UPDATE: Why Is The Water Company Knocking On Your Door? —They’ve Declared An Emergency

UPDATE: Frazier Park, CA (June 24, 2021 at 9 p.m.)— In a special meeting Thursday night, the Frazier Park Public Utility District Board voted to declare a level 3A water emergency after their Well 05—one of their most productive wells—measured one part per million higher in nitrates (11/ppm) than the state limit (10/ppm). That well was temporarily moved offline and potable water was trucked in to Frazier Park from Lebec with a certified potable water tanker to keep FPPUD’s storage tanks full.

Pregnant women and babies under six months of age should not be given the water. Nitrates cannot be removed with boiling, which serves to concentrate them, making them more dangerous, rather than less.

Outside water will be restricted, with differing days for odd and even addresses,and no watering between the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  See below for “Emergency Alert Stage 3A.” We will provide more precise details as they become confirmed on Monday.

A grant from the State of California has been confirmed to assist with the cost of drilling a new well, though the finance package still needs to be developed and executed; the plans and specifications need to be prepared to send out to bid; after bidding is complete, the district can schedule the drilling and building of a new well beside the current Well 05 (which is 60 years old). It is believed that Well 05 has a crack in the “shallow water” section of its casing.

In the meantime, the board authorized FPPUD to move ahead with a variety of tactics to keep the town supplied with healthy drinking water

Here is an early version of the 3A measures issued in tonight’s special meeting.  The full details will be available Monday from the water company, and in next week’s issue of The Mountain Enterprise.

  •  Emergency Alert Stage 3A

  • Frazier Park Public Utility District has declared a drought and water shortage emergency and is using media relations to supplement efforts to keep customers informed.

  • Frazier Park PUD will inform customers of prohibited water uses (non-essential water uses, listed in Stage 1 are now prohibited).

  • Frazier Park PUD would enforce 2 day per week outside watering of landscaping for a maximum of 20 minutes, two times per day.

Use of water for outside plants, lawn, landscape, and turf areas on an Odd/Even Program (Odd numbered addresses Tuesday & Saturday. Even numbered addresses Wednesday & Sunday).  Watering of plants, lawn, landscape, and turf areas are prohibited between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. No watering of plants, lawn, landscape, and turf areas is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

  1. Frazier Park PUD will inform customers of penalties if prohibited measures are not observed….

  2. Frazier Park PUD will limit the use of fire hydrants to fire protection uses only.

  3. Frazier Park PUD will seek monetary assistance [such as federal funding] in an effort to mitigate the drought.

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This flyer (below) was distributed to all water customers in Frazier Park last weekend and it is published in this week’s issue of The Mountain Enterprise in Spanish and English.

DRINKING WATER WARNING
Frazier Park Public Utilities District Water System water has high levels of nitrate
DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD OR PREGNANT WOMEN OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA. Do not boil the water, this will not remove the nitrates. It will concentrate them.
(Scroll down for Spanish version)

Water sample results received June 10 and June 14, 2021 from our Well 05 showed nitrate levels of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and 11 mg/L, respectively. The average value of the two results is 11 mg/L, and is above the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), of 10 milligrams per liter. Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.

What should I do?

  • DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL may quickly become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die because high nitrate levels can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.
  • PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD NOT CONSUME THE WATER. High nitrate levels may also affect the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood of pregnant women.
  • Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
  • DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.
  • If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.

What happened? What is being done?

Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems, storm water run-off, and fertilizers). Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year. We will let you know if the amount of nitrate is again below the limit.

Frazier Park Public Utilities District (FPPUD) was notified by our lab on June 11, 2021, that the last water quality sampling on 6/10/21 showed an increase of nitrate level in Well 5 (which normally feeds the area on the east side of town). We immediately isolated Well 05 and its storage tank from the distribution system. In the meantime, Well 06 that normally serves west part of the town, has been running continuously to feed the entire town. Unfortunately, due to the hot weather, and water consumption much higher, Well 06 cannot keep up with the demand. On Monday, June 21, 2021, we will begin using Well 5 again. At this time, we cannot be 100% certain that the two wells, and where they pump, is not going to result in high nitrate level in all parts of the distribution system. Therefore, to be safe, we are issuing this public notice to all customers that we serve. Below is what we are planning to do to rectify this situation.

In the short term, within the next few months, to comply with the nitrate MCL, we are making plans to provide nitrate blending treatment of Well 05 by blending Well 05 with the water from Well 06 which has a much lower nitrate level. For the long-term solution, we are waiting on approval for a grant to replace Well 5 with a new one. We are hopeful that the new well will be completed before the end of 2021.

For more information, please contact the Frazier Park Public Utility District at 661-245-3734 or P.O. Box 1525, Frazier Park, CA 93225.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Secondary Notification Requirements

Upon receipt of notification from a person operating a public water system, the following notification must be given within 10 days [Health and Safety Code Section 116450(g)]:

  • SCHOOLS: Must notify school employees, students, and parents (if the students are minors).
  • RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR MANAGERS (including nursing homes and care facilities): Must notify tenants.
  • BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS, MANAGERS, OR OPERATORS: Must notify employees of businesses located on the property.

This notice is being sent to you by the Frazier Park Public Utility District.

State Water System ID#: 1510007 Date distributed:6/18/21-6/20/21
INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE SOBRE SU AGUA POTABLE
Este aviso contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable.Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

ADVERTENCIA SOBRE EL AGUA POTABLE
El agua de Frazier Park tiene altos niveles de nitratos

NO DE ÉSTA AGUA A BEBÉS MENORES DE 6 MESES O A MUJERES EMBARAZADAS. TAMPOCO USE ÉSTA AGUA PARA PREPAPAR FORMULA INFANTIL

Los resultados de las pruebas del agua recibidas el 10 de junio, y el 14 junio, mostraron niveles de nitrato de 10 milígramos por litro, y 11 milígramos por litro. Estos niveles exceden el estándar o nivel máximo de contaminante (MCL) de 10 milígramos por litro. Los nitratos en el agua potable son una preocupación seria en bebés menores de seis meses.

¿Qué debe hacer?

  • NO DE ÉSTA AGUA A BEBÉS MENORES DE 6 MESES. Los bebés menores de 6 meses que toman agua con nitrato en exceso del nivel máximo de contaminante (MCL), se pueden enfermar seriamente y rápidamente. Y si los bebés no reciben atención médica, pueden morir debido a que los altos niveles de nitratos pueden interferir con la capacidad de la sangre de los bebés para transportar oxígeno. Los síntomas incluyen falta de aire y coloración azulada de la piel. Los síntomas en los bebés se pueden desarrollar rápidamente y la salud se deteriora en cuestión de días. Si hay síntomas de intoxicación por altos niveles de nitratos, busque atención médica de inmediato.
  • LAS MUJERES EMBARAZADAS NO DEBEN CONSUMIR AGUA CON ALTOS NIVELES DE NITRATOS. Los altos niveles de nitrato también pueden afectar la capacidad de la sangre de mujeres embarazadas para transportar oxígeno.
  • No use agua de la llave para preparar jugo, agua, y formula para bebés menores de 6 meses. Use agua embotellada u otra agua baja en nitratos para los bebés menores de 6 meses hasta nuevo aviso.
  • NO HIERVA EL AGUA. Hervir, congelar, filtrar, o dejar reposar el agua, no reduce el nivel de nitratos. Hervir el agua en exceso puede causar que los nitratos se concentren más, porque los nitratos se quedan cuando el agua se evapora.
  • Si tiene otros problemas de salud por el consumo de ésta agua, usted debería consultar con su doctor.

¿Qué sucedió? ¿Qué se está haciendo al respecto?

El nitrato en el agua potable puede originar de fuentes naturales, industriales, o agriculturales (incluyendo sistemas sépticos, escorrentía de agua de lluvia, y fertilizantes). Los niveles de nitrato en el agua potable pueden variar a través del año. Le informaremos si el nivel de nitratos vuelve a estar debajo del límite.

El 11 de junio de 2021, nuestro laboratorio nos notificó que una muestra de agua mostró un aumento en el nivel de nitrato en el Pozo 5. De inmediato terminamos de usar el Pozo 5 y su tanque de agua. Mientras tanto, el Pozo 6, que normalmente sirve la mitad de la comunidad, ha estado funcionando continuamente para alimentar a toda la comunidad. Debido al clima caluroso y alta consumo de agua, el Pozo 6 solo, no puede satisfacer la demanda de agua. El lunes 21 de junio de 2021, comenzaremos a usar el Pozo 5 nuevamente. En este momento, no podemos estar 100% seguros de que los dos pozos, y el lugar donde bombean, no darán como resultado un alto nivel de nitrato. Por lo tanto, para estar seguros, estamos emitiendo este aviso público a todos los clientes a los que servimos.

En el corto plazo, dentro de los próximos meses, para cumplir con el MCL de nitrato, estamos haciendo planes para mezclar agua del Pozo 5 con agua del Pozo 6. Pozo 6 tiene un nivel de nitrato mucho más bajo, y con la mezcla es posible que baje el nivel menos que el límite de 10 milígramos por litro. Para la solución a largo plazo, vamos a construir un nuevo pozo. Esperamos que el nuevo pozo esté terminado antes de finales de 2021.

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con el Distrito de Servicios Públicos de Frazier Park al 661-245-3734 o P.O. Box 1525, Frazier Park, CA 93225.

Por favor comparta esta información con todas las demás personas que tomen de esta agua, especialmente aquellos que no hayan recibido éste aviso directamente (por ejemplo, las personas en apartamentos, asilos, escuelas, y negocios). Puede hacerlo poniendo este aviso en un lugar público o distribuyendo copias en persona o por correo.

Requisitos de Notificación Secundaria

Al recibir la notificación de alguien que opere un sistema de agua público, se debe dar la siguiente notificación dentro de 10 días conforme a la Sección 116450(g) del Código de Salud y Seguridad:

  • ESCUELAS: Deben notificar a los empleados de la escuela, estudiantes, y a los padres (si los estudiantes son menores).
  • DUEÑOS O GERENTES DE PROPIEDAD PARA ALQUILER RESIDENCIAL (incluyendo asilos e instituciones de cuidado): Deben notificar a sus inquilinos.
  • DUEÑOS DE PROPIEDAD DE NEGOCIOS, GERENTES, U OPERADORES: Deben notificar a los empleados de los negocios situados en la propiedad.

Este aviso le está siendo enviado por el Distrito de Servicios Públicos de Frazier Park.

de identificación del sistema de agua estatal: 1510007.

Fecha de distribución: 6/18/21-6/20/21

 

 

This is part of the June 18, 2021 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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