9 5 % of th e com bined filter efflu ent tru bidity sam ples collected h av e m easu rem ents below 0 .3 0 NTU. Distribu tion sy stem tu rbidity is collected a m inim u m of fiv es tim es a w eek. A distribu iton sy stem tu rbidity v iolation occu rs w h en th e m onth ly av erage of th e resu lts of all distribu tion sam ples collected in any calendar m onth exceeds th e MCL. Ou r av erage distribu tion tu rbidity w as 0 .1 1 NTU w ith a single

h igh tu rbidity m easu rem ent of 1 .00 NTU. A ll lev els recorded w ere w ell below th e acceptable range allow ed and did not constitu te a treatm ent v iolation .

2 . Before A pril 1 , 2 01 6 , a v iolation occu rs at sy stem s collecting 4 0 or m ore sam ples per m onth w h en m ore th an 5 % of th e total coliform sam ples are positiv e. A fter A pril 1 , 2 01 6 a Lev el 1 assessm ent is triggered if 2 or m ore rou tine/repeat sam ples are total coliform positiv e in th e sam e m onth .

3 . Th e lev el presented represents th e 9 0th percentile of th e sites tested. A percentile is a v alu e on a scale of 1 00 th at indicates th e percent of a distribu tion th at is equ al to or below it . Th e 9 0th percentile is equ al to or greater th an 9 0% of th e copper v alu es detected at y ou r w ater sy stem .

In th is case, 3 1 sam ples w ere collected at y ou r w ater sy stem and th e 9 0th percentile v alu e w as th e fou rth h igh est sam ple w ith a lev el of 0 .1 5 m g/L.

4 . Th e lev el presented represents th e 9 0th percentile of th e 3 1 sam ples collected. Th e action lev el for lead w as not exceeded at any of th e 3 1 sites tested.

5 . Water containing m ore th an 2 0 m g/L of sodiu m sh ou ld not be u sed for drinking by people on sev erely restricted sodiu m diets. Water containing m ore h an 2 7 0 m g/L of sodiu m sh ou ld not be u sed for drinking by people on m oderately restricted sodiu m diets.

6 . Th e State considers 5 0 pCi/L to be th e lev el of concern for beta particles.

7 . Th e lev el presented represents th e m axim u m locational ru nning annu al av erage calcu lated from th e sam ples collected.

8 . Total Organic Carbon itself is not regu lated, bu t its calcu lated rem ov al and com pliance ratio m u st equ al or exceed perform ance requ irem ents establish ed by USEPA . A ll lev els recorded w ere w ell below th e acceptable range allow ed and did not constitu te a treatm ent tech niqu e v iolation .

Definitions:

A ction Lev el (A L): Th e concentration of a contam inant w h ich , if exceeded triggers treatm ent or oth er requ irem ents w h ich a w ater sy stem m u st follow .

Maxim u m Contam inant Lev el (MCL): Th e h igh est lev el of a contam in

Maxim u m Contam inant Lev el Goal (MCLG): Th e lev el of a contam inant in drinking w ater below w h ich th ere is no know n or expected risk to h ealth . MCLG's allow for a m argin of safety .

Maxim u m Residu al Disinfectant Lev el (MRDL): Th e h igh est lev el of a disinfectant allow ed in drinking w ater . Th ere is conv incing ev idence th at addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of m icrobial contam inants.

Maxim u m Residu al Disinfectant Lev el Goal (MRDLG): Th e lev el of a drinking w ater disinfectant below w h ich th ere is no know n or expected risk to h ealth . MRDLG's do not reflect th e benefis of th e u se of disinfectants for control of m icrobial contam inants.

Non -Detects (ND): Laboratory analy sis indicates th at th e constitu ent is not present.

Neph elom etric Tu rbidity Unit (NTU): A m easu re of th e optical clarity of w ater . Tu rbidity in excess of 5 NTU is ju st noticible to th e av erage person .

Milligram s per liter (m g/L): Corresponds to one part of liqu id in one m illion parts of liqu id (parts per m illion - ppm ).

Microgram s per liter (u g/L): Corresponds to one part of liqu id in one billion parts of liqu id (parts per billion - ppb).

Nanogram s per liter (ng/L): Corresponds to one part of liqu id in one trillion parts of liqu id (parts per trillion - ppt).

Non -Detects (ND): Laboratory analy sis indicates th at th e constitu ent is not present.

Picocu ries per liter (pCi/L): a m easu re of th e radioactiv ity in w ater .

Treatm ent Tech niqu e (TT): a requ ired process intended to redu ce th e lev el of a contam inant in drinking w ater .

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IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS?

The results of Latham Water District’s water quality testing show that we were in compliance with all applicable State and Federal drinking water quality requirements. However, we are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards.

INFORMATION ON UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS

In 2020, we were required to collect and analyze drinking water samples for the following unregulated contaminants and report those results to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These results are not for compliance monitoring but will be used by the EPA to consider future regulations. Contaminants tested for include: Brominated Haloacetic Acids (HAA9), metals, pesticides, Semi-volatile chemicals (SVOC’s), alcohols, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Bromide and Cyanotoxins. Samples were collected twice monthly for freshwater Cyanotoxins beginning on July 14, 2020 and ending on October 27, 2020. Those results are listed in Supplement “B” found at the end of this report.

WHAT DOES THIS INFORMATION MEAN?

As you can see by the table, our system had no violations of the State Sanitary Code. We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected however, these contaminants were detected below New York State requirements.

DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?

Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease- causing microorganisms or pathogen 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

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WHY SAVE WATER AND HOW TO AVOID WASTING IT?

Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:

• Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life;
• Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water tower; and
• Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential firefighting needs are met.

You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include:

15. Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons of water for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity.

15. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.

15. Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it up and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.

15. Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.

15. Use you water meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances. Then check the meter after 15 minutes, if it moved, you have a leak.

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2020 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

• CITY OF ALBANY EMERGENCY INTERCONNECTION PROJECT
  The Town of Colonie and the City of Albany Water Board have awarded a $3.2 million contract to New Castle Paving to install two emergency interconnections to our water distribution systems. The connections to the water distribution systems are at two points: the Loudonville Reservoir site and along New Karner Road (NYS Route 155). Since this project equally benefits both communities, the total project costs are being split equally by each municipality. The Town received a Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement Act Grant in the amount of $960,000 towards its half of the project costs. The project includes the installation of approximately 4,000 feet of new 24” water main from the Town’s Loudonville Storage tank on Albany Shaker Road to the City of Albany’s Loudonville Reservoirs and 3,500 feet of 16” main along New Karner Road from Rifle Range Road to an existing 20” City of Albany water main. The Loudonville interconnection, as well as a majority of the New Karner Road interconnection were constructed in 2019. New Castle Paving returned in the Spring of 2020 and completed the balance of the project.

PLANNED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2021

• RIVER ROAD CLEARWELL REPLACEMENT ENGINEERING DESIGN
  The Latham Water District awarded the engineering design contract for the River Road Clearwell Replacement Project to Ramboll Engineering. The project will include the following improvements: demolish existing River Road clearwells, construct new 2.0 million gallon clearwell with its associated piping, valves and mixer, rehabilitate existing control valves, improve high pressure interconnection between the 30” finished water pipeline to River Road Pump Station and clearwells and the Mohawk View Water Treatment Plant site, modify inlet piping at the backwash pump station to improve chemical mixing, replace three 24” transmission main valves on the discharge of the River Road Pump Station, replace Mohawk View Water Treatment Plant filter valves/actuators and modify piping to incorporate automatic filter to waste capabilities on filters 1-6. The design is expected to be completed in 2021, with construction beginning in 2022.

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