The 2017 Longmont Water Quality Report is hot off the presses! You can download the full report here. Below are the highlights. Spoiler: We have incredible water quality standards.
So where does Longmont's water come from?
The City of Longmont’s drinking water is all surface water that comes from streams, lakes and reservoirs. The sources of Longmont’s drinking water are: The St. Vrain Creek Watershed and the Colorado and Fraser Rivers via the Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) project.
As our water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials. It can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Image Credit: City of Longmont 2017 Water Quality Report
And, how is it treated?
Step 1. Coagulation — Aluminum salts and chemicals called polymers are mixed with the water to make the particles in the water stick together.
Step 2. Flocculation — The coagulated particles are slowly mixed so that they can collide and form larger particles, known as “floc.”
Step 3. Sedimentation — Water flows through a large tank which allows the “floc” to settle to the bottom of the tank and be removed.
Step 4. Filtration — Water is passed through filters made of sand and anthracite coal to filter out
remaining particles.
Step 5. Disinfection — Chlorine is added to kill any remaining bacteria or other disease-causing organisms.
Step 6. Fluoridation — Fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay.
Step 7. Stabilization — Small amounts of soda ash (sodium carbonate) or sodium hydroxide are
added to make the water less corrosive to pipes and plumbing.
Image Credit: City of Longmont 2017 Water Quality Report
The State-certified City of Longmont Water Quality Laboratory, performs many of the tests on your drinking water. Contract labs are also used for tests that the Water Quality Laboratory does not do in-house. 10,206 tests were performed on the City’s drinking water last year, 9186 of which were performed by the City’s Water Quality Laboratory. These tests ensure that the water delivered to your tap meets or exceeds the standards set by the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Last year, as in years past, our tap water met all EPA and State drinking water health standards.
We're proud to live in a city that safeguards our water to such a high standard!
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
Image Credit: City of Longmont 2017 Water Quality Report
And, how is it treated?
Step 1. Coagulation — Aluminum salts and chemicals called polymers are mixed with the water to make the particles in the water stick together.
Step 2. Flocculation — The coagulated particles are slowly mixed so that they can collide and form larger particles, known as “floc.”
Step 3. Sedimentation — Water flows through a large tank which allows the “floc” to settle to the bottom of the tank and be removed.
Step 4. Filtration — Water is passed through filters made of sand and anthracite coal to filter out
remaining particles.
Step 5. Disinfection — Chlorine is added to kill any remaining bacteria or other disease-causing organisms.
Step 6. Fluoridation — Fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay.
Step 7. Stabilization — Small amounts of soda ash (sodium carbonate) or sodium hydroxide are
added to make the water less corrosive to pipes and plumbing.
Image Credit: City of Longmont 2017 Water Quality Report
The State-certified City of Longmont Water Quality Laboratory, performs many of the tests on your drinking water. Contract labs are also used for tests that the Water Quality Laboratory does not do in-house. 10,206 tests were performed on the City’s drinking water last year, 9186 of which were performed by the City’s Water Quality Laboratory. These tests ensure that the water delivered to your tap meets or exceeds the standards set by the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Last year, as in years past, our tap water met all EPA and State drinking water health standards.
We're proud to live in a city that safeguards our water to such a high standard!
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
Add Comment