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2018 Water Quality Data
Water at various locations in the distribution system is tested by certified City staff and a private, state-certified laboratory using the latest testing procedures and equipment. During 2018, numerous tests were conducted on samples taken from the distribution system. In addition to these tests, Valley Water and SFPUC perform their own water quality analyses of the source and treated water.
Test results from the distribution system and source water analyses are shown in the table at right. Some of the data, though representative, are more than one year old. SWRCB allows monitoring for some constituents less than once per year since their concentrations do not change frequently.
Lab analysis was also performed for many constituents other than those listed in the tables; only those constituents detected in the tap water are shown. For a complete list of all the constituents analyzed or any questions about this report, please contact a Water Quality Engineer at 408-277-3671.
Primary Drinking Water Standards - Public Health-Related Standards
Parameter | Unit | MCL (MRDL) [AL] |
PHG (MCLG) [MRDLG] |
Evergreen***
(Valley Water Treated)
|
Evergreen
(Groundwater)
|
Edenvale** (Groundwater) |
Coyote Valley
(Groundwater)
|
North San José/Alviso (SFPUC Treated Water) |
North San José/Alviso (Groundwater) |
Typical Source | ||||||||
Inorganic Chemicals |
Average | Range | Average |
Range |
Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | ||||||
Aluminum | ppm | 1 | 0.6 | ND | ND - 0.08 | 0.12b |
ND - 0.5 |
0.2b | ND - 0.6 | NDc | ND | ND | ND | NDb | ND | 1 | ||
Arsenic |
ppb |
10 |
0.004 |
ND | ND | NDb | ND - 2.1 | NDb | ND | NDc | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND | 6, 12 |
||
Barium | ppm | 1 | 2 | ND | ND | 0.2b | 0.2 - 0.2 | 0.14b | 0.13 - 0.15 | NDc | ND | ND | ND | 0.2b | 0.2 - 0.2 | 1 | ||
Fluoride | ppm | 2 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.6 - 0.9 | 0.2b | 0.2 - 0.2 | 0.2b | 0.2 - 0.3 | 0.15c | 0.15 - 0.15 | 0.7 | 0.6 - 1.0 | 0.1b | ND - 0.1 | 1, 2 | ||
Nitrate (as N) | ppm | 10 | 10 | ND | ND - 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.1 - 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.3 - 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 - 0.7 | ND | ND | 1.9 | 0.6 - 3.3 | 1, 3 | ||
Selenium | ppb | 50 | 30 | ND | ND | NDb | ND | NDb | ND | NDc | ND | ND | ND | NDb | ND - 6 | 6 |
||
Organic Chemicals | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Trihalomethanese | ppb | 80 | NS | 45 | 27 - 53 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 45 | 29 - 51 | NA | NA | 4 | ||
Total Haloacetic Acidse | ppb | 60 | NS | 13 | 2 - 20 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 43 | 24 - 53 | NA | NA | 4 | ||
Total Organic Carbon | ppm | TT | NS | 2.3 | 1.6 - 3.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2.2 | 1.2 - 2.9 | NA | NA | 15 | ||
Bromate |
ppb | 10 | 0.1 | 2 | ND - 4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | ND | ND | NA | NA | 4 | ||
Disinfection | ||||||||||||||||||
Chloramine (as chlorine)a | ppm | (4) | [4] | 2.5 | 0.01 - 3.7 | NA | NA | NA | NA - 2.9** | NA | NA - 2.5* | 2.8 | 1.5 - 3.5 | NA | NA | 5 | ||
Microbiological | ||||||||||||||||||
Giardia Lamblia | cyst/L | TT | (0) | ND | ND - 0.1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.03 | ND - 0.24 | NA | NA | 6 | ||
Highest % |
Range | Highest % |
Range |
Highest % |
Range | Highest % |
Range | Highest # | Range | Highest # | Range | |||||||
Total Coliforma | % pos per month |
5 | (0) | 2.9 | 0 - 2.9 | 2.9 | 0 - 2.9 | 2.9 | 0 - 2.9 | 2.9 | 0 - 2.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | ||
# pos per month |
1 | (0) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||
Clarity | ||||||||||||||||||
Turbidity (unfiltered sources) |
NTU | 5 | NS | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Highest Level = 1.8 |
NA | NA | 7 | ||||
Turbidity (filtered sources) |
NTU | 1 | NS | Highest Level = 0.19f |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Highest Level = 1f |
NA | NA | 7 | ||||
Lead and Copper | 90th Percentile (# Samples Exceeding AL) | |||||||||||||||||
Leada | ppb | [15] | 0.2 | ND (0 of 51) |
ND (0 of 30) | 8 | ||||||||||||
Coppera | ppb | [1300] | 300 | 220 (0 of 51) |
50 (0 of 30) | 8 |
Secondary Drinking Water Standards — Aesthetic Standards
Parameter | Unit | SMCL | Evergreen*** (Valley Water Treated Water) |
Evergreen
(Groundwater)
|
Edenvale** (Groundwater) |
Coyote Valley (Groundwater) |
North San José/Alviso (SFPUC Treated Water) |
North San José (Groundwater) |
Typical Source | ||||||
Average | Range | Average | Range |
Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | ||||
Chloride | ppm | 500 | 75 | 36 - 80 | 53b | 51 - 56 | 53b | 46 - 65 | 43c | 40 - 46 | 8.9 | ND - 17 | 38b | 29 - 46 | 9, 10 |
Color | CU | 15 | ND | ND | 6b | ND - 12 | 5b | ND - 10 | 5c | ND - 9 | ND | ND - 7 | 5b | ND - 10 | 11 |
Iron | ppm | 0.3 | ND | ND | NDb | ND | NDd | ND - 0.13 | NDd | ND | ND | ND | 0.14 | 0.1 - 0.2 | 1 |
Manganese | ppm | 0.05 | ND | ND - 0.04 | NDb | ND | NDd | ND - 0.04 | NDc | ND - 0.02 | ND | ND | 0.02b | 0.02 - 0.03 | 1 |
Odor | TON | 3 | 1 | 1 - 1 | NDb | ND | NDd | ND | NDc | ND | ND | ND | NDb | ND | 11 |
Specific Conductance | μS/cm | 1600 | 483 | 280 - 533 | 783b | 760 - 810 | 603b | 590 - 620 | 515c | 510 - 520 | 154 | 29 - 221 | 665b | 570 - 760 | 10, 14 |
Sulfate | ppm | 500 | 50 | 26 - 80 | 72b | 67 - 79 | 51b | 49 - 53 | 38c | 37-39 | 16 | 0.9 - 29 | 67b | 46 - 87 | 9, 12 |
Total Dissolved Solids | ppm | 1000 | 284 | 192 - 292 | 520b | 500 - 560 | 397b | 390 - 400 | 335c | 320 - 350 | 82 | ND - 144 | 465b | 360 - 570 | 9 |
Turbidity | NTU | 5 | 0.04 | 0.02 - 0.19 | 1.3b | ND - 4.6 | 1.1b | 0.2 - 1.9 | 0.6c | 0.4 - 0.8 | 0.1 | ND - 0.3 | 0.31b | 0.24 - 0.37 | 7 |
Other Water Quality Parameters
Parameter | Unit | MCL |
Evergreen*** |
Evergreen
(Groundwater)
|
Edenvale** (Groundwater) |
Coyote Valley (Groundwater) |
North San José/Alviso (SFPUC Treated Water) |
North San José (Groundwater) |
||||||
Average | Range | Average |
Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | |||
Boron | ppb | NS | 139 | ND - 197 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 104 | ND - 104 | NA | NA |
Calcium | ppm | NS | 18 | 11 - 25 | 63b | 57 - 71 | 44b | 39 - 55 | 42c | 41 - 43 | 11 | 3 - 18 | 80b | 61 - 98 |
Hardness (as CaCO3)g |
ppm | NS | 91 | 51 - 126 | 388b | 375 - 401 | 288b | 256 - 304 | 241c | 235 - 247 | 47 | 15 - 68 | 307b | 226 - 387 |
Magnesium | ppm | NS | 11 | 6 - 16 | 57b | 53 - 63 | 43b | 38 - 51 | 33c | 31 - 35 | 4 | ND - 6 | 26b | 18 - 34 |
pH | - | NS | 7.8 | 7.5 - 8 | 7.2b | 7.2 - 7.3 | 7.5b | 7.3 - 7.6 | 7.4c | 7.4 - 7.5 | 9.4 | 8.6 - 9.8 | 7.4b | 6.9 - 7.9 |
Potassium | ppm | NS | 3.1 | 1.5 - 3.7 | 1.4b | 1.2 - 1.8 | 0.6b | ND - 1.7 | 1c | 1 - 1 | 0.6 | 0.2 - 1.0 | 1.5b | 1.3 - 1.7 |
Silica | ppm | NS | 13 | 10 - 14 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 3 - 7 | NA | NA |
Sodium | ppm | NS | 53 | 31 - 64 | 41b | 35 - 48 | 33b | 28 - 40 | 20c | 18 - 22 | 14 | 2 - 20 | 38b | 33 - 42 |
Total Alkalinity (as CaCO3) | ppm | NS | 69 | 42 - 101 | 338b | 320 - 360 | 233b | 200 - 260 | 180c | 180 - 180 | 51 | ND - 132 | 260b | 220 - 300 |
UCMR4a
Parameter | Unit | MCL |
Evergreen*** |
Evergreen
(Groundwater)
|
Edenvale** (Groundwater) |
Coyote Valley (Groundwater) |
North San José/Alviso (SFPUC Treated Water) |
North San José (Groundwater) |
||||||
Average | Range | Average |
Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | Average | Range | |||
HAA6Br | ppb | NS | 1.2 | ND - 9.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.1 | ND - 1.2 | NA | NA |
HAA9 | ppb | NS | 0.9 | ND - 9.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3.3 | ND - 31 | NA | NA |
Manganese | ppb | NS | 1.2 | ND - 4.1 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND | 4.2 | 2.7 - 6.2 | 33 | 24 - 56 |
* Temporary chlorination was performed during April 2018 and October 2018 for maintenance purposes. No chlorine was present in the service area during the remainder of the year.
** Valley Water treated surface water was delivered to the Edenvale distribution system during April, May and November 2018. Refer to the Evergreen treated water data column in this table for details on the quality of that water supply.
*** SFPUC treated water was delivered to the Evergreen System between January and March 2018 via the SFPUC-SCVWD Intertie connection. Refer to the North San José/Alviso treated water data column in this table for details on the quality of that water supply.Notes:
- Distribution system data in 2018
- Well data in 2017
- Combined well data from 2016 and 2017
- Combined well data from 2017 and 2018
- Distribution system data in 2018. Running averages are calculated from data for previous quarters that are not shown in this table.
- Filtered water turbidity required to be < 0.3 NTU in 95 percent of samples. All filtered water sources met this standard.
- To convert hardness from ppm to grains per gallon, divide by 17.1.
Typical Sources in Drinking Water:
|
|
Definitions:
AL (Regulatory Action Level) | The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. |
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) | The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water. |
MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal) | The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the USEPA. |
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) | The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. |
MRDLG (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. |
NL (Notification Level) | Health-based advisory levels established by the SWRCB for chemicals in drinking water that lack maximum contaminant levels. |
PDWS (Primary Drinking Water Standard) | MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring, reporting, and water treatment requirements. |
PHG (Public Health Goal) | The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency. |
Source Water | Raw water that has not been treated to meet drinking water standards. |
Treated Water | Water that has been treated to meet USEPA and SWRCB drinking water standards. |
Treatment Technique | A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. |
Abbreviations:
< | less than |
AL | Action Level |
CU | Color Unit |
NA | Not Applicable |
ND | Not Detected |
NS | No Standard |
NTU | Nephelometric Turbidity Units |
pCi/L | pico Curies per liter |
ppb | parts-per-billion (equals 1 microgram per liter (µg/L)) |
ppm | parts-per-million (equals 1 milligram per liter (mg/L)) |
TON | Threshold Odor Number |
TT | Treatment Technique |
µS/cm | microSiemens per centimeter |