2017 Water Quality Report

March 2017 Water System #: 634506

This summer the City is constructing a new corrosion control facility to treat the drinking water coming
from the McAllister Wellfield. The facility will use aeration towers (non-chemical) to raise the pH. We
hope to have the facility built and online by the end of 2017.

Within the 2017 Water Quality Report you will find important information about Olympia’s drinking
water. The City is required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide this information
annually to our customers.

Table of Contents Page Number(s)

Test Result Tables 1-4

Definition of Terms 5

Water Source Information 6

How to Get Involved 6

Important Health Information 7

Contaminants and Health Concerns 7

Required Statement Regarding Lead 7

Program Information: 8
• Groundwater Protection
• Cross Connection Control

Staff Contact Information 9

City of Olympia utility staff operates and maintains your water system 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. We ensure our customers have clean and reliable drinking water.

City of Olympia | 2017 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport

 2017 Water Quality Report

Range of Amount Typical Source of

Contaminant MCL MCLG Testing Frequency
Detected Contamination

Water Supply System (Tap Water) After Chlorination (2016)

95% of samples
70 times per month Naturally occurring in
Total Coliform Bacteria must have zero 1 Zero - 1
detections
at a minimum the environment
Disinfectant in the
Metered
Chlorine residual (ppm) 4 ppm 4 ppm 0.26 - 1.71 ppm water treatment
continuously process
Disinfection By-products

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb) 60 ppb Zero 2.50 - 5.90 ppb By-product of
Annually drinking water
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 80 ppb Zero 5.70 – 10.30 ppb
(ppb) chlorination

City Water Range of Amount

Number of Sites Testing Typical Source of
Contaminant MCL Amount Detected
Above the AL Frequency Contamination
Detected (Low-High)
Lead and Copper Results – Taken at Customer’s Tap (2015)
Action Level (AL) 90% of the homes
Copper (ppm) 0.054 - 1.4 ppm Corrosion of
1.3 ppm 1.2 ppm 5 out of
Action Level (AL) 90% of the homes Every 3 years household
36 sampled
Lead (ppb) 0 -27 ppb plumbing
15 ppb 7 ppb
Notes: Action Level for Copper – 90% of the homes tested must have levels less than 1.3 ppm detected.
Action Level for Lead – 90% of the homes tested must have levels less than 15 ppb detected.

Water Source pH Average pH Range

pH – City of Olympia Water Sources (2016)
McAllister Wellfield 6.6 6.3 - 6.9
Shana Park 7.7 7.1 - 8.2
Allison Springs 7.5 7.3 - 7.7
The following wells are not online and therefore do not have data in the pH table above: Hoffman, Kaiser and Indian Summer.

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Allison Allison Indian

Contaminant McAllister Shana Park Hoffman
Unit Springs Springs Summer Well SRL MCL
Wellfield Well #10 Well #8
Well #13 Well #19 #20
Radionuclide Test Results (2016)
Radium 228 pCi/L <1.00 <1.00 <1.00 <1.00 1.05 <1.00 1.0 5
Organic Test Results
Total Xylenes ug/L <0.40 (2015) 0.40 (2015) <0.40 (2014) <0.40 (2014) <0.50 (2015) 0.40 (2016) 0.50 10,000

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McAllister Allison Springs Allison Springs

Trigger
Contaminant Wellfield Well #13 Well #19 Units SRL MCL
Level
(2016 Test Results) (2014 Test Results) (2014 Test Results)

Drinking Water Source Inorganic Test Results

Arsenic 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.01 0.01
Barium 0.003 0.002 0.0035 mg/L 0.001 2 2
Cadmium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.005 0.005
Chromium 0.0006 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.1 0.1
Mercury <0.0002 <0.0002 <0.0002 mg/L 0.0002 0.002 0.002
Selenium <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 mg/L 0.002 0.05 0.05
Beryllium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.004 0.004
Nickel <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 mg/L 0.005 0.1 0.1
Antimony <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.006 0.006
Thallium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.002 0.002
Cyanide <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 mg/L 0.01 0.2 0.2
Fluoride <0.1 <0.2 <0.2 mg/L 0.2 2 4
Nitrite <0.1 <0.1* <0.1* mg/L 0.5 0.5 1
Nitrate 0.72 1.14* 1.18* mg/L 0.5 5 10
Nitrate + Nitrite<N 0.72 1.14* 1.18* mg/L 0.5 5 10
Iron <0.10 <0.1 <0.1 mg/L 0.1 0.3 0.3
Manganese <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.05 0.05
Silver <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 mg/L 0.01 0.05 0.05
Chloride 5.0 5.3 6.9 mg/L 20 250 250
Sulfate 3.6 2.8 6.9 mg/L 10 250 250
Zinc <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 mg/L 0.005 5 5
Sodium 5.2 5.6 6.8 mg/L 5 n/a n/a
Hardness as Calcium Carbonate 49.2 56.3 62.2 mg/L 10 n/a n/a
Conductivity 138 133 155 uS/cm 10 700 700
Turbidity <0.10 0.15 0.11 NTU 0.01 1 1
Color <5 <5 <5 Color Unit 5 15 15
Lead <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 n/a 0.015
Copper <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 mg/L 0.005 n/a 1.3
* 2016 test results

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Shana Park Indian Summer Trigger

Contaminant Hoffman Well #8 Units SRL MCL
Well #11 Well #20 Level

Drinking Water Source Inorganic Test Results (2014)

Arsenic 0.002 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.01 0.01
Barium 0.0024 0.013 0.005 mg/L 0.001 2 2
Cadmium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.005 0.005
Chromium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.1 0.1
Mercury <0.0002 <0.001 <0.0002 mg/L 0.0002 0.002 0.002
Selenium <0.002 <0.0002 <0.002 mg/L 0.002 0.05 0.05
Beryllium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.004 0.004
Nickel <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 mg/L 0.005 0.1 0.1
Antimony <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.006 0.006
Thallium <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 0.002 0.002
Cyanide <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 mg/L 0.01 0.2 0.2
Fluoride <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 mg/L 0.2 2 4
Nitrite <0.1* <0.1* <0.1* mg/L 0.5 0.5 1
Nitrate 2.47* <0.1* <0.10* mg/L 0.5 5 10
Nitrate + Nitrite<N 2.47* <0.1* <0.10* mg/L 0.5 5 10
Iron <0.1 1.08** 0.05 mg/L 0.1 0.3 0.3
Manganese <0.001 0.15** 0.003 mg/L 0.001 0.05 0.05
Silver <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 mg/L 0.01 0.05 0.05
Chloride 5.3 3.3 6.7 mg/L 20 250 250
Sulfate 2.9 6.2 6.8 mg/L 10 250 250
Zinc <0.005 0.009 0.008 mg/L 0.005 5 5
Sodium 5.6 6.1 6.8 mg/L 5 n/a n/a
Hardness as Calcium Carbonate 56.5 45.2 62.1 mg/L 10 n/a n/a
Conductivity 133 120 155 uS/cm 10 700 700
Turbidity 0.14 1.64 0.57 NTU 0.01 1 1
Color <5 15 <5 Color Unit 5 15 15
Lead <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 mg/L 0.001 n/a 0.015
Copper <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 mg/L 0.005 n/a 1.3
* 2016 test results
** Note: Iron and Manganese are secondary contaminants. They can cause aesthetic issues but do not cause an increase in health risks.

City of Olympia | 2017 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport


Definition of Terms
Action Level (AL)
Inorganic Contaminants
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)
Microbial Contaminants
Micrograms Per Liter (ug/L)
Milligrams per Liter (mg/L)
Milliliter
Organic Chemical Contaminants
Parts Per Billion (ppb)
Parts Per Million (ppm)
Picocurie Per Liter (pCi/L)
Pesticides and Herbicides
Radioactive Contaminants
State Reporting Level (SRL)
Trigger Level
Turbidity
City of Olympia | 2017 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport
2017 Water Quality Report
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements that a water system must follow.
Salts and metals, which can occur naturally or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or
domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, and farming.
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to
health. MCLG allows for a margin of safety.
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.
The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that
the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Viruses, parasites, and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems,
agricultural livestock operations, or wildlife.
Micrograms per liter of water.
Milligrams per liter of water.
Measures a volume of water. For example, 100 milliliters equals approximately 1/2 cup.
Includes synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes
and petroleum production. They can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and
septic systems.
A part per billion is a unit of measurement. It is equivalent to about one dissolved aspirin tablet
(or 326 mg) in a 25-meter swimming pool (about 100,000 gallons), one minute in 2,000 years or
a single penny in $10,000,000.
Parts per million is a unit of measurement. One part per million is equivalent to about half of a
dissolved aspirin tablet (or 162 mg) in a full bathtub of water (about 50 gallons), one minute in
two years or a single penny in $10,000. This unit is interchangeable with milligrams per liter
(mg/L).
One trillionth of a curie; a curie is a unit of radioactivity equivalent to 1 gram of radium.
May come from various sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential
uses.
Occurs naturally or result from oil and gas production and mining activities.
The minimum reporting level required by the State of Washington Department of Health (DOH).
A level set by Washington State DOH that if compounds are detected above this level will trigger
additional sampling.
Measures the cloudiness of water and is a good indicator of water quality.
 2017 Water Quality Report

Water Source Information

In 2016, City of Olympia drinking water was supplied by McAllister Wellfield and three additional groundwater sources. The McAllister Wellfield
provided 74% of our drinking water. To help meet demands, the City used three other wells (Shana Park Well #11, Allison Springs Wells #13 and
#19) to supply 26% of the water supply. Hoffman Well #3 and Indian Summer Well #20 are on standby as additional water sources.

Olympia’s Water Sources and Locations:

Nisqually Basin West Olympia East Olympia
• McAllister Wellfield (S16) • Allison Springs Well #13 (S09) • Shana Park Well #11 (S10)
• Allison Springs Well #19 (S11) • Hoffman Well #3 (S08)
• Kaiser Well #1 (S03) – Emergency source • Indian Summer Well #20 (S12)

The City uses two types of water treatment, including chlorination and air strippers:
• Chlorination disinfects the drinking water.
• Air strippers, used at Shana Park and Allison Springs, increase the pH of the well water. Air strippers help decrease the possibility of leaching
lead and copper from household plumbing.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) assessed the susceptibility of Olympia’s water sources to risk of contamination. DOH
determined the McAllister Wellfield, Hoffman, and Indian Summer wells as having low risk; the Allison Springs wells as having moderate risk; and
the Shana Park well as being at high risk of contamination. Our wells are at risk of contamination from such things as road spills, storm water,
septic systems and hazardous materials, including pesticides and fertilizers. Maps of our Drinking Water Protection Areas can be viewed at:
www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/sw

DOH grants the City of Olympia waivers for certain monitoring requirements if previous monitoring results conclude that the risk of
contamination by a specific substance is very low.
How To Get Involved

The Olympia City Council meets Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at Olympia City Hall, 601 4th Avenue E.
The Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) meets the first Thursday of each month (except July and August) at 5:40 p.m. in Room 207 at Olympia City
Hall 601 4th Avenue E.

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Important Health Information

To ensure the tap water you drink is safe, the DOH and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set regulations that limit the amount of
certain contaminants in drinking water. The Food and Drug Administration and the Washington Department of Agriculture set limits for
contaminants in bottled water and both must provide the same protection for public health.

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 (1.800.426.4791).

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 for infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their
health care providers. EPA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by
cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1.800.426.4791).
Contaminants and Health Concerns
As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive
material. It also picks up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source
water includes microbial contaminants, inorganic contaminants, organic chemical contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, and radioactive
contaminants.
Required Statement Regarding Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water
is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Olympia is responsible for providing
high quality drinking water, but 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 2
minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water
tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the EPA Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (1.800.426.4791) or at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

City of Olympia | 2017 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport

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Program Information
Groundwater Protection
What if our drinking water gets
contaminated? Groundwater contamination
often occurs gradually and may not be
known about until widespread. It threatens
public and environmental health, and
cleanup is complicated, costly, and
sometimes impossible. We can try to
contain it underground to prevent it from
spreading, neutralize it in the aquifer or
pump it out for treatment, or abandon the
aquifer and find another source.
What to do depends on the type and extent
of contamination, underground conditions,
cleanup regulations and funds. Since
dealing with contamination is difficult, an
abandoned source may need to be replaced
with a new or deeper well. Or we might
rely more heavily on other wells, or treat
the water, or connect to another nearby
water system. All are challenging options.
Cross Connection Control
Olympia residents enjoy safe, reliable
drinking water every day thanks to our
conscientious customers and the dedicated
City staff that operate and maintain our
water system. As a City of Olympia
customer, your diligence in annual
backflow testing helps protect the City’s
water system.
Most people assume the water supply can
flow in only one direction due to always
being under pressure. Actually, water can
flow in both directions in water mains and
service lines, potentially causing disastrous
effects. Water will always flow towards the
path of least resistance. For example, if
there is a water main break or fire
requiring heavy water use that lowers the
pressure in the water main, contaminants
can get siphoned back into the water
supply.

Preventing contamination is the best way
to maintain the high quality and abundance
of our precious groundwater. Prevention
can mean landscaping with hardy plants
that need little or no water, fertilizers or
pesticides. It means never pouring
unwanted chemicals on the ground and
always cleaning up your pet’s waste. The
ground cannot purify most chemicals or kill
all pathogens before they make their way
into the groundwater we drink.
For more information on the City’s
Groundwater Protection Program, please
contact Donna Buxton, 360.753.8793 or by
email at dbuxton@ci.olympia.wa.us
You may also visit the City’s website,
olympiawa.gov/groundwater
To prevent this from happening, State-
approved backflow assemblies are installed
on customers’ plumbing systems to prevent
water from flowing back into the water
system. These backflow assemblies must
be tested on an annual basis to make sure
they are working properly.
For more information regarding the City’s
Cross Connection Control Program, please
contact Jacob Larson, 360.753.8161 or
email PWWaterBackFlow@ci.olympia.wa.us
You may also visit our website,
olympiawa.gov/backflow

FACT:
The City of Olympia water system
supplies water to approximately
20,287 connections.

City of Olympia | 2017 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport

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If you have questions, or would like to request a copy of this report, please contact:

Cheri Reimers
Water Quality Specialist
City of Olympia, Public Works Department
Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia WA 98507-1967
Phone: 360.709.2774
creimers@ci.olympia.wa.us

To access this report online, visit: olympiawa.gov/wqreport

You can also visit the City of Olympia’s Water Quality webpage for more information on
Olympia’s drinking water: olympiawa.gov/waterquality

Future location of corrosion control facility at Meridian tank site.

City of Olympia | 2017 Water Quality Report | olympiawa.gov/wqreport