JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON -- A water utility seldom takes the opportunity to tell customers all they are doing to produce exceptional-quality drinking water. Often, we concentrate only on our mission and fail to "toot our own horn."
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation have given us an opportunity to tell the rest of our story in the form of this annual consumer confidence report.
We are pleased to provide this comprehensive report for our customers who work and reside on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Our goals and efforts have been closely coordinated to provide you with a complete picture of the water quality program.
The water you consume is of exceptional quality and exceeds the standards established by the EPA.
Who are we?
While there are two public water systems on JBER, the two systems are connected and in essence operate as a continuous system from the water plant to the consumer. The commonality of the two systems allows us to efficiently operate as a team in order to serve our most deserving customers; the military personnel and civilian employees assigned to the joint installation. This report will provide many technical aspects of our water quality but just as importantly, it will allow us an opportunity to let you know some of the work going on behind the scenes.
Doyon Utilities owns and operates utilities located on the Richardson side of JBER.
As the water purveyor on the Richardson side, Doyon manages the water plant and distribution lines, while conducting bacteriological and chemical tests to ensure all quality standards are met.
Once the water reaches the Elmendorf side, the 673d Civil Engineer Group and 673d Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering flight take over. CEG provides distribution system oversight, while bioenvironmental engineering monitors water quality, including additional testing of the system for bacterial contamination, with each major population area sampled at least once a month.
Additionally, several select chemical contaminants are re-sampled to verify results seen on JBER, as required by the state of Alaska. The results ensure water quality.
To ensure long-term reliability of the water source, we have conducted studies to determine where we need to focus our resources. Our plant receives continuous oversight of the drinking water it produces.
You can be confident the dedicated staff of state-certified professional water treatment operators will protect the quality of your drinking water.
We welcome any suggestions on how to make these reports more informative in the future. Additionally, we encourage you to use the water you need but don't needlessly use water. Conservation of resources is important and we ask you to do your part.
Where does our water come from?
JBER's drinking water is obtained from surface-water drainage and three local wells.
Large debris is removed before it enters the treatment plant where it is undergoes several conventional processes.
The plant is designed to produce seven million gallons of water per day, and all processes are controlled and monitored by computers.
Because groundwater is a high-quality source of raw water, the only treatment necessary is disinfection. Each well is equipped with its own in-line chlorination equipment to ensure water is free of microbial contamination. Water is tested several times a day to ensure pH, chlorine residuals, and fluoride are at appropriate levels.
This report summarizes drinking water quality for the period between January 1 and December 31, 2016.
An electronic copy can be downloaded at www.doyonutilities.com or www.jber.af.mil. Hard copies are also available at Doyon Utilities or by contacting Kathleen Hook at 455-1540.
Water Testing and Your Health
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or underground, it can dissolve naturally occurring minerals. In some cases, water can pick up radioactive material, or substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.
Although our water supply may contain some of these contaminants, it is important to know these substances are either removed completely or reduced to a safe level before it arrives at your tap.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
· Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
· Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which may naturally occur or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharge, oil and gas production or farming.
· Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
· Organic contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic compounds, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and may also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
· Radioactive contaminants, which may occur naturally or result from oil and gas production and mining activities.
To ensure tap water is safe to drink, EPA regulations limit the amount of certain contaminants. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. More information about contaminants and potential health effects is available through the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Some people in the general population may be more vulnerable than others to contaminants in drinking water. Immuno-compromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, persons with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, and some elderly and infants, can be particularly at risk of infection. These people should seek advice from their health care providers. EPA and Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
For general information or for water quality questions, call Doyon Utilities site management office at 338-3600 or JBER Bioenvironmental Engineering at 384-3985.
Water quality data for community water systems throughout the country is available at www.waterdata.com.
Source Water Assessment
For the last several years, the ADEC has been working on assessments of the vulnerability of the water sources that provide water to all of the public water systems in Alaska. The source water assessment for JBER's water treatment plant is available for review by contacting Bioenvironmental Engineering at 384-3985 or Kathleen Hook at 455-1540.
Hydrant Maintenance
Hydrant maintenance is a top priority. Twice a year, in April and September, we visit each hydrant in our system, and test the water flow and performance.
This is our way to provide superior fire protection to ensure the safety and well-being of our consumers.
Drinking Water Test Results
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 the water poses a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA hotline at (800) 426-4791.
The table lists the regulated contaminants required to be monitored by the EPA that were detected in the water. While most monitoring is required annually, some contaminants are sampled less frequently.
The interim enhanced surface water treatment rule required testing for trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids at the farthest end of the system. This sampling was done quarterly in 2013. All the substances we found were present in quantities less than the EPA's limits for safe drinking water.
For a complete listing of test results, please call Bioenvironmental Engineering at 384-3985 or Kathleen Hook at 455-1540.
Lead/Copper in Drinking Water
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires public water systems to test water samples from its customers to determine lead and copper levels. Elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially in pregnant women and young children.
Samples were collected at numerous locations on JBER-R during June 2016, and at JBER-E during June and July 2016. During both events, the 90th percentiles were below the EPA action levels.
Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. There is nothing in the treatment process to introduce lead, so water is tested at the individual service locations.
If abnormal levels of lead or copper are detected, residents will be notified and JBER will correct the problem.
One method to minimize the risk of lead or copper contamination is to let the tap water run for 30 seconds to two minutes to flush any water that has been sitting for several hours. It is important to use this approach for drinking water or cooking water. For more information about lead, its effects, or treatment, call the EPA hotline or visit epa.gov/safewater/lead.
JBER takes weekly water quality samples as well as additional samples during every line break. We make every effort to ensure the water is safe, and the installation is notified should water quality deteriorate.
Some residents, especially in older housing, may experience brown or rusty water coming from their faucets. This is usually caused by minerals in the water and does not mean that the water is not safe.
Any brown or rusty water that does not run clear after several minutes should be reported to housing maintenance.
Another common occurrence is white cloudy water. This is due to more oxygen in the water and most often noticed during colder months. Water that does not clear up after sitting for a few minutes should also be reported.
2017 JBER Water Quality Report
Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which triggers treatment or other requirements.
JBER-E: JBER - Elmendorf side. Public Water System 2211423
JBER-R: JBER - Richardson side. Public Water System 2212039
Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCL goals as feasible using the best available technology.
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.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: 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: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
MFL: Million fibers per liter >10 µm
mrem/yr: Millirems per year.
Nephelometric Turbidity Units: The unit of measurement for turbidity samples.
Not Applicable: When NA is used in the range column, only one sample was taken, therefore, no range exists.
Not Detectable: The contaminant is below the detectable limits of the testing method.
pCi/L: Picocuries per liter.
ppb: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter.
ppm: Parts per million or milligrams per liter.
Treatment Technique: A required process