Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2023Mammoth Hot Springs — Yellowstone National Park — Public Water System 5680092We’re very pleased to provide you with this year's water quality report. Our goal is, and always has been, to provide a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. The data in this report span the entirety of calendar year 2023. We want our residents, employees, and visitors to be informed about their water utility. If you have any questions about your water or this report, please contact Utility Systems Operations Facility Manager Jason Murphy or the Mammoth water treatment plant at 307-344-2353. For a list of detected contaminants, please see Table 1. To view a comprehensive list of constituents for which we test, their definitions and effects, please see the Constituents Tested table below. Usage and ProductionMammoth Hot Springs serves 300 year-round residents and 3,000 daily visitors during the peak summer season. In 2023, the Mammoth treatment plant produced a total of 112.4 million gallons of drinking water. Source WaterOur source water is a combination of Indian and Panther Creeks. In addition, the Gardiner River is included during low flow conditions, typically in winter. A source water assessment was conducted in 2004. Findings from this study indicate that the greatest threat to the Mammoth water source is due to wildfires. A copy of this study is available at the Mammoth water treatment plant. 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 land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents. It's important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Contaminants that may be present in source water:Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses. Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. 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 storm water runoff, and septic systems. Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. TreatmentOur raw water is treated with coagulants that serve to join together unwanted particles and make them easier to remove. We use a proprietary coagulant known as Aquahawk 107H, manufactured by Hawkins, Inc. This compound has been approved for drinking water use by NSF International, formerly the National Sanitation Foundation. Potassium permanganate, an inorganic salt and oxidant also common in the field of water treatment, is added to help remove organic material that may contribute to taste and odor issues. The water is filtered through anthracite coal, silica sand, and garnet sand, to which the undesired particles adsorb. The final phase of the treatment process is the addition of a 12.5% solution of the disinfectant sodium hypochlorite (commonly known as liquid chlorine), which inactivates bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. These processes are operated by a team of trained water and wastewater professionals certified by the state of Wyoming. We are assisted by supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), as well as a variety of National Park Service personnel. MonitoringThe Mammoth Water Quality Laboratory and Energy Laboratories in Billings, Montana provide water testing services and support our quality assurance program. These certified laboratories follow precise drinking water analyses established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and serve to ensure that our treated water meets federal regulations. In order to ensure your tap water is safe, the Environmental Protection Agency has set very stringent levels or Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) - the highest allowable level a contaminant is allowed in drinking water. A person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune-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/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Sampling FrequencyRoutine sampling and testing is an important part of our water quality and assurance program and includes the following: DefinitionsThe following terms and abbreviations have been defined, to help you better understand some terms you may not be familiar with: AL—Action Level—The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements a water system must follow. MCL—Maximum Contaminant Level —The “Maximum Allowed” is 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. 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. NTU—Nephelometric Turbidity Unit—A measure of water clarity. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just barely noticeable to the average person. ND—Non-Detectable—Laboratory analysis indicates constituent is not present. piCi/L—Picocuries per liter—A measure of radioactivity in water. mg/l—Milligrams per liter—One part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000. Same as ppm. ppb—Parts per billion—One part per billion corresponds to one minute in two thousand years or a single penny in $10,000,000. Same as µg/L. μg/L—Micrograms per liter—Same as ppb. RAA—Running Annual Average—A year’s average, calculated by determining the monitoring periods that began within the past 365 days and averaging the result of the periods. As newer results are introduced into the calculation, older ones are removed. SMCL - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level - EPA does not enforce these levels. They are established as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water for aesthetic considerations, such as taste, color, and odor. These contaminants are not considered to present a risk to human health at the SMCL TT—Treatment Technique—A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water ViolationsMammoth Hot Springs had one minor violation of routine reporting of chlorine for the surface water treatment rule in 2023 with a low value of chlorine on 8/28/23. A chlorine pump malfunctioned, resulting in non-delivery of NaOCl solution for a period of 1-2 hours. During this time the residual free chlorine level briefly dropped below 0.2 mg/L. The pump was replaced immediately and NaOCl delivery restored within 2 hours of the pump failure. Testing for free residual chlorine in the distribution system was performed at points immediately downstream of the entry to the distribution system and all were found to be above 0.2 mg/L. DetectionsWe have learned through our monitoring and testing that some constituents have been detected. The EPA has determined that your water is safe at these levels. We are proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. Table 1 lists those substances that were detected during the monitoring period of January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, or at the most recent sampling frequency. For an entire list of tested constituents, their definitions and effects, please see the Constituents Tested table. below.
Microbiological Contaminants: Radioactive Contaminants: (4) Beta/photon emitters. Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation known as photons and beta radiation. Some people who drink water containing beta and photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Inorganic Contaminants: (7) Antimony. Some people who drink water containing antimony well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience increases in blood cholesterol and decreases in blood sugar. Synthetic organic contaminants including pesticides and herbicides: (23) 2,4-D. Some people who drink water containing the weed killer 2,4-D well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their kidneys, liver, or adrenal glands. Volatile Organic Contaminants: (55) Benzene. Some people who drink water containing benzene in excess of the MCL over many years could experience anemia or a decrease in blood platelets, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. |
Last updated: July 2, 2024