Saratoga County Water Authority

INTRODUCTION

To comply with Part 5-1.72 of the New York State Sanitary Code (10 NYCRR), the Saratoga County Water Authority (SCWA) annually publishes a report addressing the quality of your municipal water. This report aims to increase awareness about our drinking water and highlight the importance of protecting our water resources.

Included are details about water sources, content analysis, and how our water compares to State standards. For questions about this report or your municipal water, please contact us at (518) 761-2058. We want you to be well-informed about your water supply.

You're welcome to attend our regularly scheduled Water Authority board meetings held monthly in the Board of Supervisor's meeting room at the Saratoga County Complex located at 40 McMaster Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. For upcoming meeting schedules, please visit: www.saratogacountywaterauthority.com.

WATER SOURCE INFORMATION

Generally, drinking water sources (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive materials. To ensure tap water safety, the State and EPA establish regulations limiting contaminant amounts in public water systems. Similarly, the State Health Department and FDA regulations set limits for contaminants in bottled water, providing equivalent public health protection.

The SCWA's water source is the upper Hudson River. Our treatment process includes coagulant addition, filtration through 0.1-micron membrane filters, and granular activated carbon filtration. We add caustic soda for pH adjustment and orthophosphates for corrosion control. Sodium hypochlorite provides disinfection and maintains residual protection throughout the transmission system.

Our one-million-gallon water storage tank (Clearwell) at the treatment plant ensures proper disinfection contact time and supplies our pumping and transmission system. Our water treatment facility has operated since February 2010.

Being sourced from the Hudson River, our supply is naturally sensitive to nitrate, phosphorus, and microbial contamination. Elevated susceptibility ratings don't indicate that source water contamination has occurred or will occur. Our Public Water System (PWS) employs treatment processes and regular monitoring to ensure water delivered to consumers meets all applicable standards.

SYSTEM INFORMATION AND STATISTICS

In 2017, we served eight customers: The Town of Moreau, Wilton Water & Sewer Authority, Town of Ballston, Clifton Park Water Authority, Town of Malta, Village of Stillwater, Town of Stillwater, and Luther Forest Technology Campus. We supplied 1,943,041,076 gallons of water, averaging 5,350,000 gallons daily. Our peak monthly average was 6,132,000 gallons per day during August 2017. Municipal water customers were charged $2.242 per 1,000 gallons.

1. How can I reduce my monthly water bill? There are numerous ways to lower your bill while conserving our precious water resources. Visit our water conservation page by clicking the link below or the Water Conservation button to start reducing your costs today.
2. What is the $25 fee on my first bill? This is a one-time new service fee for account activation. This information was provided during your initial visit to our office when setting up your account.
3. Why does the District add fluoride to the water? Fluoridation in New York municipal systems began in the early 1950s to reduce dental cavities. Originally, drinking water was the primary fluoride source, but today, multiple sources exist including toothpaste, mouth rinses, and professional treatments. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) now recommends 0.7 mg/l fluoride concentration, revised from the previous 0.7-1.2 mg/l guideline. However, current New York regulations still require community water systems serving 1,500+ people to maintain fluoride between 0.8-1.4 mg/l, with a recommended minimum of 0.9 mg/l. Saratoga County Water Authority adjusts fluoride to 1.0 mg/l and will update practices when regulatory changes occur.
4. Why does my water look milky sometimes? The milky appearance is harmless air bubbles. This can occur when repairs introduce extra air into water lines or during winter when cold water enters your warm home, releasing oxygen as tiny bubbles. These air bubbles should disappear quickly, but contact us if the issue persists.
5. How do I read my meter? Read the numbers from left to right. The rightmost digit is fixed at zero; look where the needle points. If the odometer shows numbers between digits, use the lower number. The dark triangle is the leak indicator, which moves whenever water flows, even at very low rates. Contact us with additional questions or refer to the Water User's Guide.
6. How hard is our water? Due to our water source and local geology, our water is considered moderately hard. For those with water softeners or similar devices, we've calculated the hardness range as 10.5 to 13 grains per gallon. Remember to maintain any water treatment devices according to manufacturer guidelines to prevent potential issues.