The water quality report for 2006 is provided to all residents of Klickitat who are supplied with drinking water. This report is designed to inform you about water quality and services that are delivered to you every day. Our goal is to provide a safe, dependable water source to your community. The Klickitat County PUD is continually making efforts to improve our treatment process and protect our water systems. Klickitat's water system is identified by a Washington Department of Health identification number: 428009.

Health Information

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-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 from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines can offer appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by crypotosporidium and other microbiological contaminants; this information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Where Does Klickitat's Water Come From??

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) includes rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reserviors, springs and wells. As water travles over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occuring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human acitivity.

Klickitat water comes from groundwater. The source of the water is from two wells, approximately 250 feet from each other. The well north of the ballfield is 150 feet deep, and the well above the ballfield is 125 feet deep. The wells are fairly high in iron and hardness. The water is treated at the new ATEC Water Treatment plant located next to the first well.

The new plant process uses manganese dioxide (known as 'pyrolusite') and sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine that is essentially strong bleach) to remove iron and manganese from the groundwater. The softening plant has beem removed, therefore you may notice a white calcium build up on your plumbing fixtures, caused from the hard water. After the raw water has been filtered through the treatment plant, it is pumped to the still reservior on the hill above town. The water is chlorinatd using a diluted bleach solution. This provides disinfection and protection of the water as it arrives to the homes.

Water is gravity fed from the reservior through pressure regulated valves on the water mains prior to individual house water meters. The water pumps operate on a system with float switches that feature a start/stop controller that fucntions based on water level within the tank. The level is maintained near the top of the tank because fire hydrants are connected to the well-water distribution system.

Water Facts