Town of Minden Consumer Confidence Report – 2021 • Covering Calendar Year – 2020
This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided last year. Included are the details about
where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
state standards. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies. It is
important that customers be aware of the efforts that are continually being made to improve their water systems. To learn
more, please attend any of the regularly scheduled meetings. For more information please contact Jeff Cady at 775-782-8328.
Your water comes from:
Source Name
WELL 9 1330 BUCKEYE RD
1613 WATER ST WELL 1 REPLACEMENT
WELL 11 1800 HEYBOURNE RD
WELL 8 1745 BUCKEYE ROAD
WELL 4 1769 IRONWOOD DR
WELL 3 1648 COUNTY RD
WELL 2 1573 COUNTY RD
WELL 5 1715 BOUGAINVILLEA
WELL 7 1730 U ORBIT WAY
We take great care to protect your water from several chemical contaminants and we add disinfectant to protect
you against microbial contaminants. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires states to develop a Source Water
Assessment (SWA) for each public water supply that treats and distributes raw source water in order to identify potential
contamination sources. The state has completed an assessment of our source water. For results of the source water
assessment, please contact us.
Message from EPA
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised
persons, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants,
people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from
infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on
appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.
The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants
and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) included rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,
springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring
minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from
human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water before we treat it include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural
livestock operations and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff,
industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides may come from a variety of sources such as storm water run-off, agriculture, and residential users.
Radioactive contaminants, can be naturally occurring or the result of mining activity
Organic contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and
petroleum production, may also come from gas stations, urban storm water run-off, and septic systems.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulation which limits the amount of certain
contaminants in water provided by public water systems. We treat our water according to EPA’s regulations. Food and Drug
Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for
public health.
Our water system tested a minimum of 5 samples per month in accordance with the Total Coliform Rule for
microbiological contaminants. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presences in water can be an indication
of disease-causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful
bacteria are present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public by newspaper,
television or radio.
Water Quality Data
The tables following below list all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 2019 calendar year.
The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless noted, the data
presented in this table is from testing done in 2019. The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once
per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of
the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old. The bottom line is that the water provided is safe.
Terms & Abbreviations
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): the “Goal” is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is
no known or expected risk to human health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the “Maximum Allowed” MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed
in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a
water system must follow.
Treatment Technique (TT): a treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in
drinking water.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is
convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no
known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial
contaminants.
Non-Detects (ND): laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Parts per Million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/l)
Parts per Billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (μg/l)
Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
Millirems per Year (mrem/yr): measure of radiation absorbed by the body.
Million Fibers per Liter (MFL): million fibers per liter is a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10
micrometers.
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of
5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
Testing Results for Town Of Minden
Microbiological Result MCL MCLG Typical Source
COLIFORM
(TCR)
1 positive result
in Dec. 2020
MCL: Systems that Collect
Less Than 40 Samples per
Month - No more than
1 positive monthly sample
0 Naturally present in the
environment
Lead & Copper Date 90th Percentile Unit AL Sites
over AL
Sites Over AL
COPPER 2017-
2019
0.053 0.022-
0.066
ppm 1.3 0 Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; Erosion of natural deposits;
Leaching from wood preservatives
Regulated
Contaminants
Collection
Date
Highest
Value
Range Unit MCL MCLG Typical Source
ARSENIC 5/6/2020
6/3/2020
8/10/2020
9 3-9 ppb 10 0 Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff
from orchards; runoff from glass
and electronics production wastes.
BARIUM 6/13/2019 0.11 0.08-
0.11
ppm 2 2 Discharge of drilling wastes;
Discharge from metal refineries;
Erosion of natural deposits.
CHROMIUM 8/22/2019 3 1-3 ppb 100 100 Discharge from steel and pulp
mills; Erosion of natural deposits.
NITRATENITRITE
9/16/2020 2.9 0.7-
2.9
ppm 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use;
Leaching from septic tanks, sewage;
Erosion of natural deposits.
Radionuclides Collection
Date
Highest
Value
Range Unit MCL MCLG Typical
Source
COMBINED RADIUM
(-226 & -228)
3/13/2018 0.9 0.9 pCi/L 5 0 Erosion
of natural
deposits
COMBINED URANIUM 11/7/2018 6 5-6 μg/L 30 0 Erosion
of natural
deposits
GROSS ALPHA, INCL.
RADON & U
6/11/2018 5.9 4.3-5.9 pCi/L 15 0 Decay of
natural and
man-made
deposits
GROSS BETA PARTICLE
ACTIVITY
9/13/2018 4.2 3.7-4.2 pCi/L 50 0 Decay of
natural and
man-made
deposits.
RADON 8/3/2015 557.6 365-557.6 PCI/L
Secondary Contaminants Collection
Date
Highest
Value
Range Unit SMCL MCLG
ALKALINITY/ BICARBONATE 8/22/2016 160 120-160 mg/L
ALKALINITY,
CACO3 STABILITY
8/22/2016 130 99-130 mg/L
ALKALINITY, TOTAL 11/1/2016 110 100-110 mg/L
ALUMINUM 8/22/2019 0.069 .021-.069 mg/L 0.2
BICARBONATE AS HCO3 11/1/2016 130 130 mg/L
BORON, TOTAL 12/12/2016 0.2 0.1-0.2 mg/L
CALCIUM 8/22/2016 37 37 mg/L
CALCIUM 7/5/2016 41 26-41 mg/L
CHLORIDE 8/22/2019 7 6-7 mg/L 400
CONDUCTIVITY @ 25 C
UMHOS/CM
8/22/2016 330 250-330 UMHO/
CM
HARDNESS, CALCIUM
MAGNESUIM
8/22/2016 130 130 mg/L
HARDNESS, TOTAL (AS CACO3) 7/5/2016 140 94-140 mg/L
MAGNESIUM 6/13/2019 10 5-10 mg/L 150
PH 5/1/2019 8.41 8.19-8.41 PH 8.5
SILICA 11/1/2016 47 30-47 mg/L
SODIUM 8/22/2019 20 15-20 mg/L 200 20
SULFATE 8/22/2019 26 16-26 mg/L 500
TDS 6/13/2019 240 170-240 mg/L 1000
Health Information Regarding Water Quality
While your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard
balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking
water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in
humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
While your water meets the EPA’s standard for Lead, if present at elevated levels this contaminant can cause serious
health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials
and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Your Water System is responsible for providing high
quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been
sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes
before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have
your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is
available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Violations
During the 2020 calendar year, TOWN OF MINDEN is required to include an explanation of the violation(s) in the
table below and the steps taken to resolve the violation(s) with this report.
Type Category Analyte Compliance Period
No Violations Occurred in the Calendar Year of 2020.
(A) Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other,
potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which
contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms indicating the need to look for
potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct an assessment(s) to
identify problems and to correct any problems that were found during these assessments.
(B) During the past year we were required to conduct one (1) Level 1 assessment. (1) Level 1 assessment was
completed. In addition, we were required to take (1) corrective action and (1) corrective action was completed. The
event was isolated to the Amber Way tank, and no water containing the bacteria was detected in the Towns system.
The positive result was determined to have been caused by a sampling error.
Publishes June 5, 2021 Ad # 13775
