Davis-Monthan AFB Drinking Water Quality Report

  • Published
  • By 355th Aerospace Medical Squadron
  • Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Testing Period: 1 January 2009 - 31 December 2009

Source water assessment and its availability
We are pleased to present to you this year's Annual Water Quality Report. The information contained in this report is for drinking water supplied to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base from base-owned water wells. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Our water source is ground water from eight wells drawing from the resources of the Fort Lowell Aquifer. All drinking water is chlorinated for disinfection purposes. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. I ask your support in protecting and conserving our water resources. They are critical to the continued well-being of our community, our way of life, and our children's future.

Is my water safe?
In order to ensure your tap water is safe to drink, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. This testing is conducted by the 355th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all EPA and state drinking water health standards. Local water vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and once again we are proud to report that our system has not violated a maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard.

Where does my water come from and why are there contaminants in the water?
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. 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 at 1-800-426-4791.

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 it can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or
result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, or farming.

(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture,
urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which
are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from
gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Do I need to take special precautions?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-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 about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/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 Safe Water Drinking Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Additional Information for 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. Davis-Monthan 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 two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your 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 Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Water Conservation Tips
Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day or 100 gallons per person per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to conserve water. Small changes can make a big difference - try one today and soon it will become second nature.

· Take short showers - a five minute shower uses four to five gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a bath.
· Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallons a month.
· Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
· Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
· Water plants only when necessary.
· Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or replacing it with a new, more efficient model can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
· Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation.
· Teach your kids about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month's water bill!
· Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.

Source Water Protection Tips
Protection of drinking water is everyone's responsibility. You can help protect your community's drinking water source in several ways:

· Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides - they contain hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source.
· Pick up after your pets.
· If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to water sources or consider connecting to a public water system.
· Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil to a recycling center.
· Volunteer in your community. Find a watershed or wellhead protection organization in your community and volunteer to help. If there are no active groups, consider starting one. Use EPA's Adopt Your Watershed to locate groups in your community, or visit the Watershed Information Network's How to Start a Watershed Team.
· Organize a storm drain stenciling project with your local government or water supplier. Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people "Dump No Waste - Drains to River" or "Protect Your Water." Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind residents that storm drains dump directly into your local water body.

Who do I Contact for local information?
We at Davis Monthan AFB would like you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. Davis-Monthan Drinking Water Quality Program team members are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. For further information concerning this report, or with specific violations associated with public water systems, you may contact Davis-Monthan Water team members: SSgt Xavier Goco, Bioenvironmental Engineering at 228-5369, and Civil Engineer Customer Service at 228-3171.