2004 Water Quality Report •
Dear Tigard Water Service Area Resident,
The City of Tigard's Public Works Department is responsible for providing water to the nearly
50,000 residents of Durham, King City, two-thirds of Tigard and the unincorporated area of
Bull Mountain. In 2003 water demands fluctuated from nearly 5 million gallons per day
during winter months to over 14 million gallons per day during the summer. By year's end,
customers had used over 2 billion gallons of water. To ensure that the water being
delivered is of the highest quality, Tigard monitors the drinking water supply within our
distribution system for over 100 different contaminants. This is in addition to the over
150 regulated and unregulated contaminants our wholesale water providers are already
monitoring. The results of these routine water quality analyses show that Tigard's drinking
water continues to meet and/or exceed all Federal and State drinking water standards.
The purpose of this report is to present Tigard's water quality data from the past year.
The additional information provided is intended to inform, educate and update consumers
of local water issues affecting our community such as: water sources, health information for
immuno-compromised residents, cross connections & backflow and water conservation tips.
Tigard encourages those who are interested in Tigard's water issues to attend the
Intergovernmental Water Board's monthly meetings. The board consists of representatives
from the various municipalities within the Tigard Water Service Area. Meetings are
scheduled on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm and are held at the Tigard
Water Building Auditorium, located at 8777 SW Burnham Street in Tigard, Oregon.
Tigard is committed to providing the consumer with a clean, safe and dependable supply of
drinking water. Please take a moment to review this report. If you have any additional
questions and or concerns, please feel free to contact the City of Tigard's Water Quality
Program Coordinator at 503-718-2604.
Did you know that Tigard does NOT own a water supply capable of meeting the currant
and future water demands of consumers? It's true! In order to meet consumer's current and
JJre10Lin,q 1ecatec demands, Tigard purchases nearly 90% of its water from wholesale water providers. The Pniiiiliiiiiia
Water Bureau (PWB) provides nearly half of our water supply. The PWB manages the Bull Run Watershed, a
surface water supply, located in the Mount Hood National Forest. In cases of emergency and/or high demand,
the PWB also maintains groundwater wells located along the Columbia River. Tigard also purchases a large
percentage of its water supply from the Joint Water Commission (JWC). The JWC is comprised of multiple
members including the Tualatin Valley Water District and the cities of Beaverton, Forest Grove, Hillsboro and (as
of earlier this year)Tigard. The JWC receives water from the Trask&Tualatin River Watersheds located within the coast
range. In addition, Tigard is able to pump a small percentage of the water supply from city-owned groundwater wells which
are used only during months of high water demand.
Did you know that Tigard is responsible for maintaining nearly 215 miles of water distribution pipe?
That is right! After the water is disinfected by our wholesale water providers it is delivered to Tigard and pumped
into a network of pipes directing the water to 11 different storage tanks as well as two Aquifer Storage and
Recovery(ASR)groundwater wells. Storing water in tanks and ASR wells allow Tigard to store enough water to
meet fire protection needs and peak-water-demand days during the summer,while keeping costs at a minimum.
Did you know drinking water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds,
reservoirs, springs and wells? Water travels over the surface of the land and/or through the ground,
dissolving naturally occurring minerals which, in some cases, includes radioactive materials and other
substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. Contaminants that might be expected in
untreated water include: microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria; inorganic contaminants such as
salts and metals; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemicals from industrial or petroleum use; and radioactive
contaminants. Because of water's natural cycle, drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to
contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. However, the presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate
that the water poses a health risk. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The EPA
establishes test methods and monitoring requirements for contaminants and requires public water systems to give public notice
in the event of a violation. More information about contaminants and potential health effects are available from the EPA's Safe
Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791; or visit their website at. www.epa.gov/ow.
Are you more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population? Specifically,
immuno-compromised persons such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ
transplants, persons with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants, can be particularly at risk from
infections. These persons should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The Environmental
Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide guidelines on the appropriate means to lessen
the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants. For more information call the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or visit the EPA's web site at www.epa.gov/ow.
Not All Water Sources Are Created Equal - In May of 2004 the City of Tigard began receiving a fluoridated supply of
water from the City of Beaverton. Beaverton is injecting fluoride at a rate of 0.9 milligrams per liter(mg/1) of water. Since the
water received from Beaverton is only a percentage of all the water used in Tigard, customers can expect to receive a varying
level of fluoride in the drinking water. At no time will customers receive drinking water with fluoride levels above 0.9 mg/I. The
percentage of fluoridated water a customer receives will vary depending on their location within the water distribution system,
the amount of water being delivered by Beaverton and the total amount of water being demanded. For those customers taking
fluoride supplements we encourage you to share this information with your medical doctor.
The Water You Drink In addition to the 150 different contaminants tested for by our wholesale water
providers, the City of Tigard monitors the water quality through water samples collected throughout the water distribution
system. The following table outlines the contaminants found to be present in Tigard's water supply. If you have any questions
and/or concerns regarding this report, contact the City of Tigard's Water Quality Program Coordinator at 503-718-2604 or visit
Tigard's website at www.ci.tigard.or/water.
Important Definitions Water Quality Analysis Results for 2003
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): Highest Maximum Maximum
The highest level of a contaminant Contaminant Amount Contaminant Level Contaminant Level Typical Source
that is allowed in drinking water. Detected (MCL) Goal (MCLG)
MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs
as feasible using the best available 1 sample of 50 Treatment Technique:
treatment technology. Giardia liters had 2 cysts disinfection to inactivate Zero cysts Animal wastes
99.9% of cycsts
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal Total Coliform None Detected present in no more Zero bacteria Naturally present
(MCLG):The level of a Contaminant in than 5% of monthly detected in environment
drinking water below which there is Turbidity
no known or expected risk to health. Filtered 0.80 NTU Never to exceed 1 NTU (not to exceed 0.3 NTU
MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. in 95% of daily sampers per month) Soil run-off
Unfiltered 1.93 NTU 5.00 NTU Not Applicable
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level INORGANICS
(MRDL): The highest level of a
disinfectant allowed in drinking water. Arsenic 1.00 ppb 50.0 ppm No current MCLG Erosion
de deposits
of natural
There is convincing evidence that p
addition of a disinfectant is necessary Barium 0.008 ppm 2.00 ppm 2.00 ppm Erosion of natural
for control of microbial contaminants. deposits
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Chromium 2.00 ppb 100.0 ppb 100.0 ppb Erosion of natural
Goal(MRDLG):The level of a drinking deposits
water disinfectant below which there Fluroide 0.11 ppm 4.00 ppm 4.00 ppm Erosion of natural
is no known or expected risk to deposits
health. MRDLGs do not reflect the Nitrate Erosion of natural
benefits of the use of disinfectants to Filtered 1.10 ppm
control microbial contamination. 10.00 ppm 10.00 ppm deposits;animal
Unfiltered 0.13 ppm waste
Action Level (AL): The concentration Added during water
of a contaminant,which, if exceeded, Sodium* 13.00 ppm Not Applicable Not Applicable treatment;erosion of
triggers treatment, or other nattural depsits
requirements that a water system RADIONUCLIDES
must follow. Radon* 277.0 pCi/I Not Applicable Not Applicable Erosion of natural
deposits
Treatment Technique(TT): A required
process Intended to reduce the level Uranium 0.1087 pCi/I 30.00 pCi/I 0.0 pCi/I Erosion of natural
of a contaminant in drinking water. deposits
BY-PRODUCTSDISINFECTANT RESIDUALS &
Nephelometric Turbidity Units Disinfectant Residuals
(NTUs):Turbidity is a measure of how Chloramines 2.1 ppm 4.00 ppm 4.00 ppm Water additives
clear the water looks because it can used to control
interfere with disinfection and provide Chlorine 0.673 ppm 4.00 ppm 4.00 ppm microbes
a medium for microbial growth.
By-product of
Parts per million (ppm); parts per Total Haloacetic 44.00 ppb 60.0 ppb 0.00 ppb drinking water
billion(ppb):These units describe the Acids chlorination
levels of detected contaminants. One By-product of
part per million is equal to one minute Total 51.70 ppb 80.0 ppb 0.00 ppb drinking water
in two years. One part per billion is Trihalomethanes chlorination
equal to one minute in 2,000 years.
*These are unregulated contaminants. Unregulated contaminant monitoring helps the EPA determine where
Picocurries per Liter (pCi/I): A certain contaminants occur and whether it needs to regulate those contaminants.
standard measurement of beta For the latest water quality results visit the Oregon Department of Health - Drinking Water Program's Oneline
particles in water. Data Query Page @ http://170.104.158.16/
RADON is a naturally occurring,radioactive gas that you cannot see,taste,or smell. Radon is found all over the United States. Compared to radon entering the
1 home through soil,radon from tap water will typically be a small source of radon in indoor air. Radon is a known human carcinogen. Breathing air containing radon
can lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing radon may also cause increased risk of stomach cancer. For more information about Radon,call the EPA's Radon
Hotline(800-SOS-RADON).
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM is a microorganism(protozoan)naturally present in surface water supplies throughout the world.Surface water supplies are particularly
vulnerable if they receive runoff or pollution from human or animal wastes. Since wildlife inhabits both the Trask-Tualatin River Watershed and Bull Run Watershed,
' the managing agencies regularly monitor for Cryptosporidium and have done so for more than ten years. Occasionally,low levels of Cryptosporidium are found to be
present. New national standards have been established to further reduce the risks of illness from Cryptosporidium. Symptoms of Infection include nausea,
abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Most healthy individuals are able to overcome the disease within a few weeks.However,immuno-compromised people have more
1 difficulty and are at greater risk of developing severe,life threatening illnesses.Immuno-compromised individuals are encouraged to consult their doctor regarding
appropriate precautions to avoid infection.Cryptosporidium must be ingested for it to cause disease,and may be spread through means other than drinking water.
m p I e
Water Wise Tips
for conserving water
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are accustomed to thinking of water as plentiful and widely available. However,
with population growth, limited water supplies, dry summers, system constraints and climate changes, water is not
always as plentiful as it may seem. Saving water is especially important during the summer months when rainfall
diminishes and people consume two to three times more water than during winter months. Known as "summer
peaking", this increased use is a concern because we draw water from our reservoirs so fast that it threatens the
steady supply needed for daily use, emergencies and fire fighting. We must all do our part to help manage our
precious water resource. One way to help ease water demand and save on your utility bills is to practice water
smart landscaping techniques. The following are some water smart landscaping tips and techniques that will help
make the most of our water this summer.
When To Water Only water your lawn when it begins to show various signs of stress. Some of these signs include,
duller than normal foliage, leaf blades that are beginning to roll, and grass that does not spring back when walked
on. Water your lawn and garden in the evening or early in the morning to reduce evaporation.
Even/Odd Watering If your address ends in an EVEN number, only water on EVEN days of the month. If your
address ends in an ODD number, only water on ODD days of the month.
Maintain Your Irrigation System Check sprinkler heads to see if they are clogged, damaged, or misaligned; also
check the system for leaks. Adjust your watering schedule with weather changes.
A "Water Smart" Landscape Design Tip Take notice of your yard, such as where there is the most shade and
where it is dry. Different plants have different needs. Group plants with similar needs together.
Use Some Mulch Mulching helps prevent the soil from drying, decreases weed growth, adds nutrients to the soil,
and reduces erosion. Add two to four inches of mulch, bark, or peat moss around trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Use Native Plants Native plants like Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), Currant (Ribes sanguineum), and
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) will flourish in a water wise landscape. Like most new additions to your
landscape, native plants need to be watered regularly for the first year or two, but once established, native plants
only need to be watered during long dry spells.
By incorporating these simple "water smart" tips into your everyday lawn habits, you will help ensure and protect our
water resources for years to come. For more information on water conservation, visit our website at
www.ci.tigard.or.us/water, or contact the Water Conservation Program Coordinator at 503-718-2599.
Cross Connections "
Are You At Risk?
The quality of drinking water is important to all of us and as such, connections to an existing plumbing system require a permit and
the City of Tigard is committed to providing safe and high-quality inspection by a plumbing inspector. State regulations and the City
drinking water to all residences and businesses within the Tigard of Tigard Municipal Code require that the backflow assemblies
Water Service Area. have an annual performance test by a State certified backflow
assembly tester.
A cross connection is a point in a plumbing system where the
potable water supply is connected directly, or can be connected Over the years, many plumbing systems and sprinklers were
directly,to a non-potable source( plumbing fixture, equipment used installed without a permit, or without the knowledge that a backflow
in any plumbing system). Pollutants or contaminants can enter the prevention assembly was needed.With the increase in irrigation
safe drinking water system through uncontrolled cross connections systems and water-used fixtures installation,the probability of
when backflow occurs. Some common cross connections found in contaminating our drinking water system is increased significantly.
plumbing and water systems include:
The most common threat of backflow is through our garden hose.
Lawn irrigation systems If a hose bib was open and the hose was submerged in a wading
Solar heat systems pool during backflow conditions,the non-potable water in the pool
Swimming pools and spas would be siphoned into the household plumbing and back into the
Boilers public water system. Protect your drinking water by taking the
following precautions:
Fire sprinkler systems
Auxiliary water supplies (wells) Do Not...
Processing tanks • Submerge hoses in buckets, pools,tubs, sinks, ponds, etc.
Hose bibs • Use spray attachments without a backflow prevention device
• Connect waste pipes from water softeners or other treatment
Water distribution systems are designed with the intention of the systems to the sewer, submerged drain pipe, etc.
water flowing in a specific direction from the distribution system to - Use a hose to unplug blocked toilets, sewers, etc.
the consumer plumbing. However, hydraulic conditions within the
system may deviate from the normal conditions, causing the water Do...
to flow in the reverse direction. This is known as backflow. • Keep the ends of hoses clear of all possible contaminants
• Install hose bib type backflow preventers on all threaded faucets
Because of these potential dangers to the water consumer, it is around your home
necessary to control cross connections. There are several types of • Install an approved backflow prevention device on all
mechanical assemblies which serve as backflow prevention devices. underground lawn irrigation systems, boilers,auxiliary water
When backflow condition occurs, without proper backflow supplies, solar heat systems, etc.
• Test approved backflow assembly annually
prevention devices, contaminants or pollutants of a non-potable
water system would be siphoned or pumped into the public
drinking water system.
To find out more information regarding cross connections
and backflow, visit Tigard's website at
Oregon Administrative Rules and Oregon Specialty Plumbing Codes www.ci.tigard.or.us/water or contact the City of Tiigard's Cross
require backflow prevention assemblies to be installed on plumbing Connections Progarm Coordinator at 503-718-2603
systems where a cross connection exists. All plumbing works or
What you NEED to know about lead in drinking water.
Did you know that lead and copper can with and without pH adjustment shows over
enter the water through corrosion within the 50 percent reduction in lead at the tap with . .
distribution system and/or in household pH adjustment.
plumbing systems? 9
Lead is a serious issue,especially for infants Percentile • ' ' •
In 2003 elevated lead levels were NOT and children who are typically more Value
detected in Tigard's water sources nor in vulnerable to lead in drinking water than
the distribution system. However, as the general population. For more AL is exceeded if
mentioned above, exposure to lead through information, contact the "Lead Line", a . - 0%o
drinking water is possible IF materials in a phone line for resources concerning lead 'Level (AL) . . --
building's plumbing contain lead. The level hazards. The program provides information have levels greater
of lead in water can increase when water about potential sources of lead in the home than 1.30 ppm • "
stands in contact with lead-based solder (including water, paint, dust, soil, pottery,
and brass faucets containing lead. and folk remedies), information on free
childhood blood lead testing and lead • of Sites No samples3 of 100
In an effort to decrease the probability of poisoning prevention, referrals to services exceeding exceeded home •
lead leaching into drinking water from to reduce lead hazards in eligible homes in AL exceeded
corrosion of household plumbing the City of the Portland metropolitan region and free
Tigard is participating in a joint monitoring lead in water testing. (The program targets Maximum
program with the City of Portland. Tigard is testing the water in households most at risk Contaminant
responsible for collecting water samples from lead in water, including pregnant Level GoalPEI from local sites representative of our women or children age six or younger who
sources, distribution system and homes live in homes built between 1970 and
with lead solder in the plumbing. This 1985.)
information, as well as information from
other wholesale water customers assists For more information about lead hazards, Sources of Corrosion of household • •
Portland in conducting an effective lead in water testing, and childhood blood Contaminant plumbing
corrosion treatment that reduces corrosion lead testing,call the Lead Line at 503-988-
in plumbing by increasing the pH of the 4000 or visit www.leadline.org. systems
water. Comparison of monitoring results 19
City of Tigard PRSRT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
13125 SW Hall Blvd. PORTALND, OR
Tigard, OR 97223 PERMIT NO. 2528
* * * * * * ECRWSS
Postal Customer