Essential to a thriving society is an abundant, reliable and safe water supply. Irving Water Utilities plays an integral role in meeting the ever-growing needs of the community. The city provides some of the highest quality, safest drinking water in the world to businesses and to more than 227,000 residents. Irving’s water rates also are among the lowest of any major city in the area.
In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act requiring community systems to provide customers with an annual report on the quality of their drinking water. The City of Irving strongly supported the legislation and is pleased to provide detailed information about the city’s drinking water. Irving’s drinking water meets or exceeds all standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Irving’s water is processed by the City of Dallas and delivered to the city ready for distribution to residents.
“The Water Utilities Department focuses on public health as employees work 24 hours a day to deliver water to our customers that is thoroughly tested and safe to drink,” said Water Utilities Director Todd Reck. “Water is a vital resource, critical to all aspects of daily life, and water utility employees have made service and product quality their highest priority.”
Water Quality Report
The City of Irving is proud to present its 2014 Water Quality Report. Each year, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the City of Dallas provide water quality data from the previous year. Once all of this data is received, it is compiled into this report and made available to Irving residents and businesses by July 1. Over the years, staff has been dedicated to delivering drinking water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. The City of Irving strives to adopt new and better methods of delivering the best quality drinking water to its residents. As regulations and drinking water standards change, it is the city’s commitment to incorporate these changes systemwide in an expeditious and cost-effective manner. In complying with legislation, this report has been developed to provide valuable information about the city’s drinking water.
Effective Water Management Requires Multifaceted Approach
For the first time in five years, Lake Chapman, the city’s primary water source, filled completely in the spring. This is great news as the city heads into the warm summer months. As a result, the City of Irving deactivated all drought restrictions May 9, 2015. However, as part of the city’s ongoing Water Conservation Plan, year-round efficient irrigation measures are now in effect, which means all residents and businesses still must adhere to twice per week irrigation limitations. The conservation plan focuses on irrigation because it is the largest category of domestic water use and is often overused when customer irrigation controllers are not monitored on an ongoing basis.
The “set it and forget it” approach to irrigation may lead to water wasting. The Water Utilities Department recommends leaving irrigation controllers turned off. Weather conditions and watering guidelines should be monitored to determine when an irrigation system should be turned on. This can be accomplished easily using Irving’s handy weather stations that are linked to watermyyard.org (see related article below) and the Texas ET (evapotranspiration) Network. An informed approach always is best to ensure water conservation and to save on monthly water bills.
In 2014, the city updated its Water Management Plan as required by the TCEQ. The plan employs proactive measures through the Water Conservation Plan and reactive measures through the Drought Contingency Plan. In addition, the city works constantly to educate the public and enforce ordinances related to effective and efficient water use. By maintaining an informed approach that employs ongoing conservation mixed with appropriate responses to drought conditions as well as planning for possible water emergencies, the city can maximize available water resources as it works to ensure the availability of Irving’s future water supply. For those who would like to better understand how water can best be managed, many resources, including a copy of the Water Management Plan, are posted at cityofirving.org/water-utilities.
Drought restrictions relaxed for Summer 2015
The Water Conservation Plan allows watering twice per week
No irrigation on Monday, Thursday or Friday. Odd-numbered addresses end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 and even-numbered addresses end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
Stay up to date with watermyyard.org. The city is promoting a great tool to help determine irrigation needed to supplement rainfall. Residents and businesses often set irrigation controllers and fail to adjust for changing weather. However, controllers are not able to determine when to irrigate. To assist with decisions about when to water, the city has installed weather stations.
The best irrigation approach is to turn the sprinkler system controller off. Then, register for weekly information about how long to run sprinklers at watermyyard.org and run only as needed. Simply go to the site, select the City of Irving and confirm your location. Then, choose a precipitation rate using one of the following methods:
• Use the instructions shown to run a catch-can test and type in the resulting number.
• Use the automated settings for the type of irrigation system at the property.
• Use the rate listed on system plans by the licensed irrigator that installed it.
• Use the number .75 (derived from a catch-can test on city property).
After pressing enter, the number of minutes needed for irrigation will be shown. At that point, a prompt will be provided to register for a weekly email with irrigation run times. Watermyyard.org was designed to ensure that users are able to water appropriately and preserve landscaping while saving water and money.
Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Este reporte incluye informacion importante sobre el agua para tomar. Para assitencia en espanol, favor de llamar al telefono (972) 721-2281.
safe drinking water act
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA is responsible for setting national limits for hundreds of substances in drinking water and also specifies various treatments that water systems must use to remove these substances. Similarly, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Each system continually monitors for these substances and reports directly to the EPA if they were detected in the drinking water. The EPA uses this data to ensure that consumers are receiving clean water and verifies that states are enforcing the laws that regulate drinking water.
This publication conforms to the federal regulation under SDWA requiring water utilities to provide detailed water quality information to each of their customers annually. For more information about this report, to request additional copies, or for any questions or concerns relating to drinking water, contact Environmental Compliance at (972) 721-2281 or email tmoore@cityofirving.org.
Substances expected to be in drinking water
The sources of drinking water (both tap 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 include:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also can come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production, and mining activities
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium, or iron), which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color and odor problems. The taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not the EPA. These constituents are not causes for health concern. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document, but may greatly affect the appearance and taste of the water.
When drinking water meets federal standards, there may not be any health benefits to purchasing bottled water. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791
where does the city get its drinking water?
Most of Irving’s water travels from Lake Chapman to Lewisville Lake and is then treated by the City of Dallas. Irving owns water rights for water in Lake Chapman, which was previously known as Cooper Reservoir. Some of the City of Irving’s water is purchased directly from the City of Dallas to supplement the Lake Chapman water. The City of Dallas uses surface water from the following sources: Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Grapevine, Lewisville Lake and Lake Ray Roberts. The TCEQ has completed a Source Water Susceptibility Report for all drinking water systems that own their sources. This report describes the susceptibility and types of contaminants that may come into contact with the drinking water source based on human activities and natural conditions. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts, call (972) 721-2281.
Irving water supply
Notice for high health risk groups
Certain groups may be more vulnerable than the general population to contaminants, such as cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants; some elderly or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk of contracting infections. Those who fall under these categories should seek advice about drinking water from a physician or health care provider.
Additional guidelines on appropriate means to reduce the risk of infection by cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
What's in the water?
Irving Water Utilities is pleased to report that during the past year the water delivered to Irving homes and businesses complied with, or exceeded, all state and federal drinking water requirements. The table on the next page lists the substances that were detected in the city’s drinking water during 2014. Although all of the substances listed are under the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the EPA, and therefore not expected to cause any health risks, it is important that residents know exactly what was detected and how much of the substance was present in the water.
What are coliforms?
Total coliform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy. While these organisms do not cause disease, they are often found in association with other microbes that are capable of causing disease. Coliform bacteria are more hardy than many disease-causing organisms; therefore, their absence from water is a good indication that the water is microbiologically safe for human consumption.
How to determine if there’s a problem with drinking water?
If the amount of a contaminant exceeds a predetermined safe level in drinking water (MCL, Action Level, etc.), residents will be notified via newspapers, radio, television, the city’s iALERT system and other means within 24 hours of receiving test results. With the notification, there will be instructions on the appropriate actions to take to prevent health risks.
drinking water test data
Contaminants
Strontium
and
mills; Erosion of natural deposits.
Naturally-occurring element and is commonly used as molybdenum trioxide as a chemical reagent.
Naturally-occurring element used as strontium carbonate in pyrotechnics, in steel production, as a catalyst and as a lead scavenger
Naturally-occurring element commonly used as vanadium pentoxide in the production of other substances and as a catalyst
Naturally-occurring element; used in making steel and other alloys; used for chrome plating, dyes, pigments, leather tanning, and wood preservation.
Chlorate compounds are used in agriculture as defoliants or desiccants and may occur in drinking water related to use of disinfectants such as chlorine dioxide.
Source: City of Dallas
wATER qUALITY fLUSHING
Why do city workers flush water out of the fire hydrants that appear to be perfectly fine when residents and businesses are asked to conserve?
This question comes to the forefront when residents see a hydrant being flushed. What is important to know is that state and federal agencies require that the water in the distribution system continuously meet specific standards of quality. A minimum level of chlorine must be present in the line at all times to kill any bacteria that may try to grow. Flushing ensures public safety as it disposes of water that fails to meet this standard.
Water is flushed from the system each week through fire hydrants or flushing valves. Typically, more flushing occurs in the warmer months as higher temperatures cause chlorine to dissipate more quickly. Certain types of pipe and areas that are further away from pump stations also require more flushing. While there are limits on what can be used, the city works to preserve the usefulness of this water by collecting it in water trucks for application to landscaping at parks and for contractors to use at newly developed properties.
Learn how to fix small leaks around the house to save money by scanning this code using a QR application.
Providing safe drinking water to the community is a complex business. This report provides residents with information that is comprehensive and explained as simply as possible. For more details, call Water Utilities at (972) 721-2281. Residents can voice any concerns about their drinking water.
For inquiries about public participation and policy decisions, call (972) 721-2493.
value of tap water
Drinking water systems are critical to public health, fire protection, economic development and quality of life. Service disruptions can endanger the public and result in significant economic loss. To provide safe and reliable drinking water to customers, city staff operates and maintains six pump stations, eight elevated tanks, 10 ground storage tanks, and just over 700 miles of water mains. Irving has more than 100 miles of cast iron and fiber cement pipe that is at or near the end of its expected life. Due to corrosion, multiple pipe breaks and associated maintenance, new pipes are needed to replace old cast iron pipes.
High-quality water is delivered to customers’ homes and businesses at less than a penny a gallon. Water rates help provide revenue to maintain high-quality water service, reduce service interruptions due to aging infrastructure and expand system capacity for future needs. Irving water customers, even with past adjustments, have some of the lowest water and sewer rates among Dallas’ member cities. Revenues generated from water sales help continue upgrades to the city’s water and wastewater system.
In addition, water rates address failing infrastructure, fixed expenses and regulatory obligations.
• Failing Infrastructure – Pipes need to be replaced each year to avoid water loss, unhealthy sewer leaks, loss of service and fines due to not meeting regulatory standards. Line replacements are critical to maintain water quality, and to prevent outages and property damage due to line breaks and sewer backups. Replacements are expensive and costs increase over time.
• Fixed Expenses – Regardless of the time of year or amount of rainfall, Water Utilities must have the infrastructure to deliver an ample, high-quality supply of water for its customers. Water Utilities fixed expenses make up a majority of the budget and must be paid no matter how much water is sold.
• Regulatory Obligations – The TCEQ requires water utilities to meet regulatory standards by completing water study projects and paying water quality fees. TCEQ fees increase over time. In addition, existing agreements with the TCEQ require the city to replace a designated amount of infrastructure each year. The city must pay for the regulatory costs of these studies, fees and line replacements.
To decrease the financial and operational impacts placed on customers, innovative approaches to water and wastewater system maintenance are being embraced by the city. Through increased coordination between the Capital Improvements Program Team and the Water Utilities Department, a closer look is being given to the existing condition of both the water and wastewater systems, which can result in their simultaneous replacement.
A list of completed, in-progress and upcoming projects is available at cityofirving.org/131/capital-improvement-program. For more information, contact Water Utilities at (972) 721-2281.
water loss
While the city works diligently to upgrade and maintain the water distribution system, line breaks and leaks result in a loss of water over time. In the water loss audit submitted to the Texas Water Development Board for the time period of January through December 2014, the City of Irving water distribution system lost an estimated 1,068,667,005 gallons of water. This is 8.18 percent of the water pumped during the calendar year and is well below the industry standard of 10 percent loss for effective water systems. For any questions about the water loss audit, call (972) 721-2281.
Responsible Irrigation
The City of Irving has an irrigation ordinance in place that complies with requirements established by the state. This ordinance is designed to encourage effective and responsible maintenance and use of irrigation systems. Every business and residence in Irving that has an irrigation system is required to have a rain/ freeze sensor. A sensor must operate effectively and prevent activation of the system during precipitation or when temperatures drop to levels approaching the freezing point. While having a properly operating sensor is important, the city’s irrigation ordinance also prohibits the wasting of water through the following:
• Allowing irrigation water to spray onto artificial surfaces such as fences and walls
• Failing to ensure system maintenance resulting in wasting of water
• Irrigating during any type of precipitation
• Irrigating with broken, misdirected or missing sprinkler parts
• Watering non-landscaped surfaces such as sidewalks and streets
City ordinances prohibit irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April 1 through Oct. 31. Avoiding mid-day watering reduces the potential for evaporation. It also is best not to water during windy conditions. Water Utilities, Code Enforcement and Police personnel are all involved in patrol and enforcement. A single incident may violate multiple portions of the irrigation ordinance, and each violation may be subject to a fine of up to $2,000. Given the importance of using water wisely and the severity of the fines, it is a good idea to monitor irrigation systems for proper operation.
For information about drinking water, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
When watering by hand, use positive shutoff hose nozzles or buckets. Harvesting rainwater by collection in barrels also is encouraged in order to meet watering needs. For more information, call (972) 721-2281 or visit cityofirving.org/water-utilities.
