Bastrop Water System

WATER QUALITY INFORMATION

The following information provides an overview of your water quality: Municipal water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some instances, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activities. All municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

EPA REGULATIONS

To ensure tap water safety, the EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations similarly set limits for bottled water contaminants to provide equivalent public health protection. Some water quality issues may cause taste, odor, or color concerns without posing health risks. For questions about taste, odor, or color in your water, please contact our office at 512-321-1688.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to specific contaminants in municipal water, particularly Cryptosporidium. Infants, elderly individuals, immunocompromised persons undergoing cancer chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, those on steroid treatments, and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders should seek advice from healthcare providers about their drinking water. Additional guidelines for reducing infection risk from Cryptosporidium are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

LEAD AWARENESS

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in municipal water primarily comes from materials and components in service lines and home plumbing. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control plumbing component materials. When water sits unused for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

WATER SOURCES & ASSESSMENT

For information about your water sources, please visit the Source Water Assessment Viewer at: http://www.tceq.tx.gov/gis/swaview. Additional source water assessment details are available through Drinking Water Watch at: http://dww2.tceq.tx.gov/DWW/

POTENTIAL CONTAMINANT SOURCES

Water can become contaminated through natural processes or human activity. We regularly monitor for the following contaminant types:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants (synthetic and volatile organics) from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

COMMON WATER QUALITY QUESTIONS

Is the water hard? No, it's considered soft with moderate total dissolved solids that don't typically cause hardness issues. Water softening systems aren't generally necessary.

What is the water's pH? Our water consistently measures between 8.3-8.6, which is slightly alkaline.

Is fluoride added? We don't add fluoride, but it naturally occurs in our water supply at significant levels within acceptable limits. Fluoride content varies between wells. Consult your dentist regarding fluoride and dental health, especially for children.

FIRE HYDRANTS

The District maintains over 125 hydrants. Due to initial water system construction, flow capacity is limited by insufficient water main sizing and storage tank capacity. All hydrants will be painted yellow this summer to differentiate them for City of Bastrop and Bastrop County Fire Departments. These departments understand the yellow hydrants' capabilities and use them accordingly for refilling holding tanks rather than direct pumper truck connection, which could damage pipes. Properly functioning hydrants are essential—a faulty hydrant wastes critical emergency response time. Hydrant operation and maintenance will be prioritized next year with routine annual flushing. Please help emergency personnel by keeping areas around hydrants near your property clear.

WATER RESOURCES

The Water District draws from 5 owned and operated wells ranging from 560 to 1,020 feet deep. We're authorized to withdraw up to 1.5 million gallons daily but currently average 320,000 gallons per day. Future withdrawal capacity may require additional wells, though the aquifer has sufficient water capacity to meet District needs. The Village distribution system is compartmentalized due to elevation changes—Plants 1 and 2 sit at 521 feet elevation while Plant 3 is near the River at 362 feet, creating different pressure zones to maintain consistent pressure throughout the system.

WATER TREATMENT

Our treatment process is straightforward, primarily using chlorine disinfection at Plants 1, 2, and 3. Though our groundwater is naturally free of pathogens when withdrawn, chlorine provides safety assurance as water travels to storage tanks and taps. At Plant 2 (McAllister Road), we also add a phosphate treatment to manage naturally occurring iron and manganese that can cause aesthetic issues through staining and discoloration. This treatment encapsulates these minerals while dissolved, preventing oxidation and rust formation.

WATER METERS

We're currently converting all water meters from manual to automatic radio reading systems. This upgrade reduces monthly reading time and improves accuracy through enhanced technology.

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