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Domestic Water System

2010 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT

The City has four water reservoirs capable of holding 2.2 million gallons of water.  The existing transmission and distribution system is looped where possible, and consists of mainly 6 inch or larger ductile or cast iron water lines. The City of Selah water source comes from five deep wells, which are collectively capable of producing 7.7 million gallons per day. Wells number 3,4,5, and 6 penetrate and withdraw water from the local Ellensburg formation aquifer. Well number 7 penetrates and withdraws water from the Wanapum aquifer. The pumping capacity of the five primary wells is 5,350 GP (gallons per minute) or 7.7 million gallons per day.

The City's constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. The City wants you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. The City is committed to ensuring the quality of your water.

The City of Selah has a Wellhead Protection Program. This program is designed to prevent contamination of groundwater. The scope of the Wellhead Protection Program includes delineation of wellhead protection areas, the identification of potential sources of contamination near the groundwater supplies, the implementation of management strategies to prevent contamination of those supplies, and a contingency plan in the event that the ground water does become contaminated. All wells are tested for inorganic chemicals every three years. Nitrates and nitrites are tested annually, and coli form bacteria are tested seven times per month. Lead and copper are tested at twenty sampling sites throughout the water distribution.

Total Coli form: The total coli form rule requires water systems to meet a stricter limit for coli form bacteria. Coli form bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in water can be an indication of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria. When coli form 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 of possible disease-causing bacteria in the city water and to boil the water for drinking purposes. Newspaper, television or radio would issue this notice.

The City of Selah currently takes seven coli form samples at routine sites per month. If a sample is unsatisfactory, meaning coli forms are present, repeat samples must be taken at the location that failed, five water services up, and five water services down from the site that failed. If one of the repeat samples taken up or down fail, the City of Selah must notify the public by newspaper, television or radio. If the repeat samples are satisfactory at the five water services up and down but still fail at the original site then the problem has been narrowed down to internal plumbing at the original site. In this case, public notification is not required.

In February 1998, a routine coli form sample came back unsatisfactory. By following the repeat sampling requirements the source of contamination was found internal due to water softener being installed improperly. The improper plumbing for the water softener was corrected and another coli form sample was taken. The results were satisfactory. By securing a plumbing permit for the water softener this could have been avoided as the inspector would have seen the improper plumbing.

In our continuing efforts to maintain a safe and dependable water supply it may be necessary to make improvements in your water system. The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure. Rate adjustments may be necessary in order to address these improvements.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune-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 infection. 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 microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791

The City of Selah asks that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are at the heart of our community, our way of life and our children's future.