Water pouring from Morgan Hill faucets in 2004 received a report
card Thursday when the city released its annual water quality
report.
Water pouring from Morgan Hill faucets in 2004 received a report card Thursday when the city released its annual water quality report.
The goal, the report says, is to meet or exceed federal and state regulations and, except for three instances, the goal was met.
The city spends more than $60,000 a year testing water, taking 1,480 samples from 40 separate stations to test for the presence of bacteria, nitrate, turbidity, trihalomethenes and halocetic acid. The 14 municipal wells are also tested monthly for bacteria. Every test but three registered negative.
The positive tests occurred in July 2004 and showed the presence of both coliform and E. coli bacteria. City workers were unable to discover the cause of the contamination and decided that the results were from a collecting or reporting error. No other samples proved positive.
“We are confident that the water supply is safe to drink as required by the state Department of Health,” said Public Works Director Jim Ashcraft.
Perchlorate in the underground aquifer has dogged the city water situation since April 17, 2002, when the chemical was discovered in the Tennant Avenue well. By January 2003 water officials had discovered that perchlorate had traveled not only to the Tennant well but southeast into San Martin and north Gilroy.
Olin Corp., which operated a safety flare manufacturing plant across the street from the Tennant Well, has taken responsibility for the contamination and is paying for part of the mitigation. Because of the high cost of dealing with the chemical – building new wells and legal costs – the city was forced to impose a surcharge on water customers, 5 percent in 2004, a second 5 percent in January of 2005. Similar increases have been approved for 2006 and 2007.
The report also includes information on chemicals and organisms often found in water, a description of city water sources and water system improvements.
City Visions and the complete water quality report are available at: http://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/html/DocCenter.asp?category_id=240000083&d_id=240002707. Or go to the city home page at www.morganhill.ca.gov/
Residents who want a paper copy of City Visions and the water report can pick one up after June 8 from City Hall at 17555 Peak Ave., Public Works on Edes Court, the Chamber of Commerce at 17450 Monterey Rd. or the Morgan Hill Library at Peak and West Main avenues.
City Hall: 779-7271.
