Orchard Dale Water District

The U.S. EPA establishes specific limits for substances allowed in tap water. California's State Drinking Water Resources Control Board enforces standards that are at least as stringent as federal regulations, and historically, California has implemented even stricter requirements. These standards fall into two categories:

Primary standards protect public health from potentially harmful substances, while secondary standards manage aesthetic qualities like taste and odor. Each standard sets a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), which represents the highest allowable concentration of a substance in your water supply.

Public Health Goals (PHGs) established by the California EPA provide additional information about water quality. These goals, similar to federal Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs), are non-enforceable targets representing concentrations below which no known health risks exist.

Understanding Your Water Quality Report: Although water suppliers test for over 100 chemicals, regulations only require reporting those actually detected. When reviewing your water quality report, compare the highest detected concentration against the MCL. Substances exceeding the MCL don't necessarily pose an immediate health risk but require more frequent testing and potentially water treatment or source removal.

Where Does Our Water Come From? Water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals from natural sources, urban runoff, industrial discharges, or agricultural activities
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture and residential use
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

Both the EPA and State Water Resources Control Board establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safe drinking water. Similar standards apply to bottled water, which must provide equivalent public health protection.

1. What is a Watershed? A watershed is a specific land area that captures rainfall and other precipitation and channels it to a particular river, lake, or stream. Watersheds exist in all shapes and sizes, crossing county, state, and national boundaries. Regardless of your location, you're always within a watershed.
2. What is stormwater? Stormwater refers to rainfall that flows across yards, streets, alleys, parking lots, and buildings before entering the storm drain (or gutter) on your street.
3. What is a storm drain? Storm drains are openings (gutters) located along curbs, streets, and parking lots. They collect rainwater to prevent street flooding and transport that water through the storm drain system to nearby waterways like streams, rivers, and lakes. Water, trash, and debris entering storm drains do not go to treatment facilities but discharge directly into the nearest water body.
4. How does stormwater reach our rivers and streams? Stormwater runs off streets, parking areas, and yards into drainage ditches, gutters, and storm pipes, which transport it directly to local creeks, lakes, and the Trinity River.
5. How does stormwater become polluted? As stormwater flows over surfaces and into storm drains, it collects fertilizers, motor oil, industrial chemicals, yard waste, litter, pet waste, and other contaminants in its path. The storm drain system then carries these pollutants straight into nearby waterways. Some individuals illegally dump trash, yard clippings, cooking oil, motor oil, and other materials into storm drains, further contaminating water bodies.
6. What are examples of stormwater pollutants? Rainfall runoff can collect and transport numerous pollutants including: excess fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural and residential areas; automotive fluids, paints, soaps, pool chemicals, and toxic substances; yard waste; sediment from construction sites and eroding streambanks; and bacteria from livestock, pet waste, and faulty septic or wastewater systems.
7. How do these pollutants affect our water? State reports identify stormwater pollution as the primary remaining cause of water quality problems. While specific impacts vary by water body and aren't always fully documented, these pollutants can harm drinking water supplies, recreational activities, and wildlife.
8. How is stormwater different from wastewater? These systems operate separately. Wastewater comes from toilets, sinks, household drains, and certain commercial sources, traveling through collection pipes to treatment plants where it undergoes processing to meet quality standards before release. Stormwater, however, flows untreated directly into waterways.
9. Do North Central Texas cities treat stormwater? No, no local government in North Central Texas treats stormwater. It flows untreated directly into the nearest creek, river, or lake in your area.
10. What constitutes illegal dumping? Disposing of waste anywhere except legally authorized locations is illegal. This includes roadside dumping, ditches, storm drains, vacant lots, and allowing others to dump on your property. Penalties can include fines, imprisonment, and vehicle confiscation. Illegal dumping creates health and safety hazards, degrades community appearance, and increases cleanup costs that can reach thousands or millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.
11. Who can I contact for more information about stormwater in my city? Stormwater management in your municipality may be handled by public works, health, engineering, or environmental departments.