Butte-Silver Bow Water Department

We are pleased to present this year's Annual Municipal Water Quality Report. This document is designed to inform residents about the quality of water and services we deliver daily. Our continuous goal is to provide you with safe, reliable municipal water.

The Butte-Silver Bow water system relies on three primary surface water sources:

• The Big Hole River / South Fork Reservoir
• Moulton Reservoir
• Basin Creek Reservoir System

In 2017, these sources provided 12,324 homes and businesses with 2.78 billion gallons of potable water, with peak daily usage reaching 14.01 million gallons. Water from any source can be distributed to any area in the community as needed.

Our infrastructure improvements continue steadily with 8,772 feet of water mains renewed in 2017. Since 1992, we've replaced or upgraded a total of 446,414 feet of water distribution lines.

Our three treatment facilities include:

• The Big Hole Water Treatment Plant (Conventional Filtration) - 16 million gallon daily capacity, serving primarily south Butte
• The Moulton Water Treatment Plant (Direct Filtration) - 2.5 million gallon daily capacity, serving Walkerville and northwest Butte
• The Basin Creek Water Treatment Plant (Ceramic Membrane Filtration) - 7 million gallon daily capacity, serving south Butte

All facilities are operated by state-certified professionals following strict regulatory guidelines. For questions about this report or your water service, please contact Jim Dennehy at the Big Hole Water Treatment Plant at (406) 723-9429.

We encourage public engagement - our next informational meeting will be held on July 10, 2018, at 10 AM, at 126 W. Granite Street, 3rd floor conference room.

Butte-Silver Bow Water Utility routinely monitors water quality as required by federal and state regulations. Some data in our reports may be several years old, as certain contaminants are monitored less frequently. Based on quality analysis from 2011, our system has received monitoring waivers for certain inorganic contaminants through 2019.

Regarding water quality indicators, our turbidity limit is 0.3 NTU for the Big Hole & Moulton facilities and 0.15 NTU for Basin Creek. Our measurements remained below these limits 100% of the time.

Lead exposure is a serious concern, particularly for pregnant women and young children. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control materials used in home plumbing. If water has been sitting in pipes for several hours, running your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption can reduce potential lead exposure. For more information on lead in water, visit: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

A Source Water Assessment Report is available at our office (124 W. Granite St.) or online at http://nris.state.mt.us/wis/swap/swaplist.asp. This document evaluates potential contamination risks to our water supply.

Our system had no Maximum Contaminant Level violations during this monitoring period. All municipal water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of contaminants, but this doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Immunocompromised individuals, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly persons, and infants may be particularly vulnerable to certain water contaminants. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about their municipal water consumption.

The complete 2018 Consumer Confidence Report with a full contaminant listing is available on Butte-Silver Bow's website at www.bsb.mt.gov.

1. What contaminants are most concerning in Butte-Silver Bow water?
   The primary contaminants of concern include n-Propylbenzene, Isopropyl alcohol, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), and Dibromomethane. Water hardness is also an issue for many residents.
2. How often is municipal water tested in Silverbow?
   The water undergoes regular testing according to EPA and state requirements. Some contaminants are monitored daily, while others follow quarterly or annual testing schedules.
3. What health effects are associated with TTHMs?
   Long-term exposure to elevated levels of TTHMs may increase risk of certain cancers and developmental issues. Short-term exposure is generally not considered an immediate health concern.
4. How can residents reduce exposure to contaminants?
   Home filtration systems certified for specific contaminants can help. For TTHMs, activated carbon filters are often effective. For hard water, water softeners may improve household water quality.
5. Are there special concerns for vulnerable populations?
   Yes, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, young children, and the elderly may face higher risks from certain contaminants and should consult with healthcare providers about their water consumption.