CITY OF COLLEGE STATIONWATER SERVICES

cstx.gov/water

2020 Drinking Water Quality

Report

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For the period ending Dec. 31, 2020City of College Station, Public Water System ID TX0210002

Drinking Water Quality ReportCITY OF COLLEGE STATION

WATER SERVICES

cstx.gov/water

225

4.4

92,800+

0billion

number ofcontaminants tested for inyour water

gallons of water treated in 2020

regulatedcontaminants

detected

drinkingwater samples

collected in2020

drinking water violations

INFORMACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL

Este reporte incluye información importante sobre el agua para tomar. Para asistencia en español, favor de llamar al telefono 979.764.3435.

This report summarizes critical information about your drinking water and efforts by the City of College Station’s Water Services Department to provide safe drinking water. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency require public water systems to provide annual drinking water quality reports to their water customers under the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments. We are pleased to report the City of College Station provides its customers with safe, high-quality drinking water that meets all federal and state requirements.

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SPECIAL NOTICE FOR ELDERLY, INFANTS, AND IMMUNO-COMPROMISED PEOPLE

You may be more vulnerable than the general population to specific microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, and immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; people who have undergone organ transplants; those undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate ways to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800.426.4791).

DRINKING WATER SOURCES AND SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENTS

Drinking water sources (tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater 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 human activity.

College Station relies entirely on groundwater for its drinking water supply, pumping water from 8 deep wells in the Simsboro Aquifer and one well in each in the Carrizo and Sparta Aquifer in northwest Brazos County. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has assessed your source water, describing the susceptibility and types of constituents that may contact your drinking water source based on human activities and natural conditions. Results indicate that some sources are susceptible to specific contaminants. The sampling requirements for your water system are based on that susceptibility and previous sample data. Any detection of these contaminants will be found in this Consumer Confidence Report. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts in our system, contact Water Resource Coordinator Jennifer Nations at jnations@cstx.gov or 979.764.6223.

For more information about your water sources, refer to the Source Water Assessment Viewer at tceq.texas.gov/gis/swaview

Additional details about sources and source-water assessments are available in Drinking Water Watch at dww2.tceq.texas.gov/DWW

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A water contaminant is anything other than hydrogen or oxygen. Water’s chemical symbol, H2O, means two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom make up a single water molecule. A contaminant in water does not mean there is a health risk; it

simply means something else is in the water besides essential elements.

Contaminants that may be present in source water (which is untreated) include:

Microbial ContaminantsSuch as viruses and bacteria, that may come from wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural, livestock operations, and wildlife. Each month, College Station tests at least 110 water samples from sites throughout our distribution system for chlorine residual and bacteria. In 2020, 1,335 samples were tested, and NONE tested positive for E. coli.

Inorganic ContaminantsSuch as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and HerbicidesThat may come from sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. College Station’s water was tested for 179 different organic chemicals. NO pesticides or herbicides were detected.

Organic Chemical ContaminantsIncluding synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive ContaminantsThat can be naturally occurring or result from oil and gas production and mining activities.

WHAT IS A CONTAMINANT?

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate the water poses a health risk. Bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water that meets all Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, such as College Station’s water. The Food and Drug Administration regulates bottled water since it is considered a packaged food product. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791. Bottled water is handy to have on hand for emergencies, but if you carry bottled water for convenience, do the planet a favor and take a reusable water bottle filled with tap water.

Is bottled water better or safer than tap water?

Naturally occurring minerals (primarily iron and manganese, which are heavier than water) settle in pipelines when usage is low. When the flow direction and pressure change, such as when a water line breaks, minerals are stirred up and flow from faucets when you turn on the tap. Discolored water, if it still has a disinfectant residual, can still be used. Report discolored water to Utility Dispatch at 855.528.4278 and choose option 2 to report a water or wastewater problem.

If the water in my bathtub, sink, or toilet is brown, does that mean it is contaminated? What causes it to change color? What should I do if my water is discolored?

All contaminants detected in routine compliance monitoring are listed in the annual drinking water quality report. If a contaminant is not listed, it wasn’t detected. College Station’s drinking water comes from a confined aquifer thousands of feet underground, naturally protecting it from many contaminants.

Why isn’t arsenic/chromium/etc., included in the report?

College Station’s water contains 8.07 mg/L Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), as noted in the table on page 9, and is considered “soft.” Water hardness is sometimes expressed in grains per gallon, and College Station’s water has less than one grain per gallon hardness. Presence of high amounts of calcium and magnesium in water can make it difficult for soaps and detergents to create lather. Due to the low amount of calcium in College Station’s water, our water is considered very soft, so a little soap or shampoo goes a long way!

What is the hardness of College Station’s water?

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Water Quality Test ResultsINORGANIC CONTAMINANTS - Monitored at the Water Treatment Station

Year Sampled

Contaminant Units Highest Level

Detected

Range ofLevels

Detected

MCL MCLG Violation Likely Source of Contaminant

2019 Barium ppm 0.0858 0.0858 - 0.0858

2 2 No Discharge of drilling wastes;

Erosion ofnatural

deposits.

2020 Fluoride ppm 0.33 0.33 – 0.33 4 4 No Erosion ofnatural deposits;

Water additive which promotes

strong teeth

2018 Nitrate(as Nitrogen)

ppm 0.05 0.05 – 0.05 10 10 No Erosion of natural deposits

MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS - Monitored in the Distribution System

Year Sampled

Contaminant IdealGoal

(MCLG)

Highest LevelAllowed (MCL)

Highest Monthly % of Samples with Total

Coliform Present

Violation Likely Source of Contaminant

2020 Total Coliform Bacteria

0 5% of monthlysamples are

positive

0.9% No Naturally present in the

environment.

Total coliform bacteria are not typically disease-causing organisms but are often found in association with other microbes that can cause disease. They are indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because their absence indicates the water is microbiologically safe for human consumption. In 2020, 1,335 samples – at least 110 per month -- were collected by Environmental Services personnel. Only five samples tested positive for total coliform bacteria.

If total coliform is detected, additional sampling is conducted to determine if fecal Coli form (a subset of the total coliform) is detected. Because the origins of fecal coliforms are more specific than the origins of the more general total coliform group of bacteria, fecal coliforms are considered a more accurate indication of animal or human waste than total coliforms. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the major species in the fecal coliform group.

No samples tested positive for fecal coliform bacteria. All locations with total coliform positive results had repeat samples taken, and all tested negative for total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria. College Station continued its record of 100% compliance with the Total Coliform Rule.

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Disinfectant Residual and Disinfection Byproducts

DISINFECTION RESIDUAL - Monitored in the Distribution System

Year Sampled

Disinfectant Units Highest AverageDetected

Range ofLevels

Detected

MRDL MRDLG Violation Likely Source of Contaminant

2020 Chlorine ppm 1.71 0.87 – 3.39 4 4 No Water additive used to control

microbes

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS - Monitored in the Distribution System

Year Sampled

Contaminant Units Highest LRAA

Detected

Range ofLevels

Detected

MCL MCLG Violation Likely Source of Contaminant

2020 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

ppb 23.18 10.7 - 35.5 80 No goal for the total

No Byproduct of drinking water

disinfection

2020 Total Trihalomethanes

(TTHM)

ppb 2.43 0 – 5.5 60 No goal for the total

No Byproduct of drinking water

disinfection

The disinfection byproducts haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes are byproducts of the chlorine disinfection process, formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) are the sum of the chloroform, dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane, and bromoform concentrations.

Haloacetic acids are represented as HAA5 because they are made up of a group of five contaminants. HAA5 is reported as the sum of the monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid concentrations.

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Lead and Copper Monitoring

LEAD AND COPPER - Monitored at Customers’ Faucets Every Three Years

Year Sampled

Contaminant Action Level ( AL)

Ideal Goal (MCLG)

90% of Test Levels Were Less Than

# of Sites

Over AL

Violation Likely Source ofContaminant

2019 Lead 15 ppb 0 ppb 1.12 ppb 0 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural

deposits

2019 Copper 1.3 ppm 1.3 ppm 0.116 ppm 0 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural

deposits

How to Interpret Lead and Copper Test Results:

Lead and copper are monitored at the customer’s water tap because exposure comes from household plumbing. College Station’s water does not exceed the action level for lead (15 parts per billion, or 15 ppb) or copper (1.3 parts per million or 1.3 ppm). The 90th percentile level means that 90% of College Station’s tap water samples measured at or below 1.12 parts per billion (ppb) for lead and 0.116 parts per million (ppm) for copper. The Environmental Protection Agency considers the 90th percentile the same as an average value for other contaminants.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. We are responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but we cannot control the

variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you can have your water tested.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Health Information about Lead in Drinking Water:

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Action Level Goal (ALG)

The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level

The concentration of a contaminant that triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow if exceeded. This term applies exclusively to lead and copper monitoring.

Average or Avg

Regulatory compliance with some Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) is based on running annual average monthly samples.

Erosion of Natural Deposits

The language is required in the “possible source of contaminant column” for naturally occurring contaminants. Erosion of natural deposits means the substance is naturally present in drinking water.

Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA)

The average of all sampling results for a particular contaminant specific to a location. The term is used exclusively for disinfection byproducts.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL

The average of all sampling results for a particular contaminant specific to a location. The term is used exclusively for disinfection byproducts.

DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG

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

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or MRDL

The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. Convincing evidence exists that adding a disinfectant is necessary to control microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal or MRDLG

The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected health risk. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

NA

Not applicable.

ppb

Micrograms per liter or parts per billion – equivalent to one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water.

ppm

Milligrams per liter or parts per million – equivalent to one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.

The tables in this report contain scientific terms and measures, some of which may require explanation.

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Secondary and Other Non-Regulated Contaminants

SECONDARY AND NON-REGULATED CONTAMINANTS

Year Sampled Substance Detected Levels Limit Units

2020 Bicarbonate 402 No recommendation mg/L

2019 Calcium 3.23 No recommendation mg/L

2020 Carbonate 6 No recommendation mg/L

2020 Chloride 51 300 mg/L

2019 Copper 0.004 1 mg/L

2020 Diluted Conductance 870 No recommendation mmhos/cm

2019 Manganese 0.0024 0.05 mg/L

2020 pH 8.7 >7.0 N/A

2020 Phenolphthalein Alkalinity as CaCo3 5 No recommendation mg/L

2017 Potassium 2.07 No recommendation mg/L

2019 Sodium 225 No recommendation mg/L

2020 Sulfate 13 300 mg/L

2020 Total Alkalinity as CaCo3 339 No recommendation mg/L

2020 Total Dissolved Solids 512 1,000 mg/L

2019 Total Hardness as CaCo3 8.07 No recommendation mg/L

The City of College Station collects many samples throughout the year to ensure our water complies with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, but we look for much more. Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium, or iron) often found in drinking water can cause taste, color, and odor problems. These are called secondary constituents and are monitored by the State of Texas, not the EPA. These constituents are not cause for health concerns thus are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, so they are not required in the report. However, they can affect the aesthetic qualities of drinking water, such as taste or feel, so we provide the data for informational purposes.

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What are we looking for? How often? Why do we look for it? Who collects?

DisinfectantResidual (Chlorine)

Daily Ground Water Rule City of College Station

Coliform Bacteria Monthly Total Coliform Rule City of College Station

DisinfectionBy-Products (DBP’s)

Quarterly Disinfection Byproduct Rule TCEQ

Nitrates Annually Primary Drinking Water Standard TCEQ

UnregulatedContaminants

Every 2 years Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR)

TCEQ

Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs)

Every 3 years Primary Drinking Water Standard TCEQ

Minerals Every 3 years Primary Drinking Water Standard TCEQ

Lead & Copper Every 3 years Lead & Copper Rule Collected atcustomer’s tap

Metals Every 6 Years Primary Drinking Water Standard TCEQ

Radionuclides Every 6 Years Primary Drinking Water Standard TCEQ

Volatile OrganicCompounds (VOC’s)

Every 6 Years Primary Drinking Water Standard TCEQ

Water Accountability Statement

College Station Water Services maintains records of water production, water sales, and water lost to breaks, flushing, and other sources. In the water loss audit submitted to the Texas Water Development Board for

January through December 2020, an estimated 220 million gallons of water loss were recorded.

What is College Station’s Water Tested For? When and Why?

The report contains the results of drinking water quality monitoring conducted through Dec. 31, 2020. College Station’s drinking water comes from groundwater sources, and the amounts of some contaminants do not change often, so those are sampled less frequently. Other substances, such as the chlorine added for

disinfection, change daily and are tested regularly.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORT, CONTACT:

Jennifer Nations | Water Resource Coordinator | 979.764.6223 | jnations@cstx.gov

BILLING QUESTIONS:

Utility Customer Service | 979.764.3535 | cstx.gov/ucs

UTILITY OUTAGE HOTLINE:

855.528.4278

CONTACT INFORMATION