Leavenworth Waterworks

2022 Water Quality Report

In 2021, Leavenworth Waterworks was 100% compliant with Federal Drinking Water Regulations.

Basic information

This report is a summary of the quality of water provided to customers during 2021. It is a record reflecting the hard work and dedication of the five elected members of the Waterworks Board and the 33 Waterworks employees. All are committed to providing plentiful water that is safe to drink. The Waterworks Board meets at 5:00 PM on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Leavenworth Waterworks office, 601 Cherokee. The public is welcome to attend, because well-informed customers are our best allies in supporting improvements necessary to maintain high drinking water standards. The 2022 Waterworks Board members are Mr. Richard Gervasini (Chairman), Mrs. Christi Norris, Mr. Eric Peterson, and Mr. Chad Lough.

This Water Quality Report is provided to all customers as required by the U.S. Congress in their 1996 amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The details of the report are based on the Consumer Confidence Report regulations published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on August 19, 1998. The purpose of the annual report is to inform all customers about their drinking water, to increase awareness about the importance of source-water protection, and to involve customers more in decisions that may affect their health.

Free copies of this report are available at the Leavenworth Waterworks Office; 601 Cherokee and on our website at www.lvnwater.com. Copies will also be mailed to customers upon request. If you have any questions or want more information about this report, please contact Neil Seichepine, Water Treatment Manager at 913-727-1902.

Water Quality Data

The following water-quality tables list unregulated secondary and regulated primary drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 2021 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in these tables are from water testing done from January 1 through December 31, 2021.

The State of Kansas requires Leavenworth Waterworks to monitor the water supply for certain contaminants less than once per year, because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Therefore, some of the data, though representative of the water quality, may be more than one year old. The bottom line is that the water provided to you is safe to drink.

Terms & Abbreviations

Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements..

Conductivity: the ability of water to conduct an electric current; expressed as micromhos per centimeter (μmhos/cm); indicates the degree of mineralization in water.

Langlier Index (LI): a measure of the corrosiveness of water.

Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the "Maximum Allowed" MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

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. MCGLs allow for a margin of safety.

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 human health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Millirems per Year (mrem/yr): a measure of radiation absorbed by the body.

Million Fibers per Liter (MFL): a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers.

Monitoring Period Average (MPA): an average of sample results obtained during a defined time frame, common examples of monitoring periods are monthly, quarterly, and yearly.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person. Turbidity is not regulated for groundwater systems.

Non-Detects (ND): lab analysis indicates that the contaminant is not present.

Parts per Billion (ppb): or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Part per Million (ppm): or milligrams per liter (mg/L).

pH: the pH scale extends from 0, very acidic, to 14, very alkaline, with 7 being neutral.

Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Running Annual Average (RAA): an average of sample results obtained over the most current 12 months and used to determine compliance with MCLs.

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL): recommended level for a contaminant that is not regulated and has no MCL.

Treatment Technique (TT): a required process intended to reduce levels of a contaminant in drinking water.

= : equal to

< : less than

≤ : less than or equal to

We Work Hard to Bring You Soft Water

The raw water we divert from the Missouri River and that we pump from the Missouri River alluvial aquifer is hard water prior to treatment. The hardness is caused by two common minerals: calcium and magnesium. These minerals occur naturally and mostly come from the limestone and dolomite formations that are prevalent in eastern Kansas.

Even though hard water is generally safe to drink, it can have undesirable effects on cleaning and bathing. Soaps and detergents lather less in hard water and are less effective than in soft water. Hard water typically forms a residue (scum) when combined with detergents, which stay behind on dishes, laundry, sinks, showers, and bathtubs. Hard water also forms “scale” that clogs pipes and ruins water heaters. The scale also forms on indoor plumbing fixtures and appliances (like the inside of tea and coffee pots), and decreases the life of toilet flushing units. Similarly, insoluble salt residues that remain in hair after shampooing with hard water tend to leave hair rougher and harder to untangle.

Many homeowners and businesses who have hard water use water softeners (ion-exchange devices), which are expensive to purchase, install, and operate. Fortunately, Leavenworth Waterworks employs lime softening at its two water treatment plants to remove most of the hardness caused by calcium and magnesium. Hardness at the North Treatment Plant is reduced from about 320 mg/L down to about 160 mg/L. Hardness at the South Treatment Plant is reduced from about 400 mg/L to about 120 mg/L. The result is great-tasting water without the expensive hassles of hard water.

Water Conservation Tips

Things you can do to save water:

• Fix leaking faucets, pipes, toilets, etc.
• Replace old fixtures; install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors.
• Take shorter showers.
• Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush.
• If you wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
• Water your lawn only when it needs it.

Drinking Water and Your Health

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 affect can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons
such as persons 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 the drinking water from their health care providers. Center for Disease Control and EPA guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include 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:

• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring, or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water run-off, and residential uses.
• Organic contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of mining activities.

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit 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 protections for public health.

Our water system is required to test a minimum of 40 samples per month in accordance with the Revised Total Coliform Rule for microbiological contaminants. Total Coliform Rule (TCR) – Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence 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. All water samples tested negative for coliform bacteria except the month of November of 2021 when 1 of 43 samples tested positive.

If present, elevated levels of lead 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 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 1-800-426-4791 or online at the EPA's lead information page.

Safe, Reliable Water Sources

Your drinking water comes from two sources. The surface water which is treated at the North Water Plant, located in northeast Leavenworth, is drawn directly from the river by pumps located on the west bank of the Missouri River. The groundwater which is treated at the South Water Plant, located a half a mile southeast of Leavenworth, comes from nine wells situated approximately 300 feet from the river. The wells draw water from an aquifer fed by the Missouri River.

State-certified operators at each treatment plant work 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to make the water safe for drinking and pleasantly soft for every household and commercial use. The water is subjected to rigorous treatment to remove sediment, harmful bacteria, and undesirable minerals and contaminants. To prevent disease, operators disinfect the water with chlorine and ammonia.

Your water is safe to drink.

The U.S. Congress, EPA, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) develop and enforce drinking water regulations to protect public health. Our drinking water consistently meets or exceeds these rigorous standards.

Last year, KDHE completed more than 900 tests for over 100 contaminants to assure quality control of our water. This was in addition to the numerous hourly and daily checks and tests performed by our plant operators at each of the two Leavenworth Waterworks treatment plants. Frequent sampling of the treated water is also done at numerous customer locations throughout the city water-service.

Construction Projects

Water Main Replacements continued in 2021 with nearly two miles of the Distribution System upgraded. Almost 4,000 ft of the raw water transmission main supplying the South Plant was relocated to avoid future flood damage as was experienced in 2019 & 2011 & 1993.

The Horizontal Collector Well to supply the South Plant was also completed in 2021. This Well has the capability to completely replace the failing nine vertical wells previously used to supply raw water to the plant.

After reviewing the Preliminary Engineering Report prepared by McClure Engineering Company for the addition of a system water storage tank, The Board of Directors decided to proceed with the construction of a four million gallon tank, estimated at $5.8 million project cost. This new tank will complement the 140 year old, 5 MG masonry tank currently in use. Construction is expected to be completed by October 2023.