Dear Consumer:

The City of Yonkers Bureau of Water, Public Water System ID NY5903465, is pleased to present our Annual Report describing the quality of your drinking water. This report provides an overview of our drinking water quality for calendar year 2020. Included are details about where your water comes from, how it is treated, the importance of conservation and source water protection, what it contains, and how it compares

to State Standards. The City of Yonkers is proud to report that our Water System in

2020 was in compliance with all State and Federal Drinking Water Standards except for failure to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act’s (SDWA) 2018 America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) amendment’s timeline for completing a Risk & Resilience Assessment, and updating those findings in our Emergency Response Plan (ERP). See page 12 for details. I am also pleased to report that 99% of our 29,591 water customers are receiving accurate water consumption reads and billings due to the implementation of our Advanced Water Meter Infrastructure (AMI) program. In addition to improving billing

accuracy, our goal is to encourage customer water usage awareness and conservation. Since its implementation in 2014, the City has seen a 6.9% reduction in demand and daily water consumption. To further the City’s conservation efforts the City of Yonkers, in 2021, will sign an agreement with the NYC DEP to assist the City in the development and financing of a Water Demand Management Plan. The Plan provides programs the City will adopt, commencing in 2021, to advance its conservation goals and water loss control efforts. Also, in 2020 the city launched an on-line customer portal, WaterSmart, to assist our customers in tracking their water usage and to compare it to their historical usage and to other homes within the city of comparable size. Furthermore, it allows you to set alarm notifications for overuse limits and to opt for electronic billing. For more information on WaterSmart visit yonkersny. watersmart.com. At the end of this report we have included simple measures you, our customers, can take to help conserve water and in turn reduce your water billing costs. In addition the City has partnered with American Water Resources (AWR) to offer

a voluntary Water and Sewer Service Line

Protection Program that provides affordable protection from repairs to our customers. For more information call AWR toll-free at 1-866- 315-4476. To obtain a printed copy of this report and for additional information about this report or any other drinking water issue you would like to personally discuss, please contact Mary Anne Wyatt- Dolan, Assistant Superintendent of Water, at (914) 377-6764. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914)

813-5000. More information is also available online at http://www.awwa.org.

In closing, I would like to thank our Water Bureau personnel, who were classified as essential workers throughout this COVID-19 Pandemic. They were and continue to be hard at work, 24/7, treating, testing, monitoring, pumping, repairing and delivering to you, our customers, the most essential resource.

Thank you,

Thomas G. Meier

Commissioner of Public Works

CUSTOMER SERVICE

What is Public Notification?

health. Public notification requirements are divided into three tiers to take into account the seriousness of the violation:

Tier 1 Public Notification

Requires the supplier of water to provide public notification no later than 24 hours after a system learns of a public health hazard.

Public Health Hazard is defined as an existing or imminent condition which can be responsible for or cause illness, injury or death and for which immediate corrective or remedial action is required.

2

Tier 2 Public Notification

Requires the supplier of water to provide public notification within

30 days of learning of a violation or situation with the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health after long-term exposure, such as most MCI, MRDL and treatment technique violations that are not Public Health Hazards. Depending on the violation the NYSDOH may grant extensions.

Tier 3 Public Notification

Requires the supplier of water to provide public notification within one year of learning of a less serious violation or situation that does not require a Tier 1 or Tier 2 notification, such as monitoring violations.

The City of Yonkers obtains its drinking water from the New York City Water Supply System, an unfiltered

surface water. Most of this water originates from two protected watershed areas, the Catskill and Delaware,

located in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster counties west of the Hudson River in

upstate New York. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (NYC DEP) Bureau of Water Supply, Quality and Protection oversees the operation, maintenance and protection of this upstate reservoir system; consisting of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes. On average, over a billion gallons of water travels per day through two NYC DEP owned and operated aqueduct (tunnel) systems, the Catskill and Delaware, to feed the Kensico Reservoir located

in Westchester County. Under normal operations, the waters are blended here before traveling further south to the NYC Hillview Reservoir located in Yonkers, New York. Before the water arrives at the Hillview Reservoir it enters our system at several locations. In addition, water also enters the Yonkers System from 8 interconnections to WCWD #1’s Kencico-Bronx (K-B) Pipe-line, whose source of supply for our 7 southern interconnections, south

of Crisfield Street, is the NYC Delaware Aqueduct. Meanwhile the city’s most northern interconnection is supplied from the NYC Kensico Reservoir.

From these points of entry, the water enters 385 miles of distribution piping to serve approximately 200,000 residents of the City of Yonkers through 29,591 metered service connections.

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) required states to develop and implement Source Water Assessment Programs to assess a drinking water system’s susceptibility to contamination. Summarized in the paragraphs below are the NYS DOH’s early 2000 findings related to our source of supply the NYC Catskill/ Delaware watersheds. It is important to stress that these assessments were created using available information and only estimate the potential for source water contamination. Furthermore, elevated susceptibility ratings do not mean that source water contamination has or will occur for this Public Water System (PWS). Please be advised this PWS provides treatment and regular monitoring to ensure the water delivered to consumers meets all applicable standards. Specifically the reservoirs in the Catskill/ Delaware watersheds, a mountainous rural area, are relatively deep with little development

along their shorelines. The main water quality concerns associated with land cover is agriculture, which can contribute microbial contaminants, pesticides and algae producing nutrients. There are also some potential contamination concerns associated with residential lands and associated wastewater discharges. However, advanced treatments which reduce contaminants are in place for most of these discharges. There are also a number of other discrete facilities, such as landfills, chemical bulk storages, etc. that have the potential to impact local water quality, but large significant water quality problems associated with these facilities are unlikely due to the size of the watershed and the surveillance and management practices currently in place.

The purpose of the program was to provide water systems the information needed to formulate and implement

protection measures. Since 1997, the NYC DEP has implemented a series of source water protection programs and initiatives to protect their reservoirs and the streams that feed them within these watersheds. Their efforts focus on three important program areas: the enforcement of strengthened watershed rules and regulations; the acquisition and protection of watershed lands; and implementation partnership programs that target the prevention of specific sources of pollution in the watersheds. These programs operate under the close scrutiny of both the NYSDOH and EPA. Because of these extensive programs, the NYSDOH does not find it necessary to perform a current source water assessment on the NYC Catskill/Delaware watersheds. Additional information on the water quality and protection efforts in these New York City watersheds can be found at DEP’s web site at www1.nyc. gov/watershed.

In 2020, a total of 8.646 billion gallons of water entered our distribution system. Of that total,

6.38 billion was purchased from New York City, 2.26 billion from WCWD#1 and 5.73 million from the Town of Greenburgh. This yielded an average daily citywide consumption of 23.6 million gallons with an average daily per capita usage of 123 gallons.

The City’s AWWA 2020 Water Audit indicated that approximately 70% of the total amount of water that entered our system was billed directly to customers and 2.45% supplied the city’s public schools and municipal buildings. The balance, 27.6%, termed unaccounted for water represents a combination of the city’s apparent losses (water meter under registration and under billing) and real losses

(water used for fire fighting purposes, hydrant inspections, hydrant flushing to maintain water quality, hydrant use for street sweeping, contractor hydrant permit usage, unauthorized usage, distribution system leakage and water loss due to water main breaks and home-owner’s service leaks).

In 2020, the average annual water bill for a family of 4 ranged between $400 - $550. Residential water rates were not increased in calendar year 2020. Rates remained the same since the last rate increase set on July 1, 2019 when rates increased from $3.79 per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons) to $4.04 per 100 cubic feet to recapture increases passed down by the New York City Water Board. Even with this increase Yonkers’ rates are still among the lowest in Westchester County.

The water obtained from the New York City Aqueducts and WCWD#1’s Lower K-B Pipeline are initially treated upstream at the Kensico Reservoir by the NYC DEP with the addition of chlorine, the primary disinfectant, followed by a secondary level of disinfection, ultraviolet light, to comply with the Federal Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule’s (LT2ESWTR) disinfection requirements. The LT2ESWTR reduces

access to more sources of fluoride today than they did when fluoridation was first introduced, the US Department

of Health & Human Services (HHS) proposed that the recommended level of fluoride, in drinking water, can be set at the lowest end of the current optimal range, 0.7 mg/L. The NYC DEP implemented that dosage change on May 24, 2015. To ensure that the fluoride supplement in your water provides optimal dental protection, the NYSDOH requires that the NYC DEP monitor fluoride levels on a daily basis. During 2020, fluoride was continuously supplied except to perform preventative and corrective maintenance. In total, fluoridation was offline 0.2% of the time. Outside of this DEP met the required fluoride levels and at no time did the fluoride level approach the fluoride maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 2.2 mg/L. The water obtained from WCWD#1’s Upper K-B pipeline is

treated similarly by Westchester County, except for the addition of fluoride. Consequently, the high service sector of northeast Yonkers, located along the east & west corridor of Central Park Avenue north of Palmer Road, received unfluoridated water. You can confirm if you are impacted by calling the City of Yonkers’ Water Laboratory at 914-377- 6764. Before all this water enters our distribution system it is again treated, at our points of entry, with either chlorine gas or calcium hypochlorite, to booster the disinfectant residual so that a detectable chlorine residual is maintained throughout the distribution system. In addition, the water is treated with New York State and Federal mandated corrosion control treatment to reduce the release of metals, such as lead and copper, into the consumer’s tap water from household plumbing and lead service lines.

the risk of exposure to a potentially harmful microbiological contaminant, Cryptosporidium. In addition, the NYC DEP treats the water with a low level of fluoride pursuant to the NYC Health Code Article 141. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fluoride is very effective in preventing cavities when present in drinking water at an optimal range from 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L [parts per million]. However, since Americans have

American Water Resources provides optional water and sewer line protection services for area homeowners. They have saved Yonkers residents over 2.5 million dollars in repair costs.

For more information call 1-866-315-4476 or visit awrusa.com/yonkers

WhatisDisinfection?

A chemical or physical process designed to destroy or inactivate pathogenic organisms. The most widely used chemical disinfectant is chlorine.

Corrosion Control Treatment

A chemical process that coats the interior surface of pipe walls especially lead pipes and surfaces. The City of Yonkers uses food grade phosphoric acid as the corrosion inhibitor with caustic soda for pH control.

What is Ultraviolet Disinfection?

The process of passing water by special lamps that emit UV light to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms. UV treatment does not change the water chemically, as nothing is added except energy.

In our continuing efforts to improve and reinforce our Water System’s aging infrastructure and to comply with existing and future State and Federal Regulations, the City of Yonkers’ Bureau of Water implemented the following capital improvement projects during calendar year 2020: Completed the rehabilitation of our Tuckahoe Road Corrosion Control Facility’s caustic soda Chemical Bulk Storage, CBS, tank system. The replacement of this CBS tank system extended the service life, of this facility, an additional 15-20 years. Performed the NYS DEC required 5 year inspection

of our CBS tank systems. Completed the design to upgrade the chemical feed system at our Tuckahoe Road disinfection facility. Continued working on improving the water mains in the Crestwood section of the city. In calendar year 2020, 68 lineal feet of new water main was installed. Completed the design of the Wendover Improvement Project. This project involves the replacement of a section of a 100 year old, 30-inch diameter transmission main, damaged and temporarily repaired back in 2012, that runs under the Saw Mill River Parkway connecting the east side of the Wendover pipeline, under Tibbetts Brook Park, to the west side of the pipeline on Wendover Road. Commenced the design to upgrade our 50 year old Crisfield Street Pump Station. The design includes the replacement of the Station’s existing Motor Control Centers, MCCs, with energy efficient variable frequency motor drivers, new pumps and motors, new pump control valves and the refurbishment of the Station’s two exterior water valves, that control the supply of water into and out of the Station. Commenced the installation of emergency generators at our Southern Westchester Executive Park (SWEP) and Nodine Hill water towers and performed a city-wide leak detection survey to identify system water losses occurring from undetected water main and customer water service leaks. Received $1.7M in Grant funding from the NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement and Act (WII) to fund the construction of Phase 2 of the Inter- pressure zone connection on Lamartine Avenue. This phase involves the continuation of the new 16” water

main on Warburton Avenue between Lamartine and Ashburton Avenue. This Project will provide redundant domestic pressure and fire flow availability to the low pressure zones of Warburton and Ashburton Avenues. Implemented security improvements (the installation of security lighting and intrusion detection cameras) to enhance security at our water towers utilizing grant funding awarded under NYS DHSES FY 2018 Urban Area’s Security Initiative (USAI) Program. In addition, during calendar year 2020 the Water Bureau inspected 1154 fire hydrants, repaired 356 and replaced 102 inoperable hydrants as part of its ongoing Hydrant Replacement Program. This program ensures that the Fire Department has operational hydrants for fire protection; Water Bureau personnel also repaired 38 main breaks, replaced 34 inoperable gate valves, investigated 956 leaks, installed 112 water taps and 14 wet connections, repaired 18 manhole frames, installed 187 water meters, replaced 451 Meter Transmission Units (MTU), replaced 112 leaking service lines, responded to 2609 code 753 mark outs of the City’s underground water mains so that the City’s water mains will not be damaged during excavations performed by other underground utilities and maintained

an aggressive Cross Connection Control Program, reviewed 172 back flow mitigation applications, to protect the Water System from possible contamination. Finally, to assist our customers in better understanding their water consumption and to better manage their water use the city launched WATERSMART, a free on-line customer portal.

The following capital improvement projects are scheduled for in calendar year 2021: commence and complete Phase 2 of the inter-pressure zone on Warburton Avenue, commence and complete the upgrades at our Tuckahoe Road disinfection facility and to commence the construction of Phase 1 of the Nepperhan Avenue Water Main Redundancy Project. The Nepperhan Avenue Redundancy project consists of the installation of a new 16 inch diameter water main on Nepperhan Avenue, between Elm

Street and Riverdale Avenue, including multiple interconnections to the existing distribution system. Phase 1 of the project runs between Elm and New Main Street. This project will provide redundant domestic pressure and fire flow availability to the southwest sector of the city. To assist in the funding of this $5M project the city will be submitting a WIIA Grant application

to the NYS DOH Environmental Facilities Corp (EFC). Execute and Implement the City’s Water Demand Management Plan. This Plan provides programs the City will adopt, commencing in 2021, to advance its conservation goals and water loss control efforts. For example, perform biannual comprehensive city- wide leak detection surveys, to identify “undetected” water main and customer water service leaks, expedite the repair of these identified “undetected” water leaks, and optimize system operating pressures, by installing Pressure Regulating Valves (PRVs) and implementing a pressure management system. Funding for this plan will be provided through an inter- municipal agreement with the NYC Water Board. Furthermore, implement additional security improvements utilizing grant funding awarded under NYS DHSES FY2019 Critical Infrastructure Grant Program, complete the design of three new Water Quality Monitoring Stations, complete the design and rehabilitation of our Hillview Corrosion Control Phosphoric Acid Chemical Bulk Storage (CBS)Tank System and complete the digitization of the water system’s records into a GIS validated geo-referenced database to assist field personnel, in the repair and maintenance of the system and to provide the capability to manage the assets of the city’s water system. Improve the Water Laboratory’s sample throughput with the replacement of a fume hood and some of the 50+ year old cabinetry and countertops along with the implementation of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Finally, perform the 5 year engineering inspection on the interior and exterior surfaces and structural integrity

of our Concord Road and Southern Westchester Executive Park (SWEP) 1 MG elevated water storage tanks.

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 (800-426-4791) or contacting them on the World Wide Web at epa.gov/safewater. 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 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 that limit the amount

of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

The New York State Sanitary Code and the EPA require us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. Every day, throughout the City, Water Department personnel conduct tests to monitor the quality of our drinking water. Most of the required compliance monitoring for the City of Yonkers, including daily bacteriological analyses, physical, inorganic trace metal and Trihalomethane (THM) Disinfection Byproduct testing was performed by the City of Yonkers, Bureau of Water’s NELAC accredited Environmental Laboratory, NYS Lab ID No. 10176. Other required monitoring tests (e.g. Synthetic Organic Contaminants including pesticides and herbicides, Radiological Contaminants, Volatile Organic Contaminants, Unregulated Contaminants and Haloacetic acid (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts)

were conducted by New York State Certified Laboratories. Last year, Water Department Personnel collected 14,697 water samples. From those samples, tests were conducted for 160 different water contaminants. Of the 160 contaminants monitored, 31 were detected as denoted in this report.

The tables on the following pages list the names and the amounts of all the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 2020 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

The data presented in this report is from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in these tables is from testing done from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Oftentimes, the state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Therefore, some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old.

The inorganic contaminants monitored at the points of entry to our system but not detected in calendar year 2020 include: antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, nitrite, selenium, silver, thallium and total chromium. Specified organic contaminants (Pesticides, Herbicides, Dioxin, and PCB’s) monitored in our source waters but not detected include: Alachlor, Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldicarb sulfone, Atrazine, Carbofuran, Chlordane, 2,4-D, Endrin, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), Pentachlorophenol, Toxaphene, 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), Aldrin,

Benzo (a) pyrene, Butachlor, Carbaryl, Dalapon, bis (2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dicamba, Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene,

3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Methomyl, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Oxamyl vydate, Picloram, Propachlor, Simazine, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane,

1,2-Dibromoethane and Methyl tert- butyl ether(MTBE). The Principal and Unspecified organic contaminants that were monitored for, in 2020, and not detected in our source waters include: Bromoform, Dibromochloromethane, Benzene, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, N-Butylbenzene, sec-Butylbenzene, tert-Butylbenzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chlorobenzene, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, 2-Chlorotoluene,

4-Chlorotoluene, Dibromomethane,

1,2-Dichlorobenzene, 1,3-Dichloro- benzene, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene,

Dichlorodifluoromethane,

1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane,

1,1-Dichloroethene, cis-1,2- Dichloroethene, trans-1,2- Dichloroethene, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2-Dichloropropane,

1,1-Dichloropropene, cis-1,3- Dichloropropene, trans-1,3- Dichloropropene, Ethylbenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene, Isopropylbenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Methylene Chloride, n-Propylbenzene,

Styrene, 1,1,1,2Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, Tetrachloroethene, Toluene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane,

1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethene, Trichlorofluoromethane, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane,

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene,

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, m-Xylene, o-Xylene, p-Xylene, Naphthalene, Vinyl chloride. In 2010 the NYS Department of Health [NYS DOH] waived the source monitoring requirement [every 18 months] for the following Pesticides, Herbicides and Dioxin: 1.2-Dibromo-

3-chloropropane, Ethylene Dibromide

[1,2-Dibromoethane], Diquat, Endothall, Glyphosate and 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD [Dioxin]. The NYS DOH has determined that

the NYC DEP’s source waters are not vulnerable to contamination by these compounds. In accordance with the recent 2020 Drinking Water monitoring and testing amendments, to Subpart 5.1 on the NYS Sanitary Code, the 3

man made emerging contaminants Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and

1,4-Dioxane were monitored for, in our source waters on October 19, 2020, but were not detected. In addition,

in calendar year 2020 the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli), used to monitor the microbiological quality of the City of Yonkers’ Water Distribution System, was not detected. Furthermore, the inorganic contaminant asbestos, that is required to be monitored every nine years, was not detected, when last monitored, in calendar year 2018.

In accordance with US EPA’s 4th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, UCMR4, the City of Yonkers in 2018 tested and did not detect the cyanotoxin contaminants, toxins produced by

blue green algae, anantoxin-a and cylindrospermopsin. Since the total microcystin concentration tested was LT 0.030ug/L the 6 microcystin congeners plus nodularin were not required to be tested. Furthermore, in 2019 the City of Yonkers tested and did not detect the following US EPA’s UCMR4 contaminants: the metal contaminant germanium; the 9 pesticides and pesticide manufacturing byproducts; alpha- hexachlorocyclohexane, chlorpyrifos, dimethipin, ethoprop, oxyfluorfen, profenofus, tebuconazole, total permethrin(cis- & trans-), and tribufos; the alcohol contaminants 2-methoxyethanol and 2-propen-1-ol and the 3 semivolatile organic contaminants butylated hydroxyanisole, o-toluidine and quinoline.

The following definitions will assist you in your interpretation of the data:

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: 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.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.

90th Percentile Value: The values reported for lead and copper represent the 90th percentile. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the lead and copper concentrations detected in our water system.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to public health.

Level 1 Assessment: In accordance with the Revised Total Coliform Rule when the percentage of positive Total Coliform compliance monitoring samples in any single month exceeds the 5% monthly positive Total Coliform Treatment Technique (TT) it requires that we conduct an investigation to identify potential water treatment or distribution system problems and to correct any problems that were found during the assessment.

To convert from ppm (mg/L) to ppb (ug/L) multiply ppm level by 1000.

Footnotes For Following Tables

1TTHM is the sum of the concentration of chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform. These compounds have the potential to form as a result of chlorine (the disinfectant added to our drinking water) combining with the natural organics in water. The reported level detected, 48.5 ug/L, is the highest locational running annual average calculated from quarterly data results observed at one of the City’s eight Stage 2 monitoring locations. Compliance was based on the average of 4 quarters of sampling results.

2There is no collective MCLG for this contaminant group.

3HAA5 is the sum of the concentration of mono-, di- and trichloroacetic acids and mono- and dibromoacetic acids. They have the potential to form as a result

of chlorine (the disinfectant added to our drinking water) combining with the natural organics in water. The reported level detected, 46.0 ug/L, is the highest locational running annual average calculated from quarterly data results observed at one of the City’s eight Stage 2 monitoring locations. Compliance was based on the average of 4 quarters of sampling results.

42020’s biweekly Entry Point and Distribution System water quality monitoring indicated that the City of Yonkers operated in compliance with State specified water quality ranges needed to maintain system wide corrosion control treatment.

5The reported maximum level detected is the highest average observed in calendar year 2020 at anyone of our Entry Points.

6If Iron and Manganese are present; the total concentration of both should not exceed 500 ppb.

7Water containing more than 20 ppm should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 ppm of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.

continued on page 10

8Total Coliforms (TC) are bacteria, which are naturally present in the environment. They are used as indicators that other, potentially harmful bacteria may be present. When more than 5% of the routine and repeat TC, compliance monitoring, samples are positive for TC, in any one month, it triggers a Level 1 Assessment

to identify possible sanitary defects in a Public Water System (PWS). The 7.8 percentage of TC positive compliance monitoring samples detected during the month of July 2020 triggered a Level 1 Assessment.

9Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality. Although

turbidity has no health effects, elevated turbidity can interfere with the disinfection process. Entry Point data are single turbidity measurements whereas; the Distribution System data is representative of the monthly distribution sample average.

10The reported highest single Entry Point turbidity measurement was collected the evening of May 13, 2020 at our Crisfield High Service Pump Station. This elevated measurement did not constitute a treatment technique (TT) violation because the Station’s consecutive day Entry Point Turbidity average was LT

5 NTU and the elevated turbidity was operations not source water related.

11The NYS DOH allows the gross alpha particle measurement to substitute for the required uranium measurement provided the gross alpha particle activity does not exceed 15pCi/L.

12The State considers 50pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.

13The MCL listed for Radium 226 and 228 represents the combined Radium 226 / 228 MCL.

Contaminant

Date

Tested

Unit MCL MCLG

Level

Detected

Range of

Detected

Levels

Major Sources

Violation

Contaminant

Date Tested Unit

MCL

MCLG

Level

Detected

Range of

Detected

Levels

• of Sites Exceed- ing Action Level

Major Sources

Violation

Contaminant

Date Tested Unit MCL MCLG

Max Level

Detected

Range of

Detected

Levels

Major Sources

Violation

Contaminant

Date Tested Unit

MCL

MCLG

Max Level

Detected

Range of

Detected

Levels

Major Sources

Violation

No

No

No

No

No

No

Contaminant

Date Tested

Unit

MCL

MCLG

Max Level

Detected

Range of

Detected

Levels

Major Sources

Violation

11Gross Alpha

Oct. 2013

pCi/L

15

0

0.92

0.36 - 0.92

Erosion of natural deposits.

No

Gross Beta

Combined Radium

226 & 228

Oct. 2013

Oct. 2013

pCi/L

pCi/L

1250

135

0

0

0.69

0.52

(0.44) - 0.69

–

Decay of natural deposits and man-made emissions.

Erosion of natural deposits.

No

No

Contaminant

Date

Tested

Unit

MCL

MCLG

Max Level

Detected

Range of

Detected

Levels

Major Sources

Violation

In accordance with State and Federal Drinking Water regulations, the City of Yonkers is required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. Through our testing, we have learned that some contaminants have been detected, however, these contaminants were detected at levels below New York State requirements.

As you can see from the tables, our water system had no MCL violations in calendar year 2020. Although the July 2020 monthly reported percentage of Total Coliform positive samples, 7.8%, exceeded 5% this did not constitute an MCL violation. Instead, it required the City to perform a Level 1 Assessment

to identify potential problems in water treatment or distribution and to correct any problems identified. Based on the Assessment results, the cause appeared to be due a distribution Biofilm problem, colonies of bacteria located on the interior surface of water mains that have been determined not to represent an unreasonable risk to the public health. To correct this problem entry Point disinfectant dosages were raised and the distribution system was flushed. These actions addressed the issue based on the decline in the number of positive Total Coliform samples, and that there were no further exceedance in subsequent monthly results. Furthermore, the maximum Entry Point turbidity reported, 8.36 NTUs, did

not constitute a treatment technique violation because the consecutive day

Entry Point turbidity average was less than 5 NTUs and that the cause was operations not source water related. This elevated turbidity was attributed to a failure of Westchester County to fully close WCWD#1 Kensico-Bronx (K-B) pipeline’s isolation valve, on May 13, 2020, when they switched the northern K-B pipeline from back feed to normal operations. To ensure that this failure does not occur again, Westchester County has implemented corrective actions in its K-B Pipeline back feed operation protocol requiring their Water Operators to count the number of turns during the opening and closing of K-B Pipeline isolation valves. Please be advised that turbidity has no health effects, however, it can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth.

During the past year the City of Yonkers’ Water System was in compliance with all applicable State and Federal Drinking Water requirements except for failing to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act’s(SDWA) 2018 Amendments timeline, Section 1433a and b, requiring the city to conduct a Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) and submit certification of completion, to EPA, by 3-31-20 and to revise our water system’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) with the RRA findings and to certify

completion of the ERP no later than 6 months after certifying completion of the RRA. As a result, the City of Yonkers was placed under an Administrative Order On Consent, by the EPA, to certify the completion of the RRA by 1-13-21 and to certify the completion of the ERP by 5-13-21. Please be advised that the city met both scheduled deadlines and is now in full compliance with the SDWA and the Order.

Cryptosporidium (a protozoan) is a microbial pathogen found in surface water and groundwater under the influence of surface water. Federal and State Law require all water suppliers to notify their customers about the potential risks of Cryptosporidium. During 2020, as part of routine source water monitoring, NYC DEP collected weekly, 50 liter volume, samples from the outflow of the Kensico Reservoir, prior to chlorination and UV disinfection, and analyzed them for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Of the 52 samples collected, 3 tested positive for between 0 - 1 Cryptosporidium oocysts. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause the gastrointestinal infection cryptosporidiosis and it may be spread through means other than drinking water. Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals can overcome the disease within a few weeks. However, immuno-compromised people are

at greater risk of developing this life threatening illness. We encourage immunocompromised individuals to consult with their health care provider regarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection. Throughout calendar year 2020 NYC DEP’s and Westchester County’s CAPS Ultraviolet Disinfection Facilities provided the

required 2 Log Cryptosporidium Inactivation credit as defined in the US EPA’s Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2SWTR) for unfiltered water systems. Therefore, in 2020, 100% of the City of Yonkers’ source water supply received the required level of treatment

to satisfactorily reduce the risk of exposure to Cryptosporidium.

Giardia (a protozoan) is another microbial pathogen present in varying concentrations in many surface waters and groundwater under the influence of surface water. Giardia is removed/ inactivated through a combination of filtration and disinfection or by disinfection alone. During 2020, as part of routine source water monitoring, the NYC DEP collected weekly, 50 liter volume, samples from the outflow of the Kensico Reservoir and analyzed them for Giardia cysts. Of these 52 samples, 35 tested positive for between 0 – 17 Giardia cysts. Therefore, testing indicates the presence of Giardia in our source water. Current test methods do not allow us to determine if the organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Please

be advised, that in 2020, the City of Yonkers complied with both State and Federal disinfection requirements that ensure that the Giardia cysts, found in

our source water, were satisfactorily inactivated before the water reached our 1st customer’s service connection. Ingestion of Giardia may cause giardiasis, an intestinal illness. People exposed to Giardia may experience mild or severe diarrhea, or in some instances, no symptoms at all. Fever is rarely present. Occasionally, some individuals will have chronic diarrhea over several weeks or a month, with significant weight loss. Giardiasis can be treated with anti-parasitic medication. Individuals with weakened immune systems should consult with their health care providers about what steps would be best to reduce their risks of becoming infected with giardiasis. Individuals who think that they may have been exposed to Giardia should contact their health care providers immediately. The Giardia parasite is passed in the feces of an infected person or animal and may contaminate water or food. Person to person transmission may also occur

in day care centers or other similar settings where hand washing practices are poor.

Additional information on Cryptosporidium and Giardia can be found from the Safe Drinking Water

Hotline 1-800-426-4791or at www.epa.gov/safewater.

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR)

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) require that every 5 years the US EPA issue a new list of no more than 30 unregulated contaminants, suspected to be present in drinking water but do not have health based standards under the SDWA, to be monitored by public water systems under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). The 1st and 2nd rounds of UCMR monitoring, UCMR 1 and UCMR 2, were conducted by the City of Yonkers between 2001–2003 and 2008–2010. Between September 2013 and June 2014 the City of Yonkers conducted UCMR

3 monitoring. Subsequently, between August 2018 and November 2019 the City of Yonkers performed occurrence and assessment monitoring for 30 additional unregulated contaminants as part of the US EPA’s Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR4). Of the 30 contaminants monitored, under UCMR 4, 4 were detected (2 groups of Haloacetic Acid disinfection byproducts, HAA6Br and HAA9, 1 metal and 1 alcohol) as indicated on page 12. The purpose of the UCMR monitoring is to provide EPA assessment and occurrence data to support future regulatory actions to protect the public health.

Do I Need To

Take Special

Precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens in drinking water than the general population. Immune- 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 or contact them on line at www. epa.gov/safewater.

In accordance with the 1986 Federal Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), surface water supplies, such as the New York City Water Supply, were required by June 29, 1993 to implement specific water treatment techniques (filtration and/or disinfection) to comply with the rule’s performance standards. In 1993, the New York City Water Supply

applied for and was granted a filtration avoidance waiver from the USEPA for the Catskill and Delaware supplies, south of the Kensico Reservoir. In 2002, the EPA, upon review of New York City’s Watershed Protection Plan, extended the city’s federal filtration avoidance waiver for the Catskill and Delaware systems until 2007. In December 2006

the NYC DEP submitted to the EPA its Long Term Watershed Protection Program in support for renewal of its Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) for the Catskill and Delaware Systems south of the Kensico Reservoir.

continued on page 15

The City of Yonkers is responsible for providing high quality drinking water. To reduce the release of lead from household plumbing components including faucets and fixtures, into the drinking water, the City provides federal mandated corrosion control treatment. See page 5 for details. Since 2006, the City of Yonkers has provided system wide corrosion control treatment. Our most recent calendar year’s, 2018, Lead & Copper sampling results, displayed on page 10, demonstrate the effectiveness of our treatment. Lead exposure causes serious health problems. Although according to EPA, the greatest exposure to lead is in swallowing or breathing in lead paint chips or dust. Lead in drinking water can also cause a variety of adverse health effects. Pregnant women and their fetuses, infants and young children are more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population because their bodies are developing at a rapid rate of growth. Elevated levels of lead

can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, kidneys and can significantly harm a fetus causing lower birth weights and slow down its normal mental and physical development. Exposure to even low levels of lead in children can cause low IQ, hearing impairment, reduced attention span and poor classroom performance. Because the City cannot control the variety of materials used in household plumbing components it is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than at other homes in the community. If you are concerned about elevated levels in your home drinking water, you may wish to have it tested.

In 2019 the COY was awarded a $603,855.00 Grant from the NYSDOH’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLRP). It provides city homeowner’s that possess a Lead service line a total service line replacement at no cost to the homeowner. Due to unforeseen delays, resulting from the COVID pandemic, the city plans to commence its LSLRP the summer of 2021. Presently, the city is prioritizing the properties provided by the WCDOH’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program identified to include households with children testing positive

for elevated blood lead levels. In addition, we are including interested homeowners who have participated in our previous Lead & Copper Monitoring Program. Currently the city is seeking additional homeowners to participate in its 2021 Lead in Drinking Water Monitoring Programs. Participants receive free Lead water testing and a $100.00 rebate on their water bill. If you suspect your home contains a Lead water service line and are interested in participating in our future studies please contact the COY Water Laboratory at 914-377-6764.

To reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water flush your cold water tap for 1 to 2 minutes before using water that has been standing in the pipes for several hours. Periodically remove and clean the aerator on faucets used for human consumption. Use only cold water for cooking, drinking and making baby formula. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791

or www.epa.gov/safewater and the Westchester County Health Department, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (914) 813-5240.

continued from page 14

This program consisted of several activities to enhance the protection of the City’s water supply system from contamination, degradation and pollution: land acquisition, controlling agricultural runoff, infrastructure upgrades, protection of the watersheds natural resources, monitoring and modeling, public education and the building of a large scale ultraviolet light disinfection facility to treat the Catskill and Delaware effluents from the Kensico Reservoir. Based upon review and extensive consultations between EPA, NYC DEP, NYSDOH and the NYS DEC the EPA, on July 30, 2007, issued a 10 year FAD extension to the NYC DEP. On Dec. 28, 2017 the NYSDOH issued a new 10 year FAD that will allow DEP to continue operating its Catskill and

Delaware supply, south of the Kensico Reservoir, without filtration through at least 2027. DEP has committed an estimated $1 billion in funding over the next 10 years to comply with the FAD.

In 1992, the City of Yonkers also applied for and was granted filtration avoidance. This variance is still in effect, contingent on the City of Yonkers and the City of New York’s continued demonstration in meeting the avoidance criteria.

On April 10, 2010 the Westchester County Department of Health granted the City of Yonkers reduced 1st draw Lead and Copper at the Tap Monitoring, at the reduced number of sampling sites, from annually to once every

three years as a result of achieving compliance with the Lead and Copper Action Levels for three consecutive reduced monitoring periods, 2006 through 2009. This reduction in the monitoring frequency of 1st draw Lead and Copper sampling is contingent upon the City of Yonkers in meeting the Lead and Copper Action Levels during our next round of Lead and Copper monitoring scheduled for June 1, 2021 through September

30, 2021. In addition, the City must continually demonstrate that its Water System is operating in compliance with the State specified water quality parameter ranges required to maintain optimal system wide Corrosion Control Treatment.

Why save water and how do we avoid wasting it? Fresh water is a vital and limited resource. The replenishment of the NYC Water Supply is dependent upon nature (rainfall and snowfall). Although at this time of year our supply is plentiful, there are times of the year, especially during drought periods, that the source of our supply (precipitation) is limited. Therefore, it must not be wasted. In addition, saving water saves energy and reduces the cost of energy required to treat and pump water.

The City of Yonkers encourages water conservation. You can play a role in conserving water and saving yourself money by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using. It is not hard to conserve water. Below are a few simple steps you can take that will preserve this resource and also save up to 30% on your water bill. To learn more about other city services visit www.yonkersny.gov.

• Take shorter showers and save 5 to 7 gallons. Fill the bathtub only halfway and save 10-15 gallons.

• Don’t run the tap unnecessarily e.g. while shaving, brushing your teeth and washing dishes. Flowing faucets use 2 to 3 gallons per minute.
• Shut faucets off tightly.
• Repair all leaks in your plumbing system (check all toilets & faucets). A slow dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons per day and a running toilet can waste up to 100 gallons/day.
• Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Turn off all taps and water using appliances. Then check the meter after 15 minutes, if it moved you have a leak.
• Limit watering the lawn to early morning and late evening hours when cooler temperatures won’t cause quick evaporation.
• Install irrigation sensors on your automatic sprinkler system. They send a signal to the irrigation controller not to irrigate the yard after a good rainfall.
• Don’t cut the lawn too short; longer grass saves water.

• Install low flow showerheads, faucets (aerators) and low flush toilets.
• Run the dishwasher only when full. Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time.
• Connect a shut-off nozzle to your hose so water flows only when needed. When finished, turn it off at the spigot to avoid leaks.
• Don’t hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to clean leaves and debris.
• Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden.
• Wash your car with a bucket and hose with a nozzle.
• Wash clothing in full loads only, saves 16 to 25 gallons. When it is time to replace your washing machine look into getting a front load washer. They use 1/3 the water as a top loading machine.