Water Report 2010
Este informe contiene información importante sobre su agua potable. Si usted tiene preguntas sobre este informe, por favor llame al 623-773-7286.

Director’s Corner
The City of Peoria is pleased to
provide this annual Water Quality
Report, also known as the
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
This report is a summary
of the thousands of tests and
measurements performed by the
City during the 2010 calendar year
on samples collected on our treated
potable water. We have a dedicated
staff of certified and highly trained
water professionals that work 24
hours a day, 365 days a year, to
ensure that the City provides
drinking water that is treated,
tested and safe.

Treated, Tested, and Safe:
Exceptional Service
in Every Drop
The City of Peoria Public Works Utilities Department is committed to
providing a safe, healthy, assured water
supply to the community at a reasonable
cost. City of Peoria drinking water is
“treated, tested, and safe.” This is a
phrase commonly used, but what does it
mean to you as a consumer?

Treated

– Since the City’s drinking
water originates from groundwater and
surface water, two different treatment
methods are used. Water from wells is
disinfected prior to delivery. Surface
water undergoes extensive treatment at
In our desert environment, water
either the Pyramid Peak, Greenway or
resource management and planning Quintero Water Treatment Plants to
are critical to sustaining our water
meet drinking water standards. These
supply for future generations. The facilities use microfiltration or
City’s water supply is one of our
conventional and chemical treatment
most important assets, and that’s
including chlorine dioxide or ozone to
why we actively pursue and
mitigate taste and odor and minimize
manage a diverse portfolio of
disinfection by-products.
renewable water resources. An
important aspect of living in the
– Over 200 tests are performed
desert is water conservation. We
by plant operators each day and several
encourage every citizen to use
parameters are monitored continuously
water wisely and adapt to a water- using state-of-the-art equipment, which
saving lifestyle.
notifies staff members of any deviations

Tested

Please visit the City’s website for
more information on how we
provide you, our valued customer,
with a safe and sustainable water
supply both now and in the future.

from acceptable conditions. Once the
water leaves the water supply well or
water treatment plant, water quality is
measured within the distribution system
to ensure drinking water standards
are maintained.

Sincerely,

Safe – Drinking water safety is the

William Mattingly, P.E., RLS
Public Works - Utilities Director
623-773-7286

www.peoriaaz.gov

primary concern of the Public Works Utilities Department. Safety is achieved
by coordinating technology and qualified
staff members to monitor production
systems, sample the distribution system,
and evaluate opportunities to continually

enhance the program while minimizing
cost to our customers.
Water is treated and tested at
groundwater wells and treatment plants
and then monitored to ensure it remains
safe on the way to your tap. Numerous
chemical and biological analyses are
conducted daily. A wide variety of
compounds are monitored and analyzed
in your drinking water in accordance
with federal and state laws and local
water quality guidelines.

Peoria water met all
drinking water
standards in 2010.
The Peoria Public Works - Utilities
Department supports a committee of the
AZ Water Association called Tap Into
Quality (TIQ). TIQ provides
educational materials to schools and to
the public on tap water
safety and quality. For
more information on
Tap Into Quality,
please visit
tapintoquality.com

Where your water
comes from
Drinking water, also called potable
water, comes from the Salt River Project
(SRP), the Central Arizona Project
(CAP), and groundwater. This
redundancy in our drinking water
supply helps ensure the availability of
water. When one drinking water supply
is experiencing below-normal water
levels, the City has two other supplies it
can rely upon to provide drinking water
to our customers. Reclaimed water is an
additional water supply and offsets some
uses where drinking quality water is not
needed, such as for irrigation and

decorative water features.
In 2010, SRP delivered approximately
33% of Peoria’s water supply from its
reservoirs on the Salt and Verde Rivers
through the Arizona Canal.
Approximately 38% of Peoria’s water
was supplied from the Colorado River
via the 336-mile long CAP canal, which
starts in Lake Havasu. Nearly 24% of
the city’s water supply came from
groundwater. This groundwater use is
offset by the recharge of renewable
supplies of water (i.e. CAP and
reclaimed water). The remaining 5%
was directly reused for irrigation of large
landscaped areas and filling of decorative
water features.
The Quintero area, located east of Lake
Pleasant Parkway and State Route 74,
is served 100% by surface water from
the CAP canal.
The Vistancia area is served 100% by
groundwater. Almost 100% of
Vistancia’s non-potable uses are served
by reclaimed water.

The information and data contained
in this report apply only to those who
receive their water from the City of
Peoria. There are several private
water companies that serve residents
in certain areas of the City. If you
receive your water from the Sunrise,
New River, Rose Valley or
Arizona American water companies,
you should contact your water
supplier directly for water data that
affects you:
Sunrise: 623-972-6133
New River: 623-561-1848
Rose Valley: 800-850-4482
Arizona American: 800-383-0834

Water Quality Data

Analyte

Units

Peoria
Water Systems
PWS 04-07-096

Quintero
Water Systems
PWS 04-07-513

Range

Range

Average

Vistancia
Water Systems
PWS 04-07-520

EPA
Limit
MCL

EPA
Limit
MCLG

Average

Range

Average

200‡

200‡

N/A

N/A

Possible Sources

Naturally present

mg/L

120-180

135

93-140

126

Aluminum

µg/L

42-440

123

~

~

~

~

N/A

N/A

N/A

Calcium

mg/L

14-44

32

~

~

53‡

53‡

N/A

N/A

Erosion of natural deposits

Hardness

Gr/gal

4.3-11.5

7.6

~

~

13‡

13‡

N/A

N/A

Naturally present

pH pH Units 6.75-8.67

7.78

7.2-8.5

8.0

7.0-8.6

7.4

N/A

N/A

N/A

23‡

23‡

N/A

N/A

Erosion of natural deposits

Alkalinity

Magnesium

mg/L

9.7-21

15.2

~

~

Sulfate

mg/L

27-67.4

40.2

260‡

260‡

65‡

65‡

N/A

250

Naturally present

Sodium
Total Dissolved
Solids

mg/L

29-84

52

100‡

100‡

45-53

49

N/A

N/A

Naturally present

mg/L

260-374

307

~

~

420‡

420‡

N/A

N/A

Naturally present

Bromate

µg/L

ND-8.9

1.68

~

~

~

~

10

0

By-product of drinking water ozonation

%

29.150.4%

44.5%

20.631.6%

22.7%

~

~

TT

N/A

Naturally present in the environment

(15%req)

µg/L

ND-93

51*

ND-3.5*

1.3

8.8-12.4

10.6

80*

N/A

By-product of drinking water chlorination

µg/L

ND-39

17*

ND

ND

2.1-3.0

2.6

60*

N/A By-product of drinking water chlorination;
Discharge from petroleum refineries

Arsenic

µg/L

1.1-8.6

4.4

2.7-3.8

3.3

4.1-6.1

5.5

10

0

Erosion of natural deposits;
Runoff from orchards

Barium
Total
Chromium

mg/L

0.01-0.13

0.04

0.13‡

0.13‡

0.04‡

0.04‡

2

2

µg/L

ND-24

7.29

ND‡

ND‡

1.8‡

1.8‡

100

100

Erosion of natural deposits
Discharge from steel and pulp mills;
Erosion of natural deposits

Fluoride

mg/L

0.10-0.76

0.26

0.30-0.40

0.35

0.20-0.25

0.24

4

N/A

Erosion of natural deposits

Nitrate

mg/L

ND-9.23

3.74

ND-0.33

0.16

1.80-2.06

1.88

10

10

Fertilizer runoff; Erosion of natural deposits

Selenium

µg/L

ND-6

1.82

3.9‡

3.9‡

ND‡

ND‡

50

50

Discharge from petroleum and metal
refineries; Erosion of natural deposits;
Discharge from mines

Dibromochloropropane

ng/L

ND-80

3.2

ND

ND

ND‡

ND‡

200

0

Runoff/leaching from soil fumigant
used on soybeans, cotton, pineapples,
and orchards

Dinoseb

µg/L

ND-0.2

0.005

ND

ND

ND‡

ND‡

7

7

Runoff from herbicides used on
soybeans and vegetables

Styrene

µg/L

ND-0.6

0.024

ND

ND

ND‡

ND‡

100

100

Discharge from rubber and plastic
factories; Leaching from landfills

Trichloroethylene

µg/L

ND-0.8

0.06

ND

ND

ND‡

ND‡

5

0

Discharge from metal degreasing
sites and other factories

Xylene

mg/L

ND0.0005

0.00002

ND

ND

ND‡

ND‡

10

10

Discharge from petroleum factories;
Discharge from chemical factories

Gross Alpha*

pCi/L

2-3.6

2.7

ND

ND

3.1‡

3.1‡

15

0

Erosion of natural deposits

Uranium

µg/L

1.5‡

1.5‡

2.4‡

2.4‡

30

0

Erosion of natural deposits

0.135

N/A

~

~

TT=1 NTU

0

Soil Runoff

Turbidity

NTU
~

TT=% of
samples<0.3

0

Soil Runoff

0

Naturally present

0

Human or animal fecal waste

4

Water additive used to control microbes

Total Organic
Carbon%
Removed
Total
Trihalomethanes
Total
Haloacetic Acids

100.0%

N/A

4.5-4.9 Ж 4.7 Ж
0.3
99.9%

N/A
N/A

~

NTU

Total Coliforms

P/A

0-0.8%

N/A

0**

N/A

0-1**

N/A

Fecal coliform or
E. coli bacteria

P/A

0.00%

N/A

0**

N/A

0-1**

N/A

Presence
in < 5% of
monthly
samples

Chlorine Residual

mg/L

0.1-2.2

1.1

0.2-1.8

0.8

0.4-2.0

1.1

4

90th
Number of 90th Number of 90th Number of EPA
Percentile sites above Percentile sites above Percentile sites above Action
Reported
AL
Reported
AL
Reported
AL
Level

EPA
Limit
MCLG

Analyte

Units

Copper

mg/L

0.31

None

0.34

None

0.24 ¥

None

1.3

1.3

Erosion of deposits, corrosion of home
plumbing systems

Possible Sources

Lead

µg/L

2

None

15

One

2.2 ¥

None

15

0

Erosion of deposits, corrosion of home
plumbing systems

Giardia and Cryptosporidium were tested for, but not found, at both Pyramid Peak and Greenway Water Treatment Plants.

From the United States Environmental Protection Agency
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) prescribes regulations that limit
the amount of certain contaminants in
water provided by public water systems.
The Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) regulations establish limits for
contaminants in bottled water.
Drinking water, including bottled water,
may reasonably be expected to contain
at least small amounts of some

Definitions and Abbreviations
AL:

Gr/gal:

MCL:

MCLG:

µg/L:

mg/L:

MRDL:

*

Action level: The
concentration of a
contaminant that,
if exceeded, triggers
treatment or other
requirements that a
water system must
follow.
Grains Per Gallon:
measure of water
hardness
Maximum
Contaminant Level:
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.
Maximum
Contaminant
Level Goal: The level
of a contaminant in
drinking water below
which there is no
known or expected
risk to health.
MCLGs allow for a
margin of safety.
micrograms per liter:
a unit of
measurement
equal to ppb (parts
per billion)
milligrams per liter:
a unit of
measurement
equal to ppm (parts
per million)
Maximum Residual
Disinfectant Level :
The highest level of a
disinfectant allowed
in drinking water.
There is convincing

MRDLG:

N/A:
ND:
ng/L:

NTU:

P/A:
pCi/L:

Range:

TT:

evidence that addition
of a disinfectant is
necessary for control
of microbial
contaminants.
Maximum Residual
Disinfectant Level
Goal: The level of a
drinking water
disinfectant below
which there is no
known or expected
risk to health.
MRDLGs do not
reflect the benefits
of the use of
disinfectants to
control microbial
contaminants.
not applicable
none detected
nanograms per liter
Unit of measurement
equal to ppt (parts
per trillion)
Nephelometric
Turbidity Unit:
measure of how
light is scattered by
particulate matter
in water
Presence/Absence
pico-Curies per
liter: a measure of
radioactivity
The highest
and lowest
measurement
reported during
the year.
Treatment
Technique: a
required process
intended to reduce
the level of a
contaminant in
drinking water.

MCL is based on a running annual average. The average given is the
highest average.
** If a system collecting fewer than 40 samples per month has two or more
positive samples in one month, the system has a MCL violation.
‡ Only one sample collected.
~ Not required due to system size or source water
¥ Last monitoring required in 2009
Ж Last monitoring required in 2008

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).
The sources of drinking water (both tap
and bottled water) include rivers, lakes,
streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and
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 from
human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in
source water include the following:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses
and bacteria that may be from sewage
treatment plants, septic systems,
agricultural livestock operations,
or wildlife;

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts
and metals, that can be naturally
occurring or result from urban storm
water runoff, industrial or domestic
wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, or farming;
Pesticides and herbicides that may
come from a variety of sources such as
agriculture, urban storm water runoff,
and residential uses;

Organic chemical contaminants,
including synthetic and volatile organic
chemicals, that are by-products of
industrial processes and petroleum
production, and can also come from gas
stations, urban storm water runoff, and
septic systems; and

Radioactive contaminants that can be
naturally-occurring or can be the
result of oil and gas production and
mining activities.

Special Health Information
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 from infections. These people
should seek advice from their health
care providers. EPA/CDC (Center for
Disease Control) guidelines on
appropriate means to lessen the risk of
infection by Cryptosporidium and other
microbial contaminants along with more
information about contaminants and
potential health effects are available
from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline:
800-426-4791.

Nitrate, Arsenic, Lead & Copper,
Turbidity and Trihalomethanes
Peoria's drinking water meets all
required standards for these
constituents. The City has five wells
with nitrate concentrations between
5mg/L and 10 mg/L. Nitrate at levels
above 10 mg/L is a health risk for
infants of less than six months of age.
High nitrate levels in drinking water
can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate
levels may rise quickly for short periods
of time because of rainfall or agricultural
activity. If you are caring for an infant,
ask advice from your health
care provider.
While your drinking water meets EPA’s
standard for arsenic, it does contain low
levels. EPA’s standard balances the
current understanding of arsenic’s
possible health effects against the costs
of removing arsenic from drinking
water. EPA continues to research the
health effects of low levels of arsenic,
which is a mineral known to cause
cancer in humans at high
concentrations and is linked to other
health effects such as skin damage and
circulatory problems. Some people who
drink water containing arsenic in excess
of the MCL over many years could
Continued to back

Continued from Inside

experience skin damage or problems
with their circulatory system and may
have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Elevated levels of lead can cause serious
health problems, especially for pregnant
women and young children. Lead in
drinking water is primarily from

Learn more about
water quality
The following web sites provide
more information about
drinking water quality
standards in Arizona and the
United States:
United States Environmental
Protection Agency,
Office of Groundwater and
Drinking Water:

www.epa.gov/OGWDW
Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality:

www.adeq.gov
Maricopa County
Environmental Services:

materials and components associated
with service lines and home plumbing.
The City of Peoria 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 Safe
Drinking Water Hotline or at
http://www.epa.gov.safewater/lead.
Turbidity has no health effects.
However, turbidity can interfere with
disinfection and provide a medium for
microbial growth. Turbidity may
indicate the presence of diseasecausing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and parasites
that can cause sypmtoms such as
nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and
associated headaches.

Some people who drink water
containing trihalomethanes in excess of
the MCL over many years may
experience problems with their liver,
kidneys, or central nervous systems,
and may have an increased risk of
getting cancer.

Source Water Assessment
The Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
performed a source water
assessment for 24 wells used by the
City. The assessment reviewed the
adjacent land uses that may pose a
potential risk to the sources. While
one of Peoria’s wells was found to
have one adjacent land use that
posed a high risk of contamination,
no impacts have been found.
The assessment report is available
for review at ADEQ, 1110 W.
Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ
85007 between the hours of
8 am – 5 pm. Electronic copies are
available from
ADEQ by e-mail at
dml@azdeq.gov.

www.maricopa.gov/envsvc
More water quality information
and answers to frequently
asked questions are available at
the department website at
www.peoriaaz.gov/utilities

Conservation
Peoria’s water resources are critical
for our future. The City encourages
its citizens to implement water
conservation measures in and
around their homes. We offer free
information brochures to those
interested in learning more about
water conservation, Xeriscape,
landscape irrigation, and indoor
water conservation.
The City also offers a variety of
free water conservation classes and
has information booths at
various City events. In addition, the
City has a rebate program to provide
an incentive for citizens to
do their part in conserving our
precious water resources.
If you would like to request a
free literature packet or rebate
application, visit
conserve.peoriaaz.gov or
call 623-773-7286.

The City is a proud partner in the
Water Use It Wisely program,
which provides water saving
resources that educate consumers.
For water saving tips and local
educational events, please visit
www.wateruseitwisely.com.

Peoria has enough water to use, but we never have enough to waste.TM

City of Peoria
Public Works-Utilities Department

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2010 Water Report
www.peoriaaz.gov/utilities
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