2021 Annual Water Quality Report
Town of Thermopolis
PWS WY5600056
Is my water safe?
We are pleased to present this year`s Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence
Report) as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). 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 allies.
Do I need to take special precautions?
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?
Our water source is three wells and one source from the Big Horn River. Our wells draw water
from the Alluvial formation.
Source water assessment and its availability
Our source water assessment is available at the Town Hall.
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?
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 Environmental Protection Agency`s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water
Hotline (800-426-4791). 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:
microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that 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;
and radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas
production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA
prescribes regulations that limit the amount 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.
How can I get involved?
If you have any questions or concerns about your water, please attend any of our regularly
scheduled City Council meetings. The meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of every
month at 7:00 PM located at the Town Hall.
Description of Water Treatment Process
Your water is treated in a "treatment train" (a series of processes applied in a sequence) that
includes coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Coagulation
removes dirt and other particles suspended in the source water by adding chemicals (coagulants)
to form tiny sticky particles called "floc," which attract the dirt particles. Flocculation (the
formation of larger flocs from smaller flocs) is achieved using gentle, constant mixing. The
heavy particles settle naturally out of the water in a sedimentation basin. The clear water then
moves to the filtration process where the water passes through sand, gravel, charcoal or other
filters that remove even smaller particles. A small amount of chlorine or other disinfection
method is used to kill bacteria and other microorganisms (viruses, cysts, etc.) that may be in the
water before water is stored and distributed to homes and businesses in the community.
Water Conservation Tips
Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day
or 100 gallons per person per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to
conserve water. Small changes can make a big difference - try one today and soon it will become
second nature.
• Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50
gallons for a bath.
• Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to
500 gallons a month.
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They`re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you
up to 750 gallons a month.
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to
1,000 gallons a month.
• Water plants only when necessary.
• Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes
to replace. To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank
and wait. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or
replacing it with a new, more efficient model can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can
absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation.
• Teach your kids about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water
wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month`s water bill!
• Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.
Cross Connection Control Survey
The purpose of this survey is to determine whether a cross-connection may exist at your home or
business. A cross connection is an unprotected or improper connection to a public water
distribution system that may cause contamination or pollution to enter the system. We are
responsible for enforcing cross-connection control regulations and insuring that no contaminants
can, under any flow conditions, enter the distribution system. If you have any of the devices
listed below please contact us so that we can discuss the issue, and if needed, survey your
connection and assist you in isolating it if that is necessary.
• Boiler/ Radiant heater (water heaters not included)
• Underground lawn sprinkler system
• Pool or hot tub (whirlpool tubs not included)
• Additional source(s) of water on the property
• Decorative pond
• Watering trough
Source Water Protection Tips
Protection of drinking water is everyone`s responsibility. You can help protect your community`s
drinking water source in several ways:
• Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides - they contain
hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source.
• Pick up after your pets.
• If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to
water sources or consider connecting to a public water system.
• Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil to a recycling center.
• Volunteer in your community. Find a watershed or wellhead protection organization in
your community and volunteer to help. If there are no active groups, consider starting
one. Use EPA`s Adopt Your Watershed to locate groups in your community, or visit the
Watershed Information Network`s How to Start a Watershed Team.
• Organize a storm drain stenciling project with your local government or water supplier.
Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people "Dump No Waste - Drains to
River" or "Protect Your Water." Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind
residents that storm drains dump directly into your local water body.
Additional 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. Town of Thermopolis 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.
Water Quality Data Table
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 below 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 the table.
Contaminants
MCLG
or
MRDLG
MCL,
TT, or
MRDL
Detect
In
Your
Water
Range
Sample
Date Violation Low High Typical Source
Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products
(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants)
Chlorine (as Cl2)
(ppm)
4 4 1 NA NA 2021 No
Water additive used to control
microbes
Haloacetic Acids
(HAA5) (ppb)
NA 60 22.5 22 27 2021 No
By-product of drinking water
chlorination
TTHMs [Total
Trihalomethanes]
(ppb)
NA 80 55.25 46 65 2021 No
By-product of drinking water
disinfection
Total Organic Carbon
(% Removal)
NA TT 37.88 NA NA 2021 No
Naturally present in the
environment
Inorganic Contaminants
Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.2 NA NA 2021 No
Erosion of natural deposits;
Water additive which promotes
strong teeth; Discharge from
fertilizer and aluminum
factories
Nitrate [measured as
Nitrogen] (ppm)
10 10 0.23 NA NA 2021 No
Runoff from fertilizer use;
Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Sodium (optional)
(ppm)
NA
63.3 NA NA 2021 No
Erosion of natural deposits;
Leaching
Microbiological Contaminants
Total Coliform (TCR)
(positive
samples/month)
0 1 0 NA NA 2021 No
Naturally present in the
environment
Turbidity (NTU) NA 0.3 100 NA NA 2021 No Soil runoff
100% of the samples were below the TT value of .3. A value less than 95% constitutes a TT violation. The highest
single measurement was .198. Any measurement in excess of 1 is a violation unless otherwise approved by the state.
Radioactive Contaminants
Uranium (ug/L) 0 30 0.3 NA NA 2019 No Erosion of natural deposits
Contaminants MCLG AL
Your
Water
Sample
Date
# Samples
Exceeding
AL
Exceeds
AL Typical Source
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper - action level at
consumer taps (ppm)
1.3 1.3 0.16 2019 0 No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion of
natural deposits
Lead - action level at
consumer taps (ppb)
0 15 0 2019 0 No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion of
natural deposits
Undetected Contaminants
The following contaminants were monitored for, but not detected, in your water.
Contaminants
MCLG
or
MRDLG
MCL,
TT, or
MRDL
Your
Water Violation Typical Source
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (ppb) 200 200 ND No
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and
other factories
1,1,2-Trichloroethane (ppb) 3 5 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,1-Dichloroethylene (ppb) 7 7 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (ppb) 70 70 ND No Discharge from textile-finishing factories
1,2-Dichloroethane (ppb) 0 5 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,2-Dichloropropane (ppb) 0 5 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
2,4,5-TP (Silvex) (ppb) 50 50 ND No Residue of banned herbicide
2,4-D (ppb) 70 70 ND No Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Alachlor (ppb) 0 2 ND No Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Alpha emitters (pCi/L) 0 15 ND No Erosion of natural deposits
Antimony (ppb) 6 6 ND No
Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire
retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder; test
addition.
Arsenic (ppb) 0 10 ND No
Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from
orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics
production wastes
Atrazine (ppb) 3 3 ND No Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Barium (ppm) 2 2 ND No
Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from
metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits
Benzene (ppb) 0 5 ND No
Discharge from factories; Leaching from gas
storage tanks and landfills
Benzo(a)pyrene (ppt) 0 200 ND No
Leaching from linings of water storage tanks
and distribution lines
Beryllium (ppb) 4 4 ND No
Discharge from metal refineries and coalburning
factories; Discharge from electrical,
aerospace, and defense industries
Cadmium (ppb) 5 5 ND No
Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of
natural deposits; Discharge from metal
refineries; runoff from waste batteries and
paints
Carbofuran (ppb) 40 40 ND No
Leaching of soil fumigant used on rice and
alfalfa
Carbon Tetrachloride (ppb) 0 5 ND No
Discharge from chemical plants and other
industrial activities
Contaminants
MCLG
or
MRDLG
MCL,
TT, or
MRDL
Your
Water Violation Typical Source
Chlordane (ppb) 0 2 ND No Residue of banned termiticide
Chlorobenzene
(monochlorobenzene) (ppb)
100 100 ND No
Discharge from chemical and agricultural
chemical factories
Chromium (ppb) 100 100 ND No
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion
of natural deposits
Cyanide (ppb) 200 200 ND No
Discharge from plastic and fertilizer
factories; Discharge from steel/metal
factories
Dalapon (ppb) 200 200 ND No Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way
Di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (ppb) 400 400 ND No Discharge from chemical factories
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
(ppb)
0 6 ND No
Discharge from rubber and chemical
factories
Dibromochloropropane
(DBCP) (ppt)
0 200 ND No
Runoff/leaching from soil fumigant used on
soybeans, cotton, pineapples, and orchards
Dichloromethane (ppb) 0 5 ND No
Discharge from pharmaceutical and chemical
factories
Dinoseb (ppb) 7 7 ND No
Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans and
vegetables
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) (ppq) 0 30 ND No
Emissions from waste incineration and other
combustion; Discharge from chemical
factories
Diquat (ppb) 20 20 ND No Runoff from herbicide use
Endothall (ppb) 100 100 ND No Runoff from herbicide use
Endrin (ppb) 2 2 ND No Residue of banned insecticide
Ethylbenzene (ppb) 700 700 ND No Discharge from petroleum refineries
Ethylene dibromide (ppt) 0 50 ND No Discharge from petroleum refineries
Glyphosate (ppb) 700 700 ND No Runoff from herbicide use
Heptachlor (ppt) 0 400 ND No Residue of banned pesticide
Heptachlor epoxide (ppt) 0 200 ND No Breakdown of heptachlor
Hexachlorobenzene (ppb) 0 1 ND No
Discharge from metal refineries and
agricultural chemical factories
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
(ppb)
50 50 ND No Discharge from chemical factories
Lindane (ppt) 200 200 ND No
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on
cattle, lumber, gardens
Mercury [Inorganic] (ppb) 2 2 ND No
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from
refineries and factories; Runoff from
landfills; Runoff from cropland
Methoxychlor (ppb) 40 40 ND No
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on
fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock
Nitrite [measured as Nitrogen] 1 1 ND No Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from
Contaminants
MCLG
or
MRDLG
MCL,
TT, or
MRDL
Your
Water Violation Typical Source
(ppm) septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Oxamyl [Vydate] (ppb) 200 200 ND No
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on
apples, potatoes and tomatoes
PCBs [Polychlorinated
biphenyls] (ppt)
0 500 ND No
Runoff from landfills; Discharge of waste
chemicals
Pentachlorophenol (ppb) 0 1 ND No Discharge from wood preserving factories
Picloram (ppb) 500 500 ND No Herbicide runoff
Radium (combined 226/228)
(pCi/L)
0 5 ND No Erosion of natural deposits
Selenium (ppb) 50 50 ND No
Discharge from petroleum and metal
refineries; Erosion of natural deposits;
Discharge from mines
Simazine (ppb) 4 4 ND No Herbicide runoff
Styrene (ppb) 100 100 ND No
Discharge from rubber and plastic factories;
Leaching from landfills
Tetrachloroethylene (ppb) 0 5 ND No Discharge from factories and dry cleaners
Thallium (ppb) .5 2 ND No
Discharge from electronics, glass, and
Leaching from ore-processing sites; drug
factories
Toluene (ppm) 1 1 ND No Discharge from petroleum factories
Toxaphene (ppb) 0 3 ND No
Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on
cotton and cattle
Trichloroethylene (ppb) 0 5 ND No
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and
other factories
Vinyl Chloride (ppb) 0 2 ND No
Leaching from PVC piping; Discharge from
plastics factories
Xylenes (ppm) 10 10 ND No
Discharge from petroleum factories;
Discharge from chemical factories
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb) 70 70 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
o-Dichlorobenzene (ppb) 600 600 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
p-Dichlorobenzene (ppb) 75 75 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
(ppb)
100 100 ND No Discharge from industrial chemical factories
Unit Descriptions
Term Definition
ug/L ug/L : Number of micrograms of substance in one liter of water
ppm ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L)
Unit Descriptions
Term Definition
ppt ppt: parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
ppq ppq: parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter
pCi/L pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
NTU
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We
monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.
positive
samples/month
positive samples/month: Number of samples taken monthly that were found to be positive
NA NA: not applicable
ND ND: Not detected
NR NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.
Important Drinking Water Definitions
Term Definition
MCLG
MCLG: 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.
MCL
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in
drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment
technology.
TT
TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in
drinking water.
AL
AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements which a water system must follow.
Variances and
Exemptions
Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique
under certain conditions.
MRDLG
MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection 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.
MRDL
MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in
drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for
control of microbial contaminants.
MNR MNR: Monitored Not Regulated
MPL MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level
For more information please contact:
Contact Name: Earnie Slagle or Chris Seilaff
Address: P.O. Box 603
Thermopolis, WY 82443
Phone: (307) 864-2658