2023 Water Quality Report
McMinnville Water & Light (MW&L) is pleased to provide you with our 2023 Water Quality Report. This report provides important information about McMinnville’s water system and drinking water, including a summary of water quality tests performed. We are happy to report that your drinking water continues to meet and exceed all State and Federal health standards. For more information about this report, or for any questions related to your drinking water, please contact Ryan Sticka, Water Superintendent at (503) 472-6158 or submit this form.
Since 1889, MW&L has been committed to providing our customers with clean, safe drinking water at an excellent value. We understand that this vital resource is essential to our community’s overall quality of life. A reliable source of drinking water and a resilient water system are necessary to protect public health, provide fire protection, and support continued community development and economic growth.
MW&L’s watershed and source water supply are located in the Coast Mountain Range northwest of McMinnville. Protecting our watershed and water resources is our primary objective, which is why the watershed (approximately 6,350 acres) owned by MW&L is closed to the public. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, off-road vehicles, or any other recreational activity in the watershed is strictly prohibited and any unauthorized entry is subject to legal action.
Water Source
The source of your drinking water is precipitation impounded in McGuire and Haskins Reservoirs. This water is treated at the Norman Scott Water Treatment Plant, which operates 24 hours a day/365 days per year, and has the capacity to treat up to 22 million gallons of water per day. After treatment, the water flows 10 miles through two large water transmission mains into four water storage reservoirs located west of the city. From here, the water flows through approximately 156 miles of water distribution mains to supply the City of McMinnville with an abundant supply of high-quality drinking water.
Water Safety
Water Quality
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the number 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, both tap and bottled, originate from sources such as 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. In some regions, water may even pick up substances resulting from the presence of radioactive material, animals, or human activity. 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or on the http://www.epa.gov/safewater.
Contaminant Sources
- Microbial Contaminants – viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
- Inorganic Contaminants – salts and metals that 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 – may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic Chemical Contaminants – synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
- Radioactive Contaminants – can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Notice to Immuno-Compromised Persons
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 healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.
Notice about Lead
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. McMinnville Water and Light 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 (800) 426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
2023 Water Quality
Water Pressure
McMinnville’s water system operates by gravity. The system water pressure is influenced by the hydraulic characteristics of the water system. Water pressure at the customer’s meter is normally 85-100 pounds per square inch (psi). Most water services have a pressure reducing valve (PRV) installed after the meter to reduce the pressure entering the private plumbing system. Most pressure problems are caused by missing or failing PRVs. PRVs are part of the private plumbing system and are maintained by property owners.
Backflow Prevention
Backflow prevention assemblies help protect the public water system from possible contamination from non-potable water sources, such as lawn irrigation, boilers, fire sprinkler systems, wells, pools, hot tubs, commercial equipment, and medical equipment. The State of Oregon requires backflow prevention assemblies on any water service that has the potential to contaminate public drinking water. All backflow prevention assemblies are required to be tested annually by a certified tester. For more information, visit our website at https://www.mc-power.com/water/water-quality/backflow-prevention/.
Testing & Sampling
McMinnville Water & Light tests your drinking water every day to monitor water quality and maximize water treatment operational processes. To ensure that your drinking water meets the more than 120 water quality standards set by the EPA and the State of Oregon, we collect hundreds of water samples per year, which are sent to an EPA-approved lab to test for over 90 contaminants. The following table lists the substances that were detected in water quality testing for 2023. All detections listed are well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the EPA and the State of Oregon. For a complete list of all test results, go to the Oregon Drinking Water website at https://yourwater.oregon.gov/inventory.php?pwsno=00497.
Water Quality Table
Definitions
AL or Action Level – The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
Coliform Bacteria – Coliform bacteria are an “indicator” organism common in the environment and in all warm-blooded animals and humans. While generally not harmful, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water indicates that the water may be contaminated with other disease-causing organisms.
Clearwell – Structure to store treated drinking water prior to entering the Distribution System.
MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level – The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
MCLG or Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MFL – Million Fibers per Liter.
MRDL or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for the control of microbial contaminants.
MRDLG or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal – The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
N/A – Not Applicable.
NTU – Nephelometric Turbidity Units. A measurement of the cloudiness of water.
ppb – parts per billion.
ppm – parts per million.
TT or Treatment Technique – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Turbidity – Turbidity is a measure of the water’s clarity. High turbidity results from suspended soil and organic matter in the water. Turbidity is monitored because it provides a good indicator of the filtration system’s effectiveness.
WTP – Water Treatment Plant
Saving Water Saves Money
Water is a precious resource that we should conserve and manage responsibly. You can save money and water with efficient fixtures, practices, and irrigation systems. By correcting a few common water wasting habits, you can set a good example for your family and future generations. Don’t let the water run while you are brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes by hand. Use a sink stopper to fill the sink with water when washing dishes. When brushing your teeth, turn of the water until you are ready to rinse. This will save up to 3-4 gallons each time you brush your teeth.
Indoor water – 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more a day. Have you ever heard your toilet running, but then it stops, only to start up again intermittently? This common problem is usually caused by a worn-out flapper valve, which is an inexpensive and easy repair.
Outdoor water – Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation in flower beds. This can save up to 50% of the water used compared to sprinklers. When using sprinklers, adjust them to avoid watering sidewalks, streets, and driveways.
Community Participation
McMinnville Water & Light invites interested citizens to attend scheduled commission meetings. Dates and times of commission meetings are published monthly in the Government Calendar section of the News-Register, as well as on our website as www.mc-power.com.
EN ESPAÑOL: Este Informe contiene informacion muy importante. Traduscalo o hable con unamigo quien lo entienda bien.
The 2023 Annual Water Quality Report is available to download as a pdf below.
Source Water Assessment
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) completed a Source Water Assessment Report for McMinnville as required by the Federal Safe Water Drinking Act for the purpose of identifying potential sources of contamination to source water used for drinking water.
The full report is available at www.deq.state.or.us/wq/dwp/swrpts.asp.
Contact Us
Customer Service | (503) 472-6158
Payment Arrangements | (503) 434-9778
Engineering Services | (503) 472-6919
One call locates | 811
855 NE Marsh Lane | P.O. Box 638
McMinnville, OR 97128
www.mc-power.com
Remy Drabkin, Mayor
Kathy Tate, Commission Chair
Ed Gormley, Commissioner
Jody Christensen, Commissioner
Tom Tankersley, Commissioner
John Dietz, General Manager
James Burke, Engineering & Operations Director
Ryan Sticka, Water Superintendent