Consumer Confidence Report (Water Quality Report) 2023
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2023
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT
The City of Kalispell is pleased to present this year’s Annual Water Quality
Report (Consumer Confidence Report) as required by the Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA). This report covers the period from January 1-December 31,
2023.
This report is designed to provide details about where your water comes
from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory
agencies. This report is a snapshot of last year’s water quality. We are
committed to providing you with information because informed customers
are our best resources to aid in maintaining and improving water quality.
If you are a landlord, property manager, or know someone who is not billed
directly, please share this report with your tenants and friends.
ADDITONAL INFORMATION FOR 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. Kalispell Public Works 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.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2003, a source water assessment was
performed as required by the Montana
Source Water Protections Program and the
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The results
are public record and can be viewed upon
request, from the Public Works Office.
DID YOU KNOW?
The City of Kalispell’s water is considered
moderately hard at 205 milligrams per liter,
or 12 grains per gallon hardness.
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SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?
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.
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 EPAs Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
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 by-products of industrial processes and
petroleum production, and can also 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.
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?
The water you drink comes from multiple ground-
water source wells. The water is disinfected using
chlorination at each source prior to entering the
storage and distribution system. As in years past, your
tap water from Kalispell's public water supply met all
federal and state drinking water health standards.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
For further information contact:
Utility Management Superintendent, Joe Schrader, at
(406)-758-7989
Write or visit the Department of Public Works, City
Hall, PO BOX 1997, 201 1st Avenue East, Kalispell, MT
59903
Attend a City Council Meeting on the first and third
Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in City Hall
Visit our website: www.kalispell.com
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WATER QUALITY DATA
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of
contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The table on the following page lists all of the
drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. Although many more
contaminants were tested, only those substances listed below were found in your water. All sources of
drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants. At low levels, these substances are generally
not harmful in our drinking water. Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive, and in most
cases, would not provide increased protection of public health. A few naturally occurring minerals may actually
improve the taste of drinking water and have nutritional value at low levels. 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 vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this
type of contamination. As such, some of our data, though representative, may be more than one year old. In
this table you will find terms and abbreviations that might not be familiar to you. To help you better
understand these terms, we have provided the definitions below.
Action Level: The concetration of a contaminant
which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements that a water system must follow.
Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs is
based on running an annual average of monthly
samples.
Level 1 Assessment: A Level 1 assessment is a
study of the water system to identify potential
problems and determine (if possible) why total
coliform bacteria have been found in our water
system.
Level 2 Assessment: A Level 2 assessment is a
very detailed study of the water system to
identify potential problems and determine (if
possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has
occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria
have been found in our water system on multiple
occasions.
Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG:
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.
Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest
level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is
convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is
necessary for the control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: 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.
ND: Not detectable at testing limit.
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): Measure of the
clarity or cloudiness of water. Turbidity more than 5 NTU is
just noticeable to the typical person.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): Measure of the radioactivity in
water.
ppb: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce
in 7,350,000 gallons of water.
ppm: milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce
in 7,350 gallons of water.
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL): SMCL’s
are established as a guidelines to assit public water systems
in managing their drinking water for aesthetic
considerations, such as taste, color, and odor. These
contaminants are not considered to present a risk to
human health at the SMCL.
Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended
to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
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Water Source Name Water Source Type
GRANDVIEW WELL 1 GWIC 186754 Well
GRANDVIEW WELL 2 GWIC 173084 Well
DEPOT WELL GWIC 82104 Well
ARMORY WELL GWIC 82448 Well
BUFFALO HILL WELL GWIC 702836 Well
WELL SECTION 36 GWIC 84733 Well
OLD SCHOOL ST WELL 1 GWIC 228329 Well
OLD SCHOOL ST WELL 2 GWIC 258729 Well
WESTVIEW WELL GWIC 231728 Well
SILVERBROOK WELL GWIC 245204 Well
SPRING NOFFSINGER Spring
WATER QAULITY DATA TABLE
Lead and Copper
Lead and
Copper
Date
Sampled MCLG Action
Level (AL)
90th
Percentile
# Sites
Over AL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination
Copper 2023 1.3 1.3 0.1 0 ppm N
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching
from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
household plumbing systems.
Lead 2023 0 15 2 0 ppb N Corrosion of household plumbing
systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
Coliform Bacteria
Maximum
Contaminant
Level Goal
Total Coliform
Maximum
Contaminant
Level
Highest No
of Positive
Fecal Coliform
or E Coli
Maximum
Contaminant
Level
Total No of
Positive E
Coli or
Fecal
Coliform
Samples
Violation Likely Source of Contamination
0
1 positive
monthly
sample.
1 0 N Naturally present in the
environment.
Source Water Information for Kalispell Public Works
which is classified as a Ground Water system
The source water assessment report for your water system provides additional information on your source
water's susceptibility to contamination. To access this report please go to:
https://deq.mt.gov/water/Programs/dw-sourcewater
On the webpage look under "4. Make Results of the Delineation and Assessment Available to the Public" and
then click on the grey box called "Review Source Water Assessment Reports".
Kalispell Public Works utilizes the listed water sources below:
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Regulated Contaminants
Contaminant Group: Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products
Regulated
Contaminants
Collection
Year
Highest Level
Detected
Range of
Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of
Contamination
Chlorine 2023 0.40 .3 - .4 MRDLG = 4 MRDL = 4 ppm N Water additive used to
control microbes.
Contaminant Group: Inorganic Contaminants
Regulated
Contaminants
Collection
Year
Highest Level
Detected
Range of
Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of
Contamination
Barium 2023 0.14 .09 - .14 2 2 ppm N
Discharge of drilling
wastes; Discharge from
metal refineries; Erosion
of natural deposits.
Fluoride 2023 0.20 .11 - .2 4 4 ppm N
Erosion of natural
deposits; Water additive
which promotes strong
teeth; Discharge from
fertilizer and aluminum
factories.
Nitrate
[measured as
Nitrogen]
2023 5 .2 - 4.59 10 10 ppm N
Runoff from fertilizer
use; Leaching from
septic tanks, sewage;
Erosion of natural
deposits.
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate
levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because
of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.
Contaminant Group: Radioactive Contaminants
Regulated
Contaminants
Collection
Year
Highest Level
Detected
Range of
Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of
Contamination
Combined
Radium
226/228
2020 2.10 ND - 2.1 0 5 pCi/L N Erosion of natural
deposits.
GROSS
ALPHA, EXCL.
RADON &
Uranium
2020 4.70 ND - 4.7 0 15 pCi/L N Erosion of natural
deposits.
Uranium 2020 1.90 1.8 - 1.9 0 30 ppb N Erosion of natural
deposits.
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CONSUMER DRINKING WATER NOTICE
The Kalispell public water system has found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the drinking water they supply to you. In July
of 2023 a sample of drinking water from the Kalispell Public Water System (PWS) was collected and analyzed for (PFAS). The sampling
was conducted as part of EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). Since Kalispell serves a population over 10,000, we
are required to sample for suspected contaminates as directed by the EPA under the UCMR.
Four specific PFAS compounds, for which EPA has issued Health Advisories (see Table 2), PFOA, PFOS, PFBS and GenX chemicals, were
sampled. Provided are a summary of those results (Table 1):
Table 1. UCMR Results-Kalispell
Sampling Location PFOA (ppt) PFOS (ppt) PFHxS (ppt) GenX Chemicals (ppt)
Armory Well1 -- -- -- 3.6
Grandview Wells -- 6.6 5.0 --
1. Volunteer sampling in 2022 identified Armory Well PFOS at 2.6 ppt and 3.3 ppt
Table 2. Summary of Four Health Advisory Levels
Chemical Minimum Reporting Level (ppt)1 Lifetime Health Advisory Level (ppt)
PFOA 4 4 (Interim)
PFOS 4 4 (Interim)
GenX Chemicals 5 10 (Final)
PFBS 3 2,000 (Final)
1. Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) 5 MRL is the minimum quantitation level that, with 95 percent confidence,
can be achieved by capable analysts at 75 percent or more of the laboratories using a specified analytical method. These MRLs
are based on the UCMR 5 requirement to use Method 533.
What is being done?
• Follow up sampling is being conducted at Kalispell PWS well sites.
• Kalispell is examining available options to address PFAS in the drinking water supply and will keep you informed.
What should I do?
• If you are concerned about levels of PFAS found in your drinking water, contact your doctor or health care professional.
• Consider actions that may reduce your exposure including installing a home or point of use filter, if possible, while steps are
being taken to further understand levels of concern and potentially regulate PFAS at the national level.
• Boiling, freezing, or letting water stand does not reduce PFAS levels.
• Consider any resources and recommendations from your state.
• Review EPA’s Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are (or have been) found in a wide variety of
consumer products and as an ingredient in firefighting foam. PFAS manufacturing and processing facilities, airports, and military
installations are some of the contributors of PFAS releases into the air, soil, and water. Because of their widespread use, most people
have been exposed to PFAS and there is evidence that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects.
What are the health effects of exposure to PFAS?
Exposure to PFAS may result in a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including:
• developmental effects including to fetuses after exposure during pregnancy or postnatal development (e.g., low birth weight,
accelerated puberty, skeletal variations, development of the immune system); cancer (e.g., testicular, kidney); liver effects
(e.g., cellular lesions); immune effects (e.g., decreased antibody response to vaccination, decreased immune response
immunity); thyroid effects and other effects (e.g., cholesterol changes).
For More Information
City of Kalispell Contacts:
• Contact Name: Joe Schrader, Utility Management Superintendentl 406-758-7989, jschrader@kalispell.com. For up to date
information. Please see the city of Kalispell‘s webpage Consumer Drinking Water Notice - Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) -
Updated 04/17/2024 | Kalispell, MT
• For information on PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, GenX chemicals and other PFAS, including possible health outcomes, you may visit these
websites: PFAS | Montana DEQ (mt.gov)
• Basic information, EPA actions to address PFAS, and links to informational resources: www.epa.gov/pfas
• Health information, exposure, and links to additional resources for PFAS in drinking water: www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-
drinking-water/drinking-water-health-advisories-pfoa-and-pfos
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INVENTORY OF LEAD SERVICE LINES