UPDATE ON THE DRINKING WATER IN PINON PINES
December 27, 2005
2005 is coming to an end and the Board of Directors of the Pinon Pines Mutual Water Company would like to take a minute to thank all residents for reducing the usage of water over the past year. Overall, consumption was down enough to earn a 20% rebate from Southern California Edison. This was enough to supply electricity to power the wells for more than a month.
This is one of the reasons that the Water Board has determined that the operating budget for 2006 will remain the same as this past year.
WELL 7
Well 7 will be kept on line just enough to assure it remains in good operating order. Hours of operation are set so that if the supply is sufficient, Well 7 will not operate. This is done to keep Fluoride levels to below the maximum contaminate levels (MCL) allowed.
Water from well 7 is pumped into the system during hours of minimum demand and the other pumps are started to purge the high fluoride concentration levels from the distribution system before demand increases each day.
For new residents of Pinon Pines and anyone desiring additional information about the fluoride levels in the drinking water, please contact any Board Member or visit our local website at www.pinonpinesonline.com
FLUORIDE
The Department of Health Services requires that every three months, we provide you with the following mandatory language for fluoride since fluoride level in the water supplied by the Pinon Pines Mutual Water Company exceeds the fluoride primary MCL of 2 mg/L during certain times of the year.
This is an alert about your drinking water and a cosmetic dental problem that might affect children under nine years of age. At low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities, but children drinking water containing more than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of their permanent teeth (dental fluorosis). The drinking water provided by the Pinon Pines Mutual Water Company has a fluoride concentration ranging from 2.5 to 3.2 mg/L. Dental fluorosis may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine should be provided with alternative sources of drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist about proper use by young children of fluoride-containing products. Older children and adults may safely drink the water. Drinking water containing more than 4 mg/L of fluoride can increase your risk of developing bone disease.
We do not recommend boiling water because that will increase the concentration of fluoride.
WATER CONSERVATION
Lets all continue the good example set in 2005 in the coming year to keep water consumption at as low a level as possible.
Take a few minutes to check your plumbing fixtures for good operation and review the usage habits of the household to assure that water is not being wasted. When any irrigation systems are returned to service next year, make sure the sprinkler heads are adjusted to prevent runoff. The soil in Pinon Pines is clay base and does not require the large quantities of water that a sandy soil does.
The Water Board is continuing to research ways to maximize the use of Well 7 while keeping delivered water below the MCL of fluoride.
TREATMENT / ALTERNATE SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER
Some home treatment systems are available that remove fluoride from drinking water.
Information about the available devices can be obtained by calling the California Department of Health Services Water Treatment Device Unit at (916) 449 5650 or visit the Department’s website at: www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/technical/certification/device/table.htm
Anyone with children under 9 years old should be offered alternate sources of drinking water or treated water to avoid the possibility of staining or pitting of their teeth from dental fluorosis.
If you have any questions, please contact any of the Water Board Members
Thank you and Best Wishes for a Happy and Successful New Year
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