Page 18 - Bullseye 5-29-15

2014 Drinking Water Quality Report
for Nellis Air Force Base
WDPLQDQW OHYHO RI SSE 7KH UHPDLQLQJ VL[ DFWLYH ZHOOV
This report, required by the Environmental Protection ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals, in some DUHORFDWHGRQ1HOOLV$)%)RXURIWKHVHZHOOVKDYHDUVHQLF
cases naturally occurring radioactive material, and can pick FRQFHQWUDWLRQV H[FHHGLQJ WKH 0&/ EXW DUH RQO\ XVHG IRU
Agency, is distributed by Nellis AFB as our communication XSVXEVWDQFHVUHVXOWLQJIURPWKHSUHVHQFHRIDQLPDOVRUKX- LUULJDWLRQ 7KH UHPDLQLQJ ZHOOV DUH EOHQGHG ZLWK RIIEDVH
man activity. water; this drops the resultant concentration below the EPA
to you, the consumer. The drinking water on the installation VWDQGDUGIRUDUVHQLF
KDVEHHQWHVWHGDQGFHUWL¿HGDV³VDIHWRGULQN´7KHLQIRUPD- 0RUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWFRQWDPLQDQWVDQGSRWHQWLDOKHDOWK
WLRQLQWKLVUHSRUWLVDVQDSVKRWRIFDOHQGDU\HDUGULQNLQJ HIIHFWVFDQEHREWDLQHGE\FDOOLQJWKH(3$¶V6DIH'ULQNLQJ The EPA standard balances the current understandings
ZDWHUTXDOLW\DW1HOOLV$)%7KLVHIIRUWLVDFFRPSOLVKHGLQ :DWHU+RWOLQHDWRUE\YLVLWLQJwater.epa. RIWKHSRVVLEOHKHDOWKHIIHFWVDJDLQVWWKHFRVWVRIUHPRYLQJ
DFFRUGDQFHZLWKWKH(3$¶V6DIH'ULQNLQJ:DWHU$FWZKLFK gov/drink/hotline/index.cfm. DUVHQLFIURPGULQNLQJZDWHU7KH(3$FRQWLQXHVWRUHVHDUFK
ZDVSDVVHGE\&RQJUHVVLQ7KHSXUSRVHRIWKH6':$ WKHKHDOWKHIIHFWVRIORZOHYHOVRIDUVHQLFZKLFKLVDPLQHUDO
Potentially present contaminants in untreated source known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and
is to protect public health by regulating the nation’s public water include: KDVEHHQOLQNHGWRRWKHUKHDOWKHIIHFWVVXFKDVVNLQGDPDJH
GULQNLQJ ZDWHU VXSSO\ ,W ZDV DPHQGHG LQ UHTXLULQJ and circulatory problems.
‡ 0LFURELDO FRQWDPLQDQWV VXFK DV YLUXVHV DQG EDFWHULD
states to develop and implement source water assessment ZKLFKPD\FRPHIURPVHZDJHWUHDWPHQWSODQWVVHSWLFV\V- )XUWKHUPRUHWKHZDWHUIURPEDVHZHOOVDUHFKORULQDWHGE\
SURJUDPVIRUH[LVWLQJDQGSRWHQWLDOWKUHDWVWRWKHTXDOLW\RI WHPVDQGZLOGOLIH &LYLO(QJLQHHULQJ8WLOLWLHVDQGWKHQPL[HGZLWKWKH61:$
SXEOLF GULQNLQJ ZDWHU 7KLV LQFOXGHV D VXPPDU\ RI WKH DV- ZDWHU&(8WLOLWLHVPDLQWDLQVDVWDIIRIZHOOWUDLQHGSURIHV-
VHVVPHQWLQWKHZDWHUV\VWHP¶VDQQXDOFRQVXPHUFRQ¿GHQFH ‡,QRUJDQLFFRQWDPLQDQWVVXFKDVVDOWVDQGPHWDOVZKLFK sionals who operate and maintain the system daily.
UHSRUW6WDWHVDUHUHTXLUHGWRGHOLQHDWHWKHVRXUFHVRISXEOLF FDQEHQDWXUDOO\RFFXUULQJRUUHVXOWIURPXUEDQVWRUPUXQRII
GULQNLQJ ZDWHU LGHQWLI\ SRWHQWLDO FRQWDPLQDWLRQ VRXUFHV and industrial or domestic wastewater discharges. Do I need to take special precautions?
No, in most cases; however, some people may be more
within the delineated area, assess the water system’s suscep- ‡3HVWLFLGHVDQGKHUELFLGHVZKLFKPD\FRPHIURPDYDULHW\
WLELOLW\WRFRQWDPLQDWLRQDQGLQIRUPWKHSXEOLFRIWKHUHVXOWV RIVRXUFHVVXFKDVDJULFXOWXUHXUEDQVWRUPZDWHUUXQRIIDQG vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general
residential use. SRSXODWLRQ6RPHHOGHUO\LQIDQWVDQG,PPXQRFRPSURPLVHG
These results are summarized below: persons undergoing chemotherapy, who have undergone
‡ 2UJDQLF FKHPLFDO FRQWDPLQDQWV LQFOXGLQJ V\QWKHWLF RU RUJDQ WUDQVSODQWV ZKR KDYH +,9$,'6 RU RWKHU LPPXQH
Drinking Water Sources YRODWLOHRUJDQLFFKHPLFDOVZKLFKDUHE\SURGXFWVRILQGXVWULDO V\VWHPGLVRUGHUVFDQEHSDUWLFXODUO\DWULVNIURPLQIHFWLRQV
0RVW RI 1HOOLV$)%¶V GULQNLQJ ZDWHU FRPHV IURP /DNH processes, as well as, common sources like: gas stations, These individuals should seek advice about drinking water
XUEDQVWRUPZDWHUUXQRIIDQGVHSWLFV\VWHPV IURPDKHDOWKFDUHSURYLGHU(3$DQGWKH&HQWHUVIRU'LVHDVH
0HDGDQGLVVXSSOLHGE\WKH6RXWKHUQ1HYDGD:DWHU$XWKRU- &RQWUROJXLGHOLQHVRQDSSURSULDWHPHDQVWROHVVHQWKHULVNRI
LW\7KHZDWHULQ/DNH0HDGEHJLQVDVVQRZPHOWLQWKH5RFN\ ‡5DGLRDFWLYHFRQWDPLQDQWVZKLFKFDQEHQDWXUDOO\RFFXU- LQIHFWLRQE\&U\SWRVSRULGLXPDQGRWKHUPLFURELDOFRQWDPL-
0RXQWDLQVDQGDUULYHVYLDWKH&RORUDGR5LYHU7KH/DV9HJDV ULQJRUWKHUHVXOWRILQGXVWULDODFWLYLWLHV QDQWVDUHDYDLODEOHIURPWKH(3$6DIH'ULQNLQJ:DWHU+RWOLQH
:DVK DOVR FDUULHV VWRUP ZDWHU DQG WUHDWHG ZDVWHZDWHU LQWR DWRUE\YLVLWLQJWKH(3$KRWOLQHZHEVLWHDW
/DNH0HDGZKLFKDFFRXQWVIRUOHVVWKDQSHUFHQWRIDOOWKH Other Health Information water.epa.gov/drink/hotline/index.cfm .
ZDWHU LQ WKH ODNH 7KH 9LUJLQ 5LYHU DQG 0XGG\ 5LYHU DOVR 7KH IROORZLQJ VXEVWDQFHV DUH PRQLWRUHG E\ 61:$ EXW
FRPELQHWRSURYLGHDSSUR[LPDWHO\SHUFHQWRIWKHZDWHU Frequently Asked Questions
LQ/DNH0HDG/DVWO\WKHZDWHU1HOOLV$)%UHFHLYHVIURP DUHQRWUHJXODWHGXQGHUWKH6':$7KH%LRHQYLURQPHQWDO
61:$LVVXSSOHPHQWHGE\DVPDOOSHUFHQWDJHRIJURXQGZDWHU (QJLQHHULQJ )OLJKW KDV LQFOXGHG WKLV LQIRUPDWLRQ EHFDXVH Is my tap water safe to drink?
IURP ZHOOV RQ DQG QHDU WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ 7KH VRXUFH RI WKLV consumers have a right to know about known contaminants <HV\RXUWDSZDWHUPHHWVDQGVXUSDVVHVDOO6':$VWDQ-
ZHOOZDWHURULJLQDWHVIURPWKH/DV9HJDV9DOOH\$TXLIHU SRWHQWLDOO\DIIHFWLQJWKHZDWHU GDUGV DQG LV VDIH WR GULQN$OVR WKH$OIUHG 0HUULWW 6PLWK
:DWHU 7UHDWPHQW )DFLOLW\ KDV EHHQ UHFRJQL]HG E\ WKH 1D-
Monitoring and Analysis Cryptosporidium WLRQDO3DUWQHUVKLSIRU6DIH:DWHUIRULWVHIIRUWVWRHQVXUHWKH
(YHU\PRQWKWHFKQLFLDQVIURP61:$FROOHFWDQGDQDO\]H Cryptosporidium is a naturally occurring microscopic Southern Nevada’s municipal water meets these water quality
VWDQGDUGV:DWHUVDPSOHVDUHWDNHQIURPWKH1$)%ZDWHU
ZDWHUVDPSOHVIURPWKH1HOOLV$)%GULQNLQJZDWHUV\VWHPDQG RUJDQLVPZKLFKLVIUHTXHQWO\IRXQGLQVXUIDFHZDWHULQWKH distribution system monthly and analyzed to ensure compli-
ZDWHUWUHDWPHQWIDFLOLWLHV7KHZDWHULVWHVWHGDWDKLJKHUIUH- 8QLWHG6WDWHV,ILQJHVWHGLWFDQFDXVHJDVWURLQWHVWLQDOGLV- DQFHZLWKVWDQGDUGV$GGLWLRQDOO\LQ1'(3FRQGXFWHG
TXHQF\DQGPRUHH[WHQVLYHO\WKDQWKH6':$DQGWKH1HYDGD WUHVV DQG IHYHU )LOWUDWLRQ VHGLPHQWDWLRQ DQG GLVLQIHFWLRQ DVDQLWDU\VXUYH\RI1HOOLV$)%DQGFRQFOXGHGWKHGULQNLQJ
XVLQJ XOWUDYLROHW OLJKW DQG R]RQH DUH JHQHUDOO\ HIIHFWLYH DW ZDWHUV\VWHPDQGLQIUDVWUXFWXUHPHWWKHVWDWH¶VUHTXLUHPHQW
Administrative Code requires. The test results are shown in UHPRYLQJ&U\SWRVSRULGLXP61:$FDUHIXOO\PRQLWRUVWKH IRUD3XEOLF:DWHU6\VWHPWRDGHTXDWHO\GHOLYHUVDIHGULQN-
ZDWHUIRUWKHSUHVHQFHRIWKLVRUJDQLVP ing water to the consumer, this survey is accomplished every
the table accompanying this report. three years.
$GGLWLRQDOO\1HOOLV$)%URXWLQHO\PRQLWRUVIRUGLVLQIHFWDQW Perchlorate
3HUFKORUDWHLVDPDQPDGHVDOWFRQVLVWLQJRIFKORULGHDQG If tap water is really of good quality, why does it taste
residual in the distribution system. This measurement tells us the way it does?
ZKHWKHU WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ LV HIIHFWLYHO\ GLVLQIHFWLQJ WKH ZDWHU R[\JHQ ,Q JHQHUDO LW KDV EHHQ GHWHFWHG DW ORZ OHYHOV LQ
VXSSO\'LVLQIHFWDQWUHVLGXDOLVWKHDPRXQWRIFKORULQHSUHV- untreated and treated water. Scientists have traced the origin :DWHUTXDOLW\DQGWDVWHDUHQRWDOZD\VPXWXDOO\LQFOXVLYH
HQWLQWKHZDWHUGLVWULEXWLRQV\VWHPSLSHV,IWKHDPRXQWRI RI WKH VDOW WR VKDOORZ JURXQGZDWHU HQWHULQJ WKH /DV 9HJDV 7KHWDVWHRIWKHZDWHUFDQEHFDXVHGE\FKORULQHXVHGWRNHHS
GLVLQIHFWDQWLVWRRORZLQDGHTXDWHO\WUHDWHGGLVHDVHFDXVLQJ :DVK$OWKRXJKWKHUHDUHQRIHGHUDOOLPLWVIRUSHUFKORUDWHLQ WKHZDWHUVDIHIURPEDFWHULDDQGQDWXUDOO\RFFXUULQJPLQHUDOV
GULQNLQJZDWHU61:$LVFORVHO\PRQLWRULQJWKHHIIRUWVE\ It is important to remember, quality is best measured by the
organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites have the 1HYDGD 'LYLVLRQ RI (QYLURQPHQWDO 3URWHFWLRQ WR LQWHUFHSW FRQFHQWUDWLRQRIFRQWDPLQDQWVLQWKHZDWHU)RU1HOOLV$)%
SRWHQWLDO RI JURZLQJ ZLWKLQ WKH SLSHV 7KHVH RUJDQLVPV FDQ and remove perchlorates at the source. ZH KDYH YHU\ IHZ FRQWDPLQDQWV LQ RXU GULQNLQJ ZDWHU DQG
WKRVHSUHVHQWDUHZHOOZLWKLQ6':$OLPLWV
cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and asso- Treatment Process
61:$KDVDGYDQFHGZDWHUWUHDWPHQWIDFLOLWLHVGHVLJQHGWR Do I need to use a water treatment system or drink bottled
ciated headaches. However, these symptoms are not caused water?
SURYLGHZDWHUPHHWLQJ6':$VWDQGDUGV
solely by organisms in drinking water and can be attributed to 1RXQOHVV\RXZLVKWRLPSURYHWKHWDVWHRI\RXUZD-
RWKHUIDFWRUVHQYLURQPHQWDOIRRGEDVHGLOOQHVVHVRUSHUVRQ $OOWKHZDWHUGUDZQIURP/DNH0HDGLVVHQWWRWKH$OIUHG ter or remove the minerals causing it to be considered
WRSHUVRQLQWHUDFWLRQ 0HUULWW6PLWKRU5LYHU0RXQWDLQVZDWHUWUHDWPHQWIDFLOLWLHV ³KDUG´ :KLOH PDQ\ SHRSOH SUHIHU WKH WDVWH RI ERWWOHG
As it arrives, the water is treated with chlorine and ozone to water, tap water is subject to more stringent quality stan-
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water? NLOODQ\SRWHQWLDOO\KDUPIXOPLFURVFRSLFRUJDQLVPV$PXOWL- GDUGVDQGLVPRQLWRUHGDQGWHVWHGPRUHIUHTXHQWO\$G-
'ULQNLQJZDWHULQFOXGLQJERWWOHGZDWHUPD\UHDVRQDEO\ VWDJH¿OWUDWLRQV\VWHPLVWKHQXVHGWRUHPRYHSDUWLFOHVIURP GLWLRQDOO\WKHFRVWRIWKHDYHUDJHOLWHURIERWWOHGZDWHU
WKHZDWHU$VWKHZDWHUOHDYHVWKHZDWHUWUHDWPHQWIDFLOLW\ LVPRUHWKDQWLPHVWKHVDPHDPRXQWRIWDSZDWHU
EHH[SHFWHGWRFRQWDLQDWOHDVWVPDOODPRXQWVRIVRPHFRQ- additional chlorine is added to protect it on the way to the 7KH)RRGDQG'UXJ$GPLQLVWUDWLRQHVWDEOLVKHVUHJXOD-
WDPLQDQWV7KHSUHVHQFHRIFRQWDPLQDQWVGRHVQRWQHFHVVDULO\ FRQVXPHU7KHZDWHULVDOVRWUHDWHGWRSUHYHQWFRUURVLRQRI tions contaminants in bottled water; however, these
the pipelines. limits do not always coincide with EPA standards. For
indicate the water poses a health risk. In order to ensure tap
ZDWHULVVDIHWRGULQNWKH(3$SUHVFULEHVUHJXODWLRQVWROLPLW ,QDGGLWLRQWRWKH61:$VXSSOLHGVXUIDFHZDWHUWKH1HO-
WKHDPRXQWRIFHUWDLQFRQWDPLQDQWVLQWKHZDWHUSURYLGHGE\ OLV$)% SXEOLF ZDWHU V\VWHP FRQVLVWV RI QLQH DFWLYH ZHOOV
7KUHHRIWKHQLQHZHOOVDUHORFDWHGRIIEDVHDQGDUHFXUUHQWO\
public water systems. LQFRPSOLDQFHZLWKWKH(3$UHYLVHGDUVHQLFPD[LPXPFRQ-
&RPPRQ VRXUFHV RI GULQNLQJ ZDWHU ERWK WDS ZDWHU DQG

ERWWOHG ZDWHU LQFOXGH ULYHUV ODNHV VWUHDPV SRQGV UHVHU-
YRLUV VSULQJV DQG ZHOOV 3RWHQWLDO VRXUFHV RI FRQWDPLQD-
WLRQIRUODNHVDQGUHVHUYRLUVLQFOXGHZLOGOLIHDQGLQGXVWULDO
DFWLYLWLHVXUEDQFKHPLFDOVVXFKDVIHUWLOL]HUVDQGSHVWLFLGHV
$GGLWLRQDOO\ ODQG¿OOV GRPHVWLF VHSWLF V\VWHPV DQG OHDN-
LQJ XQGHUJURXQG VWRUDJH WDQNV DUH DOO SRWHQWLDO VRXUFHV RI
FRQWDPLQDWLRQ IRU JURXQGZDWHU DTXLIHUV )XUWKHUPRUH DV
ZDWHU WUDYHOV RYHU WKH VXUIDFH RI WKH ODQG RU WKURXJK WKH