Water Quality
In 1996, the United States Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act requiring water providers to deliver an annual Water Quality Report to their consumers. The report is intended to provide you, the consumer, with information regarding the quality of your drinking water and to illustrate some of the challenges faced in delivering safe drinking water. The Virgin Valley Water District is committed to keeping its consumers informed; you are encouraged to read these reports in their entirety. Informed consumers are more likely to help protect their drinking water supplies and understand the true costs associated with providing the water they depend on.
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The Virgin Valley Water District serves drinking water to a population of approximately 17,000 people in Clark County, Nevada. The District relies exclusively on groundwater wells located throughout the District’s service area. To meet the growth in water demand in the District’s service area, several additional wells have recently been drilled and prepared for operation. Unfortunately, the District’s groundwater contains naturally occurring arsenic at levels ranging from 5 micrograms per liter (5µg/L) to 86 µg/L. Until 2001, the limit on arsenic in drinking water was 50 µg/L arsenic standard. In 2001, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lowered the maximum allowable arsenic level in drinking water to 10 µg/L. Compliance with this new limit was required by January 2006. In order to meet this new limit, the District has installed arsenic treatment systems at many of its wells.
The addition of five arsenic treatment systems for a total capacity of 12,100 gpm (17.4 MGD) constitutes a substantial increase in the District’s water treatment activities, not to mention the significant financial commitment required to construct, operate, and maintain these systems. Due to the updates, the arsenic levels are now within EPA limits.
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Each water source is tested on a quarterly, annual, and once every three years depending on the constituent for 98 different contaminants as required by State and Federal agencies.
PH 7.69 Temperature 76° Total Dissolved Solids 544 ppm Fluoride 0.89 ppm Sodium 46-160 ppm Sulfate 192 ppm Iron 0.54 ppm Hardness 9-12 grains per gallon -
1999 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2000 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2001 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2002 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2003 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2004 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2005 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2006 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2007 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2008 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf
2009 Annual Water Quality Report.pdf -
Complaints of smelly and rusty water are frequent in the water heater industry. Both are caused by water borne bacteria that flourish in a warm water environment such as a water heater or hot water storage tank.
SMELLY WATER
The most common cause of smelly water is a non-toxic sulfate reducing bacteria called Divibrio Sulfuricans. These bacteria convert sulfates into sulfides that when mixed with hydrogen creates HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS. The associated "rotten egg" odor may be quite strong.
Along with the sulfur bacteria, required elements are high concentrations of sulfates, active hydrogen, and water with little or no dissolved oxygen. Sulfates provide the food for the bacteria. Hydrogen is already present in the water, and can be enhanced by the water heater anode rod(s). Permanent removal of the anode rod(s) is not an acceptable solution, and will void tank warranty. Examples of water heating systems often low on dissolved oxygen are systems served by well water, vacation or weekend cabins, any water heater with long standby periods and municipal water systems with large reserves and low flow conditions.
RUSTY WATER
Water heaters and storage tanks are often blamed for rusty or discolored water. In fact, it is very unusual for today’s high quality glass lined tanks to have a lining failure significant enough to allow water to contact enough bare metal to discolor the contents of even a small tank.
The common cause of rusty water is iron reducing bacteria called Crenothrix, Leptothrix, and Gallioneila. Iron bacteria is commonly found in soil, water wells, water treatment plants, and water distribution piping systems where soluble iron exceeds 0.2 ppm. Higher levels make conditions even more favorable. Soluble iron in the water provides food for the bacteria. Rusty discolored water is the end result of the bacteria feeding process. Left unchecked, laundry, tableware and plumbing fixtures can be stained.
Heaters and tanks with iron bacteria usually require new anode rods as presence of iron bacteria causes premature anode failure.
SOLUTION
Chlorinate the water heater or tank as per the following instructions. Heaters and tanks with extended iron bacteria infestation may require more than one treatment. A chlorine feeder may be the only permanent solution to repeated iron or sulfur bacteria infestation.
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- Turn off gas or electric supply to water heater.
- Turn off cold water supply valve to water heater or tank.
- Open nearby hot water faucet to allow air into system. This will break vacuum and allow heater or tank to drain.
- Drain all water from tank. (A hose attached to the drain valve may be needed to direct water to a nearby drain.)
- Remove anode rod(s) and close drain valve.
- Using a funnel placed in the anode rod opening, pour in one gallon of household chlorine bleach (i.e., Clorox or Purex) for every 25 gallons of tank capacity.
NOTE: For commercial systems using large diameter pipe and long hot water loops, estimate water volume and add additional chlorine at the same one gallon to 25 gallons ratio.
- Reinstall anode rod(s) after inspecting and replacing as needed.
- Open cold water supply valve and refill system with water. Draw chlorine solution into hot water system piping by bleeding water at each faucet until the chlorine solution can be smelled. Operate dishwashers and clothes washers first until chlorine is smelled in those appliances. It is important to chlorinate all hot water lines.
- Leave chlorine solution undisturbed in the hot water heating system one hour or more.
- After the recommended contact time has been allowed, drain chlorine solution in tank according to steps #2, #3, and #4.
- Close drain valve and refill tank. Allow tank to sit for 15 minutes. Repeat steps #2, #3, and #4. Continue to flush tank if water is discolored or has chlorine odor.
- Close drain valve and refill tank. Flush all chlorine from piping by running hot water faucets until no chlorine odor is detected. Operate dishwashers and clothes washers empty for one complete cycle.
- Return hot water heating system to duty by following recommended start-up procedure posted on the heater or in the service manual.
- Turn off gas or electric supply to water heater.