2001 Water Quality Report
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Our Mark of Excellence
We are once again proud to present to you our annual water quality report. Over the years, we have dedicated ourselves to producing drinking water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. We continually strive to adopt new and better methods of delivering the best quality drinking water to you. As regulations and drinking water standards change, it is our commitment to you to incorporate these changes system-wide in an expeditious and cost-effective manner.
As new challenges to drinking water safety emerge, we will be vigilant in maintaining our objective of providing quality drinking water at an affordable price. If you have any health concerns relating to the information in this report, we encourage you to contact your health care provider.
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What's Inside?
This report outlines the processes involved in delivering to you the highest quality drinking water available. In it, we will answer these important questions:
Where does my water come from?
What is in my drinking water?
A Message From the Water Utility Manager ....
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some activities and enhancements in our service to you, our customers. The new Public Works Building has been completed and we have moved into it. The new building is located at 133 West 29th Street. Even though we have moved, our phone numbers have still remained the same: 629-8321 for billing questions or concerns, and 629-8325 for all other water related questions. The new building now houses the Water, Sewer, Refuse, Streets, and Storm Water divisions.
Our new building does not have a drive up window but we do have a drop box that is vehicle assessable and can be used 24 hours a day. Over the past year, we have been working diligently to provide our customers with more convenient payment services. We now accept Visa and Master Card for payments at our office, over the phone, and on the Internet. For more information about making payments over the Internet, visit our web site at
https://appserver.ogdencity.com/ogdenweb/Default.asp?Build=UM.UtilitiesHome
We also have the ability to set our customers up on an automatic withdrawal system which will deduct the amount billed each month directly from their checking account. For more information about any of these payment methods, please feel free to call our Accounting staff at 629-8321.
Due to the lack of snowfall again this past year, our water supply is very low. As a result, we are asking that you use enough water to fulfill your needs, but please use it wisely. We are asking that everyone water before 10:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. A high percentage of the water used during the heat of the day will evaporate. This causes the need for excessive amounts of water to be used. Also, when you water while it is cool, your plants and grass will absorb more water, which will help them survive the heat of the day. Another easy way to conserve water is by fixing leaks. Please check for leaks in your water taps and toilets. These types of leaks waste a lot of water and create higher water bills.
For more information about this report, or for any questions relating to your drinking water, please call the Ogden City Water Utility, at (801) 629-8325. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.
Where Does My Water Come From?
Ogden City Water Utility customers receive water from three main sources: ground water from wells, surface water drawn from Pineview Reservoir and Wheeler Creek, and treated water purchased from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. Weber Basin's water is a combination of treated ground and surface waters from wells owned by Weber Basin and waters drawn from the Weber River.
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 may be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water. EPA/CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Visit their web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/ut.htm
Substances Expected to be in Drinking Water
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, U.S. EPA prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which 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 these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water 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 can acquire naturally occurring minerals, in some cases, radioactive material, and substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Substances that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, or wildlife;
- Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or may result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
- Pesticides and Herbicides, which 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, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and may also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems;
- Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or may be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the U.S. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Water Conservation Tips
Water conservation measures are an important first step in protecting our water supply. Such measures not only save the supply of our source water, but can also save you money by reducing your water bill. Here are a few suggestions:
Conservation measures you can use inside your home include:
Fix leaking faucets, pipes, toilets, etc.
Replace old fixtures; install water-saving devices in faucets, toilets and appliances.
Wash only full loads of laundry.
Do not use the toilet for trash disposal.
Take shorter showers.
Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
Soak dishes before washing.
Run the dishwasher only when full.
You can conserve outdoors as well:
Water the lawn and garden in the early morning or evening.
Use mulch around plants and shrubs.
Repair leaks in faucets and hoses.
Use water-saving nozzles.
Use water from a bucket to wash your car, and save the hose for rinsing.
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