May 12, 2008
Contact: Mike Phillips, media relations manager, (480) 312-7825
Scottsdale water continues to meet or exceed all quality standards
The water delivered to Scottsdale customers in 2007 was tested thousands of times and met or surpassed all federal and state drinking water standards, according to a report to consumers due out next month.
All Scottsdale households and businesses will receive the city’s 2008 Annual Water Quality Report in June, detailing the tests that the city runs to assure the health and safety of its water supply.
The report will be available on the city’s Web site in early June and mailed to more than 100,000 customers during the month. It confirms that the city’s award-winning water system continues to produce water that meets or exceeds state and federal standards.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department require public water systems to distribute an annual report about the quality of water provided to citizens. The report provides valuable information about where drinking water comes from and how it is treated. Scottsdale’s report also includes information on water conservation.
The report summarizes results from extensive tests for more than 100 substances that the EPA requires water systems to monitor. The EPA has determined these substances may be unhealthy to humans if they are consumed over extended periods of time above the health standards. Scottsdale conducts more than 20,000 individual tests for water quality each year.
The EPA sets its health standards so that water system operators can reduce unwanted substances long before they pose a health threat. As science improves, the EPA also may change standards and set deadlines for water systems to meet more stringent regulations.
Scottsdale is continually working to ensure the city’s water supply meets all state and federal standards. Several projects are under way or planned to continue that goal and meet future regulations. They include:
- Improvements to the Central Arizona Project Water Treatment Plant
Enhancements in the water treatment technology used at the CAP water treatment plant are currently underway, with completion expected this summer. The addition of an advanced process, called granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption, will help the city to meet upcoming federal water quality regulations. GAC treatment will help to remove naturally occurring organic matter, which will decrease the formation of substances known as “disinfection byproducts.” In 2013, EPA will phase in more stringent regulations for these substances.
GAC treatment was recently put in use at the Chaparral Water Treatment Plant, serving the southern portion of Scottsdale. In addition to lowering the levels of organic matter in the water, GAC treatment will also improve the overall taste and reduce the potential for any odors.
- Southern Neighborhoods Water Quality Improvement Project
Groundwater wells serving the southern-most portion of the city, which are treated at the Central Groundwater Treatment Facility, have elevated levels of dissolved solids and hardness.
In order to make the water quality consistent with the remainder of the system, Scottsdale will add a facility that uses reverse osmosis treatment to lower the levels of dissolved solids and hardness.
The RO facility is planned at the existing CGTF site and would extend west into the adjacent Pima Park. A multi-use facility for Scottsdale’s Parks and Recreation Department is also included in the plans. Completion of this project is expected in 2010.
Scottsdale water programs and facilities won a number of awards in 2007, including Valley Forward’s prestigious Crescordia Award. The Water Resources Department won the award for its Aquifer Sustainability Program, which is made up of an innovative set of water-resource management strategies that helped the city achieve “safe yield” in 2006 and reduced the city's reliance on groundwater.
The Chaparral Water Treatment Plant at McDonald and Hayden Roads also won a number of awards in 2007, including the 2007 America’s Crown Community award from American City & County magazine. The project won as a result of its innovative design, use of advanced treatment methods and its integration into a project that provide expanded recreation and open space for the community.
For more information on the Scottsdale Water Resources Department, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/departments/Water_Resources.asp
To see a copy of the 2007 Water Quality Report, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/water/quality.asp
To learn more about THMs, the subject of a recent news report, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/documents/water/THMFacts.pdf
For questions about water quality, call (480) 312-8732.
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