Typical Values for January - December 1999

The following parameters are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and the 1986 Amendments. Analyses are preformed as required and the concentrations of the regulated parameters detected in Tempe water are LESS THAN the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL's). The city wells were used as an additional water supply for a short period in 1999. These are the average values for the drinking water in 1999.


Inorganic Chemicals -Naturally occurring metals, salts and minerals or from mining and farming runoff

Trace Metals     Regulated Inorganics      Unregulated Inorganics     Hardness

Organic Chemicals

RadioChemicals-  Naturally occurring or man-made, as a result of oil and gas production and mining activities, radioactive compounds.

Trace Metals~Drinking Water Values

Analyte

MCL (mg/l)

Average Value is less than(mg/L)
Antimony 0.006 0.002
Arsenic 0.05 0.004
Barium 2 0.1
Beryllium 0.004 0.0005
Cadmium 0.005 0.0011
Chromium 0.1 0.0069
Mercury 0.002 0.0005
Nickel 0.1 0.05
Selenium 0.05 0.0025
Thallium 0.002 0.001
Action Level*
Lead 0.015 0.005
Copper 1.3 0.05
SMCL**
Iron 0.3 0.05
Manganese 0.05 0.05
Silver 0.1 0.01
Zinc 5 0.05

*Action Level- if the value of either Lead or Copper values exceed the Action Level additional treatment techniques are required as per the "Lead and Copper Rule".

*SMCL- secondary maximum contaminant level, a number associated with the aesthetic quality of water. According to the EPA these numbers are guidelines not enforceable standards. There are no health problems associated with these compounds.

Regulated Inorganics~Drinking Water Values

Analyte

MCL (mg/l)

Average Value is less than(mg/L)
Asbestos 7 MFL* 0.2
Cyanide 0.2 0.03
Fluoride 4 0.78
Nitrate 10 1.4
Nitrite 1 0.05
Nitrate/Nitrite 10 1.4

*million fibers/liter longer than 10um

Regulated Volatile Organic Chemicals~Drinking Water Values

Analyte

MCL (mg/l)

Average Value is less than(mg/L)
1,1-Dichloroethylene 0.007 0.0005
1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.2 0.0005
1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.005 0.0005
1,2-Dichloroethane 0.005 0.0005
1,2-Dichloropropane 0.005 0.0005
Benzene 0.005 0.0005
Carbon Tetrachloride 0.005 0.0005
Cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene 0.07 0.0005
Ethylbenzene 0.7 0.0005
(mono)chlorobenzene 0.1 0.0005
0-Dichlorobenzene 0.6 0.0005
Para-Dichlorobenzene 0.075 0.0005
Styrene 0.1 0.0005
Tetrachloroethylene(PCE) 0.005 0.0005
Toluene 1 0.0005
Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 0.1 0.0005
Trichloroethylene(TCE) 0.005 0.0005
Vinyl Chloride 0.002 0.0003
Xylenes, total 10 0.001
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 0.07 0.0005
Dichloromethane 0.005 0.0005
Trihalomethanes(TTHM's) 0.08 0.048

The VOC program consists of monitoring the distribution system and wells for approximately 40 other compounds which are currently unregulated. Therefore, for these compounds the Minumum Reporting Levels (MRL)are listed. The MRL is the lowest limit accurately detected by  the instrument.

Unregulated Volatile Organic Chemicals~Drinking Water Values 

Analyte

Minimum Reporting Level-MRL (mg/l)

Average Value is less than(mg/L)
Dichlorofluoromethane 0.0005 0.0005
Chloromethane 0.0005 0.0005
Bromomethane 0.0005 0.0005
Chloroethane 0.0005 0.0005
Trichlorofluoromethane 0.0005 0.0005
1, 1-Dichloroethane 0.0005 0.0005
Bromochloroethane 0.0005 0.0005
2, 2-Dichloropropane 0.0005 0.0005
1, 1- Dichloropropene 0.0005 0.0005
Dibromomethane 0.0005 0.0005
cis-1, 3-Dichloropropene 0.0005 0.0005
trans-1, 3-Dichloropropene 0.0005 0.0005
1, 3-Dichloropropane 0.0005 0.0005
1, 2-Dibromomethane 0.0005 0.0005
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.0005 0.0005
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.0005 0.0005
1,2,3-Trichloropropane 0.0005 0.0005
Isopropylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
Bromobenzene 0.0005 0.0005
n-Propylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
2-Chlorotoluene 0.0005 0.0005
4-Chlorotoluene 0.0005 0.0005
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
tert-Butylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
sec-Butylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
p-Isoproplytoluene 0.0005 0.0005
1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.0005 0.0005
n-Butylbenzene 0.0005 0.0005
1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene 0.0005 0.0005
Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) 0.0005 0.0005
Cholroform 0.0005 0.006
Bromoform 0.0005 0.003
Bromdichloromethane 0.0005 0.01
Chlorodibrommethane 0.0005 0.014

Regulated Synthetic Organic Chemicals~Drinking Water Values

Analyte

MCL (mg/L)

Typical Value is Less Than(mg/L)
2,4-D 0.07 0.0001
2,4,5-TP (Silvex)  0.05 0.0002
Toxaphene 0.003 0.0005
Alachlor 0.002 0.00005
Atrazine 0.003 0.00005
Carbofuran 0.04 0.0009
Pentachlorophenol 0.001 0.00004
Chlordane 0.002 0.0001
Dibromochloropropane(DBCP) 0.0002 0.00001
Ethylene Dibromide(EDB) 0.00005 0.00001
Heptachlor 0.0004 0.00001
Heptachlor Epoxide 0.0002 0.00001
Lindane 0.0002 0.00001
Benzo(a) Pyrene 0.0002 0.00002
Dalapon 0.2 0.001
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate 0.006 0.0006
Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate 0.4 0.0006
Dinoseb 0.007 0.0002
2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin) 3x10-8 0.94x10-9
Diquat 0.02 0.0004
Endothall 0.1 0.02
Endrin 0.002 0.00001
Glyphosate 0.7 0.006
Hexachlorobenzene 0.001 0.00005
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 0.05 0.00005
Oxamyl 0.2 0.002
Picloram 0.5 0.0001
Simazine 0.004 0.00005
Methoxychlor 0.04 0.00005
PCB:Polychlorinated Biphenyls 0.0005 0.0001
Total Haloacetic Acids 0.06 0.0206

The SOC program consists of monitoring the distribution system and wells for approximately 30 other compounds which are currently unregulated. Therefore, for these compounds the Minumum Reporting Levels (MRL)are listed. The MRL is the lowest limit accurately detected by  the instrument.

Unregulated  SOC's~Drinking Water Values

Analyte

Minimum Reporting Level-MRL (mg/l)

Average Value is less than(mg/L)
Aldicarb 0.0005 0.0005
Aldicarb Sulfoxide 0.0005 0.0005
Aldicarb Sulfone 0.0007 0.0007
3-Hydroxycarbofuran 0.002 0.002
Aldrin 0.00001 0.00001
Propachlor 0.00005 0.00005
Butachlor 0.00005 0.00005
Carbaryl 0.002 0.002
Dicamba 0.00008 0.00008
Dieldrin 0.00001 0.00001
Methomyl 0.001 0.001
Metolachlor 0.00005 0.00005
Metribuzin, 0.00005 0.00005
Trigger Value*
Arocholr 1016 0.00008 0.00007
Arocholr 1221 0.02 0.0001
Arocholr 1232 0.0005 0.0001
Arocholr 1242 0.0003 0.0001
Arocholr 1248 0.0001 0.0001
Arocholr 1254 0.0001 0.0001
Arocholr 1260 0.0002 0.0001

*If any trigger value is exceeded, then further testing must be performed for Decachlorobiphenyl

RadioChemicals~ Drinking Water Values

Analyte

MCL (pCi/L)

Typical Value  (pCi/L)
Gross Alpha 15 3.9
Combined Radium-226, Radium-228 5 *
Gross Beta 50** 7.9

*Combined Radium 226 and Radium 228 are not analyzed separately when Gross Alpha is less than 5 pCi/L, it is assumed that their value is also less than 5 pCi/L.

**50 pCi/l is the approximate equivalent to 4 millirem/year

Unregulated Inorganics~Drinking Water Values

Parameter Analyzed

Ranges

Typical Values
Temperature (ºF) 52-85 72
Chlorine Residual 0.43-1.39 0.93
pH (pH Units) 7.2-8.1 7.62
Turbidity (NTU)* 0.02-0.29 0.09
Conductivity** 538-1309 1052
Chloride 28-287 187
Alkalinity*** 96-202 141
Hardness (see note below) 162-272 220(12.9 grains/gallon)
Calcium 40.8-76 58.6
Magnesium 7.3-30.1 21
Total Dissolved Solids 296-720 579
Sulfate 76-157 114
Sodium 32-154 119

Results are expressed in mg/l except
* NTU= Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (measure of water clarity)
** UMHOS/CM (micromhos per centimeter) units used to measure conductance
*** Alkalinity and hardness are reported as mg/l calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

(Hardness Note: many customers are interested in Hardness expressed in grains per gallon, for settings on dishwashers or water softeners. To calculate grains per gallon, divide the hardness value in mg/l by 17.1.)