TellerWater

Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this situation is not an emergency, as our customers you have a right to know what happened, what you should do and what we are doing to correct this situation.

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On May 26, 2022 we were notified that our system exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Combined Radium. The MCL is 5 pCi/L. The average level over the last year was 6.7 pCi/L.

NOTE: This advisory is NOT related to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the “Virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water.” For additional information on COVID-19 and drinking water, you can refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s website: https://covid19.colorado.gov.

What does this mean? What should I do?

• You may want to use an alternative drinking water supply (e.g. bottled). If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
  
• Some people who drink water containing radium -226 or -228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
• If you have an infant, severely compromised immune system, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your doctor about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

What is being done?

• The District has engaged with a Design Engineer to help select the most cost-effective Radium removal system to build and operate. A treatment option has been selected and is in design. Once the system has been designed, it must be submitted to CDPHE for approval. The District is also exploring funding options available. We anticipate the project will be completed by the end of 2023.

We anticipate resolving the problem by December 31, 2023. For more information, please contact Larry Watters at wh2osllc@gmail.com or 719-338-5429, or PO BOX 578, Woodland Park, CO 80866.

*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 notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*

This notice is being sent to you by: Teller County WSD – CO0160600
Date distributed: June 6, 2022