Apple Valley Water Reports and Guide
Apple Valley Water Quality Background
The City of Apple Valley operates 19 wells that range in depths from 487 to 1,127 feet. Drinking water is drawn from the Prairie du Chien-Jordan and Jordan groundwater aquifers. If the City needs additional water in an emergency, water can also be drawn from the Mt. Simon aquifer.
The City’s water treatment plant is designed to remove iron and manganese. Chlorine and potassium permanganate are added to oxidize the iron and manganese so they can be filtered from the water. After filtration, additional chlorine and fluoride are added before being stored in reservoirs.
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- Soft Water
- National Hardness Average
- Apple Valley Hardness
Apple Valley Water Softener Recommendations
The national average for water hardness is 5gpg (grains per gallon). Apple Valley water hardness is 18gpg, which is almost 4x harder than average.
A water softener will protect your water heater, plumbing, and appliances from hard water damage. A high efficiency water softener will offer the same protection, but will use far less water and salt.
Apple Valley Water Reports
The City of Apple Valley does regular water testing and publishes the results in Annual Drinking Water Reports. These reports explain which water contaminants, and what levels have been found.
The EPA has two standards for drinking water contaminants:
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level
The legal limit for a certain contaminant
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level GOAL
The level with ZERO HEALTH RISKS, aka the “Health Limit”
All water contaminants meet the EPA’s “Legal Limit”. Contaminants that exceed the EPA’s Health Limit have been highlighted below.
Inorganic Contaminants
Inorganic contaminants include natural and manmade salts and metals. You are mostly exposed to inorganics through drinking water, most do not easily pass through skin. Carbon Filters (refrigerator and faucet filters) have almost ZERO impact on these contaminants. Reverse Osmosis very effective at removing inorganic contaminants.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | 0.015 | 2 | 2 | Increase in blood pressure |
| Fluoride | 0.82-1.3 | 4 | 4 | Bone disease;children may get mottled teeth |
| Nitrate | 0.13-0.16 | 10 | 10 | Blue-baby syndrome |
Organic Contaminants
Organic contaminants can come from either natural sources like algae, or man-made chemicals. You can be exposed through drinking water, absorption through skin (bathing), and inhalation. This makes a Hybrid Filter System, or Whole House Carbon Filter a good preventative tool.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Styrene | 0.13 – 0.8 | 100 | 100 | Liver, kidney, or circulatory problems |
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts
Disinfectants are added to kill bacteria. Disinfectants like Chlorine react with other chemicals and create “Disinfection Byproducts. These chemicals enter the body through inhalation, absorption through skin, and drinking water. A Whole House Carbon Filter is a good preventative tool in addition to a Drinking Water System for these compounds.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | 0.41 – 1.0 | 4 | 4 | Eye/nose irritation; stomach discomfort |
| Chloroform | 3.41 – 7 | 5.7 | 80 | Nervous system depression, increase in kidney and liver tumors |
| Haloacetic Acids | 2.8 – 4.4 | 0 | 80 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Total Trihalomethanes | 10.5 – 20.3 | 0 | 60 | Increased risk of cancer |
Microbial Contaminants
Microbes like bacteria and virus come from a variety of sources. These include water main breaks, leaky septic systems, livestock, and wildlife. Microbial contaminants are mainly consumed through drinking water. Carbon Filters and Water Softeners do not offer any protection against microbes, but UV Treatment is very effective.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform Bacteria | 3% | 0 | 5 | Not a health threat itself; it is used to indicate whether other potentially harmful bacteria may be present |
Radionuclide Contaminants
Radionuclides in water may occur naturally, or come from oil and gas production or mining activities. These can be inhaled, or consumed through drinking water.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Emitter | 9.7 – 10.4 | 0 | 15.4 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Combined Radium | 3.6 – 4.2 | 0 | 5 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Radon | 202 | 0 | NA | Increased risk of cancer |
This information was compiled from Apple Valley’s water treatment reports, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Minnesota Department of Health(DOH), World Health Organization(WHO), and Environmental Working Group(EWG).