for the
Sonoma State University Drinking Water System
Sonoma State University routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State regulations. The table that follows shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st through December 31st, 1999. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. It's important to remember that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water
utility, please contact Harvey DeLorm, Director of Engineering (707) 664-2124
or Craig Dawson, Director of Environmental Health & Safety (707) 664-2932.
Definitions
MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level - The "Maximum Allowed" 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.
MCLG - Maximum Contaminant Level Goal - The "Goal" 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.
mrem/yr - Millirems per year - measure of radiation absorbed by the body.
MFL - Million Fibers per Liter - million fibers per liter is a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers.
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Unit - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
N/A – Not Applicable – does not apply in this context.
ND - Non-Detect - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present above the limit of detection for reporting purposes.
NT - Not Tested – testing not required for this contaminant for this water system.
ppm - Parts per million or Milligrams per liter (mg/L) – one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
ppq - Parts per quadrillion or Picograms per liter (picograms/l) - one part per quadrillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000,000 years or one penny in $10,000,000,000,000.
ppt - Parts per trillion or Nanograms per liter (nanograms/l) - one part per trillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000.
pCi/L - Picocuries per liter - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
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.
TT - Treatment Technique - A treatment technique is a required
process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Note that TT is used in lieu of an MCL.
|
|
||||||||
| Microbiological Contaminants | ||||||||
| Contaminant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MCLG | Likely Source of Contamination |
| Total Coliform Bacteria |
|
|
|
|
> one positive total coliform sample per
month
|
N/A
|
0
|
Naturally present in the environment |
| Fecal coliform and E.coli |
|
|
|
or Absent |
a routine sample and repeat sample are total
coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive
|
N/A
|
0
|
Human and animal waste |
| Turbidity |
|
|
|
|
TT
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Soil runoff |
| Radioactive Contaminants | ||||||||
| Contaminant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MCLG | Likely Source of Contamination |
| Beta Activity, Gross |
|
|
|
pCi/L |
50
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Decay of natural and man-made deposits |
| Alpha Activity, Gross |
|
|
|
pCi/L |
15
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
| Radium 226 & 228
(total) |
|
|
|
pCi/L |
5
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
| Strontium 90 |
|
|
|
pCi/L |
8
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Decay of natural and man made deposits |
| Tritium |
|
|
|
pCi/L |
20,000
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Decay of natural and man made deposits |
| Uranium |
|
|
|
pCi/L |
20
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
| Inorganic Contaminants | ||||||||
| Contaminant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MCLG | Likely Source of Contamination |
| Aluminum |
|
|
|
ppm |
1
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits; residue from some surface water treatment processes |
| Antimony |
|
|
|
ppb |
6
|
20
|
N/A
|
Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder |
| Arsenic |
|
|
|
ppb |
50
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; glass and electronics production wastes |
| Asbestos |
|
|
|
MFL |
7
|
N/A
|
7
|
Internal corrosion of asbestos cement water mains; erosion of natural deposits |
| Barium |
|
|
|
ppm |
1
|
N/A
|
2
|
Discharge of oil drilling wastes and from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
| Beryllium |
|
|
|
ppb |
4
|
N/A
|
4
|
Discharge from metal refineries, coal-burning factories, and electrical, aerospace, and defense industries |
| Cadmium |
|
|
|
ppb |
5
|
.07
|
N/A
|
Internal corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from electroplating and industrial chemical factories and metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints |
| Chromium |
|
|
|
ppb |
50
|
2.5
|
N/A
|
Discharge from steel and pulp mills and chrome plating; erosion of natural deposits |
| Copper (source water) |
|
|
|
ppm |
AL=1.3
|
0.17
|
N/A
|
Internal corrosion of plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives |
| Copper (distribution system; 20 locations) |
|
|
|
ppm |
AL=1.3
|
0.17
|
N/A
|
Internal corrosion of plumbing systems |
| Cyanide |
|
|
|
ppb |
200
|
150
|
N/A
|
Discharge from steel/metal, plastic and fertilizer factories |
| Fluoride |
|
|
|
ppm |
2
|
1
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
| Lead (source water) |
|
|
|
ppb |
AL=15
|
2
|
N/A
|
Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; discharges from industrial manufactorers; erosion of natural deposits |
| Lead (distribution point; 20 locations) |
|
|
|
ppb |
AL=15
|
2
|
N/A
|
Internal corrosion of plumbing systems |
| Mercury (inorganic) |
|
|
|
ppb |
2
|
1.2
|
N/A
|
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills; runoff from cropland |
| Nickel |
|
|
|
ppb |
100
|
N/A
|
100
|
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal factories |
| Nitrate (as Nitrogen) |
|
|
|
ppm |
10
|
10
|
N/A
|
Runoff and leaching from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
| Nitrite (as Nitrogen) |
|
|
|
ppm |
1
|
1
|
N/A
|
Runoff and leaching from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
| Selenium |
|
|
|
ppb |
50
|
N/A
|
50
|
Discharge from petroleum, glass and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines and chemical manufacturers; runoff from livestock lots (feed additive) |
| Thallium |
|
|
|
ppb |
2
|
0.1
|
N/A
|
Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories |
| Synthetic Organic Contaminants including Pesticides and Herbicides | ||||||||
| Contaminant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MCLG | Likely Source of Contamination |
| 2,4-D |
|
|
|
ppb |
70
|
70
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops |
| 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
(*May, 1990; 0) |
|
|
|
ppb |
50
|
N/A
|
50
|
Residue of banned herbicide |
| Acrylamide |
|
|
|
TT
|
N/A
|
0
|
Added to water during sewage/wastewater treatment | |
| Alachlor |
|
|
|
ppb |
2
|
4
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops |
| Atrazine
(* Mar, 1998; 3) |
|
|
|
ppb |
3
|
0.15
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops and along railroad and highway right-of-ways |
| Bentazon |
|
|
|
ppb |
18
|
200
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from herbicide used on beans, peppers, corn, peanuts, rice, and ornamental grasses |
| Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH) |
|
|
|
ppt |
200
|
4
|
N/A
|
Leaching from linings of water storage tanks and distribution mains |
| Carbofuran |
|
|
|
ppb |
18
|
N/A
|
40
|
Leaching of soil fumigant used on rice and alfalfa, and grape vineyards |
| Chlordane |
|
|
|
ppt |
100
|
30
|
N/A
|
Residue of banned insecticides |
| Dalapon |
|
|
|
ppb |
200
|
790
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide used on rights- of-ways, and crops and landscape maintenance |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl)-adipate |
|
|
|
ppb |
400
|
N/A
|
400
|
Discharge from chemical factories |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate |
|
|
|
ppb |
4
|
12
|
N/A
|
Discharge from rubber and chemical factories; inert ingredient in pesticides |
| Dibromochloropropane
(DBCP) |
|
|
|
ppt |
200
|
1.7
|
N/A
|
Banned nematocide that may still be present in soils due to runoff/leaching from former use on soybeans, cotton, vineyards, tomatoes, and tree fruit |
| Dinoseb |
|
|
|
ppb |
7
|
14
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans, vegetables, and fruits |
| Diquat |
|
|
|
ppb |
20
|
N/A
|
20
|
Runoff from herbicide use for terrestrial and aquatic weeds |
| Dioxin
[2,3,7,8-TCDD] |
|
|
|
pico-grams/L |
30
|
N/A
|
0
|
Emissions from waste incineration and other combustion; discharge from chemical factories |
| Endothall |
|
|
|
ppb |
100
|
580
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide use for terrestrial and aquatic weeds; defliant |
| Endrin |
|
|
|
ppb |
2
|
1.8
|
N/A
|
Residue of banned insecticide and rodenticide |
| Epichlorohydrin |
|
|
|
TT
|
N/A
|
0
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories; impurity of some water treatment chemicals | |
| Ethylene dibromide
(EDB) |
|
|
|
ppt |
50
|
N/A
|
0
|
Discharge from petroleum refineries; underground gas tank leaks; banned nematocide that may still be present in soils due to runoff and leaching from grain and fruit crops |
| Glyphosate |
|
|
|
ppb |
700
|
1000
|
N/A
|
Runoff from herbicide use |
| Heptachlor
(* May, 1990; 0) |
|
|
|
ppt |
10
|
8
|
N/A
|
Residue of banned insecticide |
| Heptachlor epoxide
(* May, 1990; 0) |
|
|
|
ppt |
10
|
6
|
N/A
|
Breakdown of heptachlor |
| Hexachlorobenzene |
|
|
|
ppb |
1
|
N/A
|
0
|
Discharge from metal refineries and agricultural chemical factories and byproduct of chlorination reactions in wastewater |
| Hexachlorocyclo-pentadiene |
|
|
|
ppb |
50
|
50
|
N/A
|
Discharge from chemical factories |
| Lindane
(* May, 1990; 0) |
|
|
|
ppt |
200
|
32
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cattle, lumber, gardens |
| Methoxychlor
(* May, 1990; 0) |
|
|
|
ppb |
40
|
30
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock |
| Molinate |
|
|
|
ppb |
20
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from herbicide used on rice |
| Oxamyl [Vydate] |
|
|
|
ppb |
200
|
50
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on apples, potatoes and tomatoes |
| PCBs [Polychlorinated biphenyls] |
|
|
|
ppt |
500
|
N/A
|
0
|
Runoff from landfills; discharge of waste chemicals |
| Pentachlorophenol |
|
|
|
ppb |
1
|
0.4
|
0
|
Discharge from wood preserving factories |
| Picloram |
|
|
|
ppb |
500
|
500
|
N/A
|
Herbicide runoff |
| Simazine |
|
|
|
ppb |
4
|
N/A
|
4
|
Herbicide runoff |
| Thiobencarb |
|
|
|
ppb |
70
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from herbicide used on rice |
| Toxaphene |
|
|
|
ppb |
3
|
N/A
|
0
|
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cotton and cattle |
| Volatile Organic Contaminants | ||||||||
| Contaminant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MCLG | Likely Source of Contamination |
| Benzene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
1
|
N/A
|
0
|
Discharge from plastics, dyes and nylon factories; leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills |
| Carbon tetrachloride | No | ND | ND | ppt |
500
|
N/A
|
0
|
Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial activities |
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
600
|
600
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
6
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
| 1,1 - Dichloroethane | No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Extraction and degreasing solvent; used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, stone, clay, and glass products; fumigant |
| 1,2 - Dichloroethane | No | ND | ND | ppt |
500
|
400
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
| 1,1 - Dichloroethylene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
6
|
10
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
6
|
N/A
|
70
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
|
|
No | ND | ND | ppb |
10
|
N/A
|
100
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories; minor biodegradation byproduct of TCE and PCE groundwater contamination |
| Dichloromethane | No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
N/A
|
0
|
Discharge from pharmaceutical and chemical factories; insecticide |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
0.5
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories; primary component of some fumigants |
| 1,3 – Dichloropropene | No | ND | ND | ppt |
500
|
200
|
N/A
|
Runoff/leaching from nematocide used on croplands |
| Ethylbenzene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
700
|
300
|
N/A
|
Discharge from petroleum refineries; industrial chemical factories |
| Monochlorobenzene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
70
|
N/A
|
100
|
Discharge from industrial and agricultural chemical factories and drycleaning facilities |
| Styrene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
100
|
N/A
|
100
|
Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; leaching from landfills |
| 1,1,2,2 –
Tetrachloroethane |
No | ND | ND | ppb |
1
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial and agricultural chemical factories; solvent used in production of TCE, pesticides, varnish and lacquers |
| Tetrachloroethylene
(PCE) |
No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
N/A
|
0
|
Leaching from PVC pipes; discharge from factories,dry cleaners and auto shops (metal degreaser) |
|
|
No | ND | ND | ppb |
70
|
5
|
N/A
|
Discharge from textile-finishing factories |
|
|
No | ND | ND | ppb |
200
|
N/A
|
200
|
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories; manufacture of food wrappings |
| 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane | No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
N/A
|
3
|
Discharge from industrial chemical factories |
| Trichlorofluoromethane | No | ND | ND | ppb |
150
|
700
|
N/A
|
Discharge from industrial factories; degreasing solvent; propellant and refrigerant |
| 1,1,2 – Trichloro
1,2,2- trifluoroethane |
No | ND | ND | ppm |
1.2
|
4
|
N/A
|
Discharge from metal degreasing site and other factories; dry cleaning solvent; refrigerant |
| Trichloroethylene
(TCE) |
No | ND | ND | ppb |
5
|
.8
|
N/A
|
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories |
|
|
No | ND | ND | ppb |
100
|
N/A
|
0
|
By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Toluene | No | ND | ND | ppb |
150
|
150
|
N/A
|
Discharge from petroleum and chemical factories; underground gas tank leaks |
| Vinyl Chloride | No | ND | ND | ppt |
500
|
N/A
|
0
|
Leaching from PVC piping; discharge from plastics factories; biodegradation byproduct of TCE and PCE groundwater contamination |
| Xylenes | No | ND | ND | ppm |
1.75
|
1.8
|
N/A
|
Discharge from petroleum and chemical factories; fuel solvent |
* Date of most recent sampling as required by applicable regulations; interval in years [e.g. "(* Mar, 1998; 3)" indicates last sample was taken during March of 1998 and a repeat sample is required in three years]. A zero interval means that only a one time sample was required. Sampling data is for current reporting year unless indicated by date. This information is found in the left column under the chemical name.
Explanation for Test Results Table
A small number of contaminants have been detected above the detection limit but still fall below the Maximum Contaminant Level established by the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA research has determined that your water is safe to consume where contaminant levels fall below the MCL. Explanations are offered where contaminants have been detected even where no violation has occurred.
The Department of Health Services Office of Drinking Water requires that water suppliers notify the water users by newspaper, television or radio. The following language was posted in the STAR after the November violation: