Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre la calidad de su agua beber.  Traduscalo o  hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

Is my water safe?

Last year, your tap water met all U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water standards.  Sandia Peak Utility vigilantly safeguards its water supplies and we would like to report that our system did not violate any drinking water standard or maximum contaminant level in 2008.

Do I need to take special precautions?

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 drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

Where does my water come from?

Our water is supplied to us from two deep wells (over 500 feet deep) located in the Northeast Heights.  Our water is of excellent quality and as of this year has shown no significant signs in the reduction of flow or volume.

Source water assessment and its availability

A source water assessment was completed in 2002 and is available upon request by contacting Sandia Peak Utility or the State of New Mexico Environmental Department.  Copies may also be requested by emailing the Drinking Water Bureau at valerio.lopez@state.nm.us or by calling (505) 222-9538.  Please include your name, address, telephone number and email address and the name of the Water System.  NMED-DWB may charge a nominal fee for paper copies.  In conclusion, the Sandia Peak Utility Company water system is well maintained and operated, and sources of drinking water are generally protected from potential sources of contamination based on well construction, hydrogeologic settings, and system operations and management.  The susceptibility rank of the entire water system is Moderately High.  Although throughout the United States it is common to find potential sources of contamination located atop wellheads, continued regulatory oversight, wellhead protection plans, and other planning efforts continue to be primary methods of protecting and ensuring high quality drinking water.

Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?

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 Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (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: microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that 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 by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.  In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking Water Testing  

Your drinking water is monitored for many regulated and unregulated contaminants, including pesticides and radioactive contaminants. All monitoring data in this report are from 2005 and 2008. If a health-related contaminant is not listed in this report, it was not detected in your drinking water.

Other Water Quality Constituents

Water Quality Data Table

 The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.  Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report.  The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

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. Sandia Peak Utility Company 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 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

A NOTE TO OUR CUSTOMERS REGARDING WATER/SEWER EMERGENCIES

 In the event of a water or sewer system equipment failure, you may be asked to temporarily suspend or curtail your water use.  Roughly 50% of the neighborhoods have sewer service so these water saving steps would also apply in a situation involving the sewer system.  Depending on the circumstances, you should be prepared to suspend all outside irrigation and reduce your domestic water use until you are further notified or instructed as to the seriousness of the situation.  Domestic water use is defined as:

·        Bathing/Personal Hygiene

·        Cooking

·        Laundering/Cleaning

Our emergency notification process will also depend on the seriousness of the situation.  The following methods of notification may be used alone or in any combination to advise our customer base of any emergency water conservation order:

·        Emergency Conservation Order door hangers

·        Large data display electronic message boards on Tramway Boulevard, strategically placed at entrances to neighborhoods

·        Email notification

·        Broadcast voicemail message on emergency phone number (888-5336)

·        Emergency Broadcast System

·        Local Television and Radio Broadcasts

 If you would like to be notified of emergencies via email, please send your information to our office located at 10 Tramway Loop NE, Albuquerque NM, 87122, or email our Customer Service Representative at jsexton@sandiapeak.com. Please be sure to include your account number with all correspondence.

 In any emergency, you should be prepared to assess the situation and use common sense to assure that your household is minimally affected.  Plan to have on hand what you may need to take care of those in your home for the period expected.  You will need approximately a gallon of water per person per day.  If you have specific medical needs that require immediate notification of water emergencies, please contact our Customer Service Representative at 857-8924.  By following these guidelines and making a few simple preparations, you can be as ready as possible for the unexpected.

For more information please contact:

Randy Adair

10 Tramway Loop NE

Albuquerque, NM  87122

Phone:      (505) 856-6345

Fax:          (505) 858-1035

Email: radair@sandiaheightsservices.com