TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter From the

Chairman

June 2021

My fellow Fairfax Water customers,

With all that happened in 2020, I am proud to report to you that your Water Quality is Excellent. Despite the complexities we all faced last year, Fairfax Water staff more than met the challenge of the uncertain and evolving threat of COVID-19. Water quality and the water treatment process play a vital role in public health, especially during a pandemic. Transmission of the virus is not a risk in treated drinking water. Disinfectants, like chlorine, used to treat drinking water are effective in inactivating COVID-19. Situations like the one we are experiencing today show the vast importance that chlorination and our other disinfection processes have on protecting public health.

Once again this year, Fairfax Water has met and surpassed standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The Board and employees of Fairfax Water all know the importance of the essential service that we provide. That focus will not change, and it is what drives our organization to consistently surpass water quality standards while keeping water rates at one of the lowest levels in the region.

We hope you enjoy reading this year’s report. Rest assured Fairfax Water is ready and resilient, and our team is working hard every day so that you can have complete faith in the quality of your water.

Philip W. Allin

Chairman of the Board

Fairfax Water

Letter From the

General Manager

June 2021

Dear Fairfax Water customers,

Even with the challenges that came with the pandemic, our Fairfax Water team continued to work tirelessly last year to treat and deliver water to your home. It’s not a stretch to say that this past year has been unlike any other. At the start of 2020, we knew that whatever the pandemic might bring, we would stick to our mission: to provide our customers with reliable and abundant water of exceptional quality at a reasonable price. I am pleased to say that this year’s water quality report shows the outstanding quality of our water once again.

Our team recognized from the start that our customers would want an extra layer of safety in our interactions with them, and we immediately took steps to make that happen. Staff and crews in the field took all necessary safety precautions while being accessible to our customers. We’ve received many compliments this year from customers about how our employees helped answer their questions and make them feel at ease. This dedication is the kind of service that makes our efficient, highly trained, and resilient team among the best in the industry.

While you read this year’s report on your water quality, please keep in mind the essential workers who’ve worked so hard to keep our region going during a difficult time. Be sure to thank them for their commitment to the community they serve.

Stay safe, and thank you for your continued support!

Steven T. Edgemon

General Manager

Fairfax Water

UNDERSTANDING YOUR WATER QUALITY

HOW IS MY WATER QUALITY?

Your water quality is excellent. As a Fairfax Water customer, you drink water that consistently surpasses all federal and state standards. Of the 286 compounds we tested for, very few were found in our drinking water. Those we found were in negligible amounts well below the EPA’s maximum contaminant levels.

HOW IS THE WATER TESTED AND BY WHOM?

Fairfax Water’s state-certified Water Quality Laboratory performs or manages the testing required by federal and state regulations. In addition to regulatory testing, many other analyses are performed to monitor the quality of Fairfax Water’s raw water sources, water within the treatment process, and water within the distribution system. Water undergoing the treatment process is continuously monitored for pH, turbidity, coagulation efficiency, and disinfectant residuals using technologically advanced online monitoring systems. Chlorine, pH, and temperature testing are also performed at sample location sites throughout the system using portable instrumentation. The results for much of the 2020 testing are included in the tables on pages 14-25 of this report. For additional analytical reports, visit fairfaxwater.org or call 703-698-5600, TTY 711.

How Is Your Water Treated?

Fairfax Water provides water that is treated at four treatment plants. The James J. Corbalis Jr. and the Frederick P. Griffith Jr. treatment plants are owned and operated by Fairfax Water. The Dalecarlia and McMillan treatment plants, part of the Washington Aqueduct, are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All four plants use advanced technologies and practices in drinking water treatment, which is the process of cleaning raw water to make it safe for you to drink. When untreated water enters the treatment plant, coagulants are added to cause small particles to adhere to one another, become heavy, and settle in a sedimentation basin.

The water is then filtered through carbon and sand to remove any remaining fine particles. It is disinfected with chlorine to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. A corrosion inhibitor is added to help prevent leaching of lead and copper that might be in household plumbing. Fluoride is added to protect teeth. Powdered activated carbon and potassium permanganate may also be added to the treatment process to remove taste and odor-causing compounds. In addition to these treatment steps, the Corbalis and Griffith plants use ozone to further reduce odors and organic material.

THE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

Throughout this report, you will find many references to water in different stages of the treatment process.

NOTE ABOUT MEETINGS OF THE FAIRFAX WATER BOARD

Fairfax Water’s Board typically meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Board room of the Fairfax Water offices at 8570 Executive Park Avenue in Fairfax. Notices of public hearings and other opportunities for public participation are posted in the lobby and on the website at fairfaxwater.org.

If you plan to attend a meeting or need more information, contact Fairfax Water at 703-289-6029, TTY 711, to confirm the date and time for the meeting.

INFORMATION ABOUT SOURCE (RAW) WATER

SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER

The sources of all drinking water, both tap water and bottled water, include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. It can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that could be present in source water include:

1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that can come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
2. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or can result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
3. Pesticides and herbicides, which can come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture or residential uses and urban stormwater runoff.
4. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production and also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, septic systems, and decaying plants.
5. Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or can be the result of oil and gas production or mining activities.

SOURCES OF YOUR WATER

Fairfax Water draws raw water from two primary sources: the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir, which is fed by the Occoquan River. The Corbalis, Dalecarlia, and McMillan treatment plants treat water from the Potomac River. The Frederick P. Griffith Jr. Treatment Plant treats water from the Occoquan Reservoir. The four facilities that treat your water feed an interconnected distribution system.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION

Under the provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, states are required to develop comprehensive source- water assessment programs that meet the following requirements:

• Identify watersheds that supply public tap water.
• Provide an inventory of contaminants present in the watershed.
• Assess susceptibility to contamination in the watershed.

Source-water assessments for the watersheds are conducted by the Virginia Department of Health. The assessment consists of maps of the evaluated watershed area, an inventory of known land-use activities, and documentation of any known source-water contamination within the last five years. Based on the criteria developed by the VDH, the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir were determined to be of high susceptibility to contamination. This determination is consistent with the state’s finding for other surface waters, such as rivers, lakes, and streams, throughout Virginia. A secure version of the assessment report is available by visiting our website at fairfaxwater.org or by calling Fairfax Water at 703-698-5600, TTY 711.

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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791, TTY 711. The EPA has also completed a source water assessment that can be found at bit.ly/3dAYMFH.

REDUCING EXPOSURE TO LEAD

Fairfax Water’s distribution system does not contain lead pipe because we have made an extensive effort to identify and replace any lead service connections in the older areas of our system. Depending on when it was constructed, your home’s plumbing may contain lead. The level of lead in water can increase when the water stands in contact with lead-based plumbing. Keep reading for important information about safe lead levels and how to reduce your exposure to lead.

FAIRFAX WATER’S SOURCES

The EPA has established an action level for lead in water of 15 parts per billion (ppb). When lead testing is performed as required by the EPA, 90% of the samples must contain less than 15 ppb. This is usually referred to as the 90th percentile results being less than 15 ppb.

The action level was not designed to measure health risks from water represented by individual samples. Rather, it is a statistical trigger value that, if exceeded, could require more treatment, public education, and possibly lead service line replacement where such lines exist. Fairfax Water does not have any lead service lines in its system.

Fairfax Water has been testing for lead in accordance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule since 1992 and has regularly tested below the action level established in the rule. The next EPA- required monitoring will be conducted in 2023 for the “Legacy Service Areas” and in late summer 2021 for the Arlington special service area.

UNDERSTANDING WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS

In general, drinking water standards are regulated by a maximum contaminant level (MCL) or a treatment technique (TT). For parameters with an MCL, the utility must sample at the required frequency, and results must be below the MCL. Depending on the parameter, the MCL could apply to individual results, an average of all results in a calendar year, or an average of all results in a calendar year for a specific site.

For parameters with a TT, the utility must sample at the required frequency and is required to take action (such as a change in treatment) if specified conditions are not met. Specified conditions vary per regulation. For instance, the TT for turbidity requires action to be taken if the percentage of filtered water turbidity results that are less than 0.3 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) falls below 95%. If this were to occur, the utility must perform corrective action until the specified conditions are met.

In the water quality test results on pages 14 - 25 and elsewhere in this report, you may find terms and abbreviations you are not familiar with. On the next page is a quick reference guide to help you better understand unfamiliar terms and abbreviations.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY

Drinking Water and People With Weakened Immune Systems

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as those with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders; some elderly; and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. If you are in this at-risk group, you should seek advice about drinking water from your health care provider. The EPA and the Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

KEY TERMINOLOGY AND ABBREVIATIONS

90th percentile – Represents the highest value found out of 90% of the samples taken in a representative group. If the 90th percentile is greater than the action level, it will trigger a treatment or additional requirements that a water system must follow.

AL or action level – The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, requires a water system to carry out an additional treatment or other action.

LRAA or locational running annual average – An ongoing annual average calculation of data at one specific location; not based on individual result.

MCL or maximum contaminant level – The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG or maximum contaminant level goal – The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MRDL or maximum residual disinfectant level – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

MRDLG or maximum residual disinfectant level goal – The level of a disinfectant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

NA or not applicable – Does not apply to this subject or in this scenario.

ND or non-detect – A level at which there is an inability to detect an analyte because it is indistinguishable from the background signal.

NTU or nephelometric turbidity units – A measure of cloudiness or haziness of water.

pCi/L or picocuries per liter – Radioactivity concentration unit.

ppb or parts per billion – One ppb corresponds to one penny in $10,000,000.

ppm or parts per million – One ppm corresponds to one penny in $10,000.

QRAA or quarterly running annual average – An ongoing annual average calculation of data from the most recent four quarters.

46. or treatment technique – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

2020 WATER QUALITY TABLES

FAIRFAX WATER CUSTOMERS IN THE LEGACY AND CITY OF FAIRFAX SERVICE AREAS

The Water Quality Laboratory at Fairfax Water monitors for more than 286 different parameters, from alkalinity to zinc! Some of the monitoring is required for regulatory purposes, some for process and emerging technology, and even more for customer information. In 2020, some 43,000 data points were gathered from 11,000 samples of water for these 286 parameters. The tables on pages 15-17 show the results of the monitoring that is required by state and federal regulations. The monitoring was conducted for the Griffith and Corbalis water treatment plants between January 1 and December 31, 2020, unless otherwise noted.

For more water quality information, visit the Fairfax Water website at fairfaxwater.org/ water-quality.

Customers in this service area receive water from the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir that is treated at the James J. Corbalis Jr. or Frederick P. Griffith Jr. treatment plants, which are owned and operated by Fairfax Water.

2020 WATER QUALITY TABLES

FAIRFAX WATER CUSTOMERS IN THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH SERVICE AREA

Even though you are a Fairfax Water customer, your water is supplied by the Washington Aqueduct Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The tables on pages 19-21 show the results of the monitoring that is performed by the Washington Aqueduct and Fairfax Water as required by state and federal regulations. Unless otherwise noted, the monitoring was conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

For more information about your water quality, visit nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Washington- Aqueduct/Water-Quality/.

Customers in this service area receive water from the Potomac River that is treated at the McMillan and Dalecarlia water treatment plants, part of the Washington Aqueduct system, which is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

2020 WATER QUALITY TABLES

FAIRFAX WATER CUSTOMERS IN THE ARLINGTON SPECIAL SERVICE AREA

Even though you are a Fairfax Water customer, your water is supplied by the Washington Aqueduct Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The tables on pages 22-25 show the results of the monitoring that is performed by the Washington Aqueduct and Fairfax Water as required by state and federal regulations. Unless otherwise noted, the monitoring was conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

For more information about your water quality, visit nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Washington- Aqueduct/Water-Quality/.

SUMMARY OF FINISHED WATER CHARACTERISTICS

*Unless otherwise specified, MCLG and MCL apply to an individual result.

1. Results for beta/photon emitters, radium 226/228, and uranium were below the minimum detection limits prescribed in the EPA Consumer Confidence Rule as stated in 40 CFR 141.151 (d) and are not required for CCR reporting; however, Fairfax Water follows laboratory convention for reporting radiological sample results to the laboratory detection limit.
2. There are no regulatory State or Federal limits established for this parameter.

2020 Cryptosporidium Monitoring Statement

Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen sometimes found in surface water throughout the United States. Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most commonly used filtration methods cannot guarantee 100 percent removal. Fairfax Water consistently maintains its filtration process in accordance with regulatory guidelines to maximize removal efficiency. Our monitoring indicates the occasional presence of these organisms in the source water. Current test methods do not allow us to determine whether the organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease.

Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection. Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals can overcome the disease within a few weeks. However, immuno-compromised people, infants and small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life-threatening illness. We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult their doctor regarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection.

Cryptosporidium must be ingested in order to cause disease. It may be spread through means other than drinking water, such as other people, animals, water, swimming pools, fresh food, soils and any surface that has not been sanitized after exposure to feces.

Fairfax Water has completed monitoring the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir for compliance with Round 2 of the EPA Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR Round 2). The EPA created this rule to provide for increased protection against microbial pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium, in public water systems that use surface water sources. Fairfax Water’s LT2ESWTR Round 2 monitoring program began in April 2015 and involved the collection of one sample from water treatment plant sources

each month for a period of two years. Monitoring for compliance with the LT2ESWTR Round 2 was completed in March 2017.

Under the LT2ESWTR Round 2, the average Cryptosporidium concentration determines whether additional treatment measures are needed. A mean Cryptosporidium concentration of 0.075 oocysts/Liter triggers additional water treatment measures. Fairfax Water’s raw water Cryptosporidium concentrations were below this threshold. Results for LT2ESWTR Round 2 monitoring for the period of 2015-2017 are as follows:

LEGACY AND CITY OF FAIRFAX SERVICE AREAS

CITY OF FALLS CHURCH AND ARLINGTON SPECIAL SERVICE AREAS

Cryptosporidium was monitored in the source water monthly in 2020 from January to November. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in two samples collected at the Great Falls Intakes in January and February 2020, with both samples having a concentration of 0.186 oocysts/L. Based upon the system- specific requirements, no additional treatment measures were required at the Washington Aqueduct water treatment plants.

2020 UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING RULE (UCMR 4) DATA

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) require that once every five years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issue a new list of no more than 30 unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems (PWSs). The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) provides EPA and other interested parties with scientifically valid data on the occurrence of contaminants in drinking water. This national survey is one of the primary sources of information on occurrence and levels of exposure that the Agency uses to develop regulatory decisions for contaminants in the public drinking water supply.

The “Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4) for Public Water Systems and Announcement of Public Meeting” was published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2016 (81 FR 92666). UCMR 4 monitoring began in 2018 and concluded in 2020. The full scope of the monitoring includes monitoring for a total of 30 chemical contaminants: 10 cyanotoxins (nine cyanotoxins and one cyanotoxin group) and 20 additional contaminants (two metals, eight pesticides plus one pesticide manufacturing byproduct, three brominated haloacetic acid [HAA] disinfection byproducts groups, three alcohols, and three semivolatile organic chemicals [SVOCs]).

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS?

The UCMR program provides the EPA and other interested parties with nationally representative data on the occurrence of particular contaminants in drinking water, the number of people potentially being exposed and an estimate of the levels of that exposure. In accordance with Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA will consider the occurrence data from UCMR 4 and other sources, along with the peer reviewed health effects assessments, to support a regulatory determination on whether to initiate the process to develop a national primary drinking water regulation.

For more information on UCMR 4, visit EPA’s UCMR web page (epa.gov/dwucmr) or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Facts About Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl

Substances (PFAS)

PFAS are a group of over 6,000 man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in home consumer products such as carpets, clothing, food packaging, and cookware since the 1940s. Two of these compounds—Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—have been the most extensively produced and studied, and there is evidence that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.

To learn more and view Fairfax Water’s most recent PFAS results, visit fairfaxwater.org/water- quality/facts-about-pfas.

Be Winter Salt Smart:

Learn How To Protect Our Source Water

What’s the problem?

In the winter, salt keeps us safe while we are on the move, but it also leads to higher levels of salt in the region’s drinking water supply, including the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir. Learn more and be winter salt smart!

What is winter salt?

Winter salt is rock salt (sodium chloride) or ice melt (a blend of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and other salt). These materials are used in the winter to prevent icing of sidewalks, parking lots, and roadways.

What are the benefits of winter salt use?

• Causes fewer incidents of slip and fall injuries.
• Reduces number of vehicle crashes.
• Enables businesses, government, and social services to continue with minimal interruption.

What are the downsides of its use?

• Salt on impervious surfaces (sidewalks, parking lots, roads, etc.) is eventually washed into storm drains, creeks, and rivers. This results in higher concentrations of salt in the region’s drinking water sources: the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir.
• Salt causes corrosion to vehicles and infrastructure (roads, bridges, sidewalks, parking lots).
• Salt increases the salinity in streams and groundwater, impacting freshwater fish and other aquatic life.

Why is increased salt in the drinking water supply a problem for water utilities?

• Salt cannot be removed via traditional drinking water and wastewater treatment processes​.
• It is corrosive to plumbing​.
• It has potential health impacts for those on low-sodium diets.

What are Fairfax Water and other agencies doing to address this problem?

The Virginia Salt Management Strategy (SaMS) was established by a diverse group of stakeholders (including Fairfax Water) and coordinated by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

SaMS will provide recommendations for improving winter practices through efficient and effective use of salt while maintaining the same levels of safety. The strategy will also offer ways to raise awareness of these impacts, show how individuals and organizations can participate, and provide guidance for monitoring and research to support action on SaMS recommendations.

In addition to SaMS, Fairfax Water will continue to monitor source water quality and work closely with the county and other agencies to analyze trends and explore solutions.

What can I do to help?

• Shovel early. Remove snow from pavements before it turns to ice. Use salt only after snow has been cleared and only in areas needed for safety.
• Use less. More salt does not mean more melting. A 12-ounce coffee mug of salt should be enough for a 20- foot driveway or about 10 sidewalk squares.
• Spread evenly. Try not to distribute in clumps.
• Watch the temps. When it is colder than 15°F, do not apply winter salt. It will not work. In those cases, consider building traction with alternatives like sand or native bird seed.