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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHIr)EPARTMENT Donna K HerR.E.H.S. SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY ` Program ram Coordinators a 'a Directtorer 304 East Weber Avenue,Third Floor cart Eorgmaa, R.E.H.S. Laurie A. Cotulla,R.E.H.S. Stockton,California 95202-2708 Mike Huggins,R.E.H.S.,R.D.T. Cq CiFORe�\P• Assistant Director (Telephone: 209)468-3420 Margaret Lagorio,R.E.H.S. P Robert McClellon,R.E.H.S. Fax: (209)464-0138 Jeff Carruesco,R.E.H.S. Website:www.sjgov.org/chd/ Kasey Foley,R.E.H.S. March 7, 2007 St. Bernard's Catholic Church Copy 163 Eaton Avenue Tracy, California 95376 RE: Nitrates in your Water Well for Site Approval PA-06-00207 (UP) As part of the Site Approval process, water test results were submitted by Chesney Consulting in which a sample taken August 20, 2006, was tested for nitrates and showed results of 88 ppm (parts per million) in your domestic well at 12100 W. Valpico Road, Tracy, California. The State Department of Health Services adopted a standard of 45 parts per million (ppm) for nitrates in public drinking water systems;however,private well owners are not legally required to meet this standard. As a precaution for yourself, members and guests, the Environmental Health Department would suggest that you have your domestic well tested annually to verify if the above-described chemical continues to be above state drinking standards. If your private well analysis for nitrate exceeds the State standard of 45 ppm again,the following alternatives are being provided for your guidance: 1. As a temporary measure, it is recommended that bottled drinking water be used if this well is supplying drinking water. 2. In cases where exposure may continue indefinitely, such as with contaminated private wells, installation of a water treatment device, such as a filter,may be advisable. However, using bottled water or installing a water treatment device at the kitchen water tap, will not stop exposure to nitrates in your private water supply. Most treatment units sold for home installation only treat water at the point of use, such as the kitchen faucet, and do not prevent exposure through skin contact, bathing or inhalation. As a result, point of entry filters, which treat water for the entire house, are recommended because they remove all potential sources of exposure. The "Reverse Osmosis Purification Filter" is the recommended water treatment device in this case. It operates by passing the well water through a series of filters and reverse osmosis membranes thereby removing the nitrate contaminant. Water treatment equipment suppliers and installers are listed in your phone directory yellow pages under "Water Filtration& Purification Equipment."