City of Flagstaff

The City of Flagstaff remains dedicated to delivering high-quality water and reliable service to all our customers. We're pleased to present this year's Consumer Confidence Report, also known as our water quality report, which summarizes all testing performed to ensure we provide each customer with exceptional quality municipal water.

Our water consistently meets or exceeds all Federal and State drinking water standards. This report covers the period from January 1 through December 31, 2016.

Public Participation Opportunities
We value our customers and want you to be informed about your water quality. To learn more about public participation or to attend our regularly scheduled meetings, please contact the Utilities Division at (928) 213-2400. Flagstaff Water Commission meetings are held the third Thursday of each month. Meeting locations are posted on the official City bulletin board at City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave., and on the City's website at www.flagstaff.az.gov/utilities.

Water Sources
In 2016, the Utilities Department produced approximately 7,979 acre-feet (or ~2.6 billion gallons) of water at an average of 7.11 million gallons per day, a 0.4% decrease from 2015. The City draws water from three primary sources:

• Upper Lake Mary Reservoir
• Seasonal runoff from the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks (combination of spring water from snowmelt and shallow ground water wells)
• Deep ground water wells located in two well fields outside the city and seven wells within city limits

Water Treatment Process
The City operates two water treatment plants:

1. Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant - Surface water travels approximately 9 miles from an intake tower at Upper Lake Mary to the treatment plant. Water undergoes pretreatment with chlorine dioxide to prevent algae growth and disinfection byproduct formation, followed by conventional filtration including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
2. Inner Basin Treatment - Water from the San Francisco Peaks undergoes similar treatment processes before distribution.

Potential Contaminants
To ensure tap water safety, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals, sometimes radioactive materials, and substances from animal or human activity.

1. What should I know about the municipal water testing laboratory?
2. Why does my tap water sometimes appear milky or cloudy?
3. What causes spots on dishes after washing?
4. Is purchasing a water softener recommended for Flagstaff residents?
5. Are home filtration units necessary for Flagstaff municipal water?
6. What causes coffee to have an oily appearance?
7. What factors contribute to taste and odor issues in tap water?
8. Why do some glasses of water appear discolored?
9. Does bottled water offer superior quality compared to municipal tap water?
10. Why must water undergo disinfection processes?
11. What causes sediment or sand particles in tap water?
12. Why does the water utility occasionally flush water from main pipes?
13. What causes water hardness in the Flagstaff area?
14. What are trihalomethanes and why are they a concern?
15. Why is chlorination/chloramination necessary for municipal water?
16. Do regulatory standards exist for chlorine or chloramine levels in tap water?
17. How are Arizona Division of Drinking Water and EPA addressing trihalomethanes in municipal water?