Annual Drinking Water Quality Report Pembina, North Dakota - 2023

We are pleased to present to you this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the safe clean water we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. The City of Pembina purchases its water from Northeast RWD-North Valley Branch & their water source is entirely groundwater.

Northeast RWD-North Valley Branch is participating in North Dakota’s Wellhead Protection Program. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has prepared a Source Water Assessment for Northeast RWD-North Valley Branch. Information on both these programs is available to the public during normal business hours. Our public water system, in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, has completed the delineation and contaminant/land use inventory elements of the North Dakota Source Water Protection Program. Based on the information from these elements, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has determined that our source water as “susceptible" to potential contaminants. No significant sources of contamination have been identified.

This report shows our water quality and what it means.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Greg Koropatnicki, Public Works Superintendent, at (701) 825-6932. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 PM in Pembina City Office Building. If you are aware of non-English speaking individuals who need help with the appropriate language translation, please call Greg Koropatnicki at the number listed above.

Pembina routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The following tables show the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1^st to December 31^st, 2023. As authorized and approved by EPA, the state has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of our data [e.g., for inorganic contaminants], though representative, is more than one year old.

Pembina would appreciate it if large volume water customers would please post copies of the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report in conspicuous locations or distribute them to tenants, residents ,patients, students, and/or employees, so individuals who consume the water, but do not receive a water bill, can learn about our water system.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,springs,andwells.Aswatertravelsoverthesurfaceoftheland,orthroughtheground,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:

 

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

 

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil production, mining, or farming.

 

Pesticides and herbicides, which 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 can, also, come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.

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

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the number of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

In the following table, you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we have provided the following definitions:

 

Not applicable(NA),

No Detect(ND)

 Parts per million(ppm) or Milligrams per liter(mg/l)-one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (mg/l) - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Picocuries per liter(pCi/l)–Picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Action Level (AL) - the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT)- A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is 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“ Goal”(MCLG) is 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.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level(MRDL)– 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.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)–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.

 

 

 

 

2023 Test results for the city of Pembina,ND & Northeast RWD-North Valley Branch
Contaminant	MCLG	MCL	Level Detected	Units	Range	Date(year)	Violation Yes/No/Other Info	Likely Source of Contamination
Lead/Copper
Copper	1.3	AL=1.3	0.23 90th% Value	ppm	N/A	2023	0 Sites exceeded AL	Corrosion of household plumbing systems;erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives
Lead*	0	AL=15	2.24 90th% Value	ppb	N/A	2023	0 Sites exceeded AL	Corrosion of household plumbingsystems,erosion of natural deposits
Disinfectants
Chlorine	MRDLG =4	MRDL =4.0		0.8 ppm	0.43 to 1.06	2023	No	Water additive used to control microbes
Stage2DisinfectionBy-Products(System-Wide)
HAA5	N/A	60	10	ppb	N/A	2023	No	By-product of drinking water chlorination
TTHM	N/A	80	19	ppb	N/A	2023	No	By-product o fdrinking water chlorination
Radioactive Contaminants
Gross Alpha, including RA, excluding RN&U	15	15	No Detect	pCi/l	N/A	2022	No	Erosion of natural deposits
Radium,Combined (226, 228)	N/A	5	0.2851	pCi/l	N/A	2022	No	Erosion of natural deposits
Uranium, Combined	0	30	1.0	ppb	NA	2022	No	Erosion of natural deposits
Unregulated Contaminants  Once every five years EPA issues a list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems.  The Northeast Regional Water District – North Valley Branch was selected by EPA to sample for thirty (30) unregulated contaminants during 2023.  Samples were collected two times at the entry point to the distribution system, as required. Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards.  The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. Should you have any questions, please contact our office.  None of the 30 contaminants included in this round of sampling were detected.
Manganese	N/A	N/A	0.028	ppm	N/A	2017	No	N/A

 

Important Health Statements

 

1. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

1. 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 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:

Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater 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 stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

1. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. lmmuno-compromised 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 about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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).

1. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children .Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.(Name of Utility) is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. Use water from the cold tap for drinking and cooking. 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.

Manganese 

People need some manganese to stay healthy, but too much can be harmful. Children and adults who drink water with high levels of manganese may experience nervous system impacts. Infants may experience learning disabilities and behavioral problems if they drink water with too much manganese. Adults may experience impacts to their nervous system resulting in behavioral changes or slow and clumsy movements. Per U.S. EPA guidance, drinking water should not contain more than 0.3 ppm. For infants under six months of age, tap water with manganese levels above 0.3ppm should not be used for drinking or making formula. Use bottled water or alternative water source. If additional home treatment is not available: For children greater than 6 months and adults-use bottled water or alternative water source. If you are caring for an infant, or are concerned about your health from manganese exposure, discuss your concerns with your health care provider.

Please call Greg Koropatnicki, Public Works Superintendent, at (701)825-6932 if you have questions.

The City of Pembina works diligently to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life, and our children’s future.