About The Water
Water Source and Quality
The source of water for the Northwest Rural Water District (NRWD) is the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline (SMP) and treatment Plant near Cody. This is the same water source being used by the Towns of Cody, Powell, Byron, Lovell, Deaver and Frannie. The water quality is much higher in all categories than current Federal EPA standards. The water has been subjected to approximately 100 different tests for purity, quality and safety. The hardness has been running between 33 & 56 parts per million (2-3 grains). Other water test information is available by contacting NRWD or SMP. The District tests in each service area once each month for coliform bacteria.
Your water is being tested on a continuous basis to assure that you receive SAFE, HIGH QUALITY WATER.
Water Source and Quality
The water delivered to your home is disinfected with a combination of chlorine and a small amount of ammonia. This mono chloramine, NH2C1 is used so that minimum chloramines residual standards will be maintained throughout the water system. Chloramine treatment has been used for decades in the United States and Canada to treat drinking water. There normally is less chlorine taste and odor with chloramines treatment than with only chlorine treatment. Chloraminated water is safe for drinking, cooking, bathing and all other daily water uses. However there are two groups of people who need to take special care with chloraminated water, kidney dialysis patients and fish owners.
Special Precautions for Kidney Dialysis Patients
DO NOT USE DISTRICT WATER FOR HOME DIALYSIS MACHINE USE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR PHYSICIAN AND FOLLOWING ALL RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES FOR CHLORAMINATED WTATER. In the dialysis process, water comes in contact with the blood across a permeable membrane. Chloramines in that water would be toxic, just as chlorine is, and must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines just as chlorine must be removed. There are two ways to do that: either by adding ascorbic acid or using granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment. Medical centers that perform dialysis are responsible for purifying the water that enters their dialysis machines. Additional information may be obtained by calling “End Stage Renal Disease Network #15, phone 303-831-8818.
Special Precautions for Fish Owners
FISH OWNERS need to take special care. Chloramines are toxic to fish and must be removed from water, just as chlorine is toxic to fish and must be removed. Special steps should be taken to remove chloramines from water before using for live fish. Most pet stores sell de-chlorinating agents. Chloramines will not dissipate if left standing as is the case with chlorine. Be sure to use de-chlorinating agent. Reverse osmosis does not remove chloramines from water.
Consumer Confidence Results
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) – are required to be sent out to each customer, or posted in a place of general circulation, by July 1 of each year. The CCR is to include information about water quality through reporting of test results.