City of Loveland

Welcome to the 2017 Water Quality Report from Loveland Water and Power. As a valued customer, you deserve safe, reliable water service. Our mission at LWP is to deliver exactly that. We're proud to report that in 2017, all water provided to our community met or exceeded all state and federal quality standards.

The EPA requires all community water systems to provide a Consumer Confidence Report annually. This document summarizes information about our water sources, treatment processes, detected contaminants, and regulatory compliance. Loveland's Public Water System Identification Number is CO0135485. A Spanish version is available online at www.Cityofloveland.org/WaterQuality.

Our raw water comes from the Colorado River and Big Thompson River basins, including the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap projects. Water quality within these watersheds is affected by activities on the water and surrounding land. We take a proactive approach by participating in the Big Thompson Watershed Forum (BTWF), which supports water quality protection through collaborative monitoring and educational outreach.

LWP also participates in the Big Thompson River Biosurvey Project to assess river health using aquatic organisms as indicators. This helps us identify trends and better protect our raw water resources. For more information about the BTWF, call (970) 613-6160 or visit www.btwatershed.org.

Environmental factors like spring runoff, storms, spills, and drought can affect raw water quality. Algae, particularly Anabaena in Green Ridge Glade Reservoir, sometimes causes taste and odor issues that aren't harmful but can be unpleasant. In 2016, we completed an algal mitigation study that led to installing five solar-powered mixers in the reservoir in 2017.

These mixers work continuously to prevent algae from establishing their preferred habitat, with each mixer covering up to 40 acres - more than enough for the reservoir's 160-acre surface. We've also enhanced our monitoring program and improved our treatment processes. Thanks to these efforts, 2017 was the first year on record without detectable algae-related taste and odor in our distribution system.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has provided a Source Water Assessment Report detailing our water supplies. This screening-level assessment identifies potential contamination sources, though it doesn't indicate actual contamination. Notably, none of the potential sources received high susceptibility ratings, and over 85% were rated low to moderately low susceptibility.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may contain small amounts of certain contaminants. This doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants, including those with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and infants. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about drinking water precautions.

The EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) offers information about contaminants and recommendations to reduce infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants.

Regarding bottled water, while the FDA establishes limits for contaminants similar to EPA's tap water regulations, Loveland's tap water meets or exceeds all quality standards. Often, bottled water comes from public systems like ours, sometimes from lower-quality sources. Plus, our tap water costs less than 1 cent per bottle-fill, making it both high-quality and economical.

Lead and copper are rarely found in source water - they typically come from building plumbing corrosion. LWP samples homes annually based on EPA criteria to ensure proper corrosion control. If you're interested in having your water tested, please contact us.

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