Power and water — the two things we all depend on for our health, well-being and livelihoods.
Clark Public Utilities employees understand the gravity of their responsibility to safely and effectively deliver those life-sustaining services to their customers every minute of every day.
That mindset is why the utility adheres to a rigorous water testing and treatment regimen beyond what regulators require.
“We want our water to be cleanest, best-tasting water it can be,” said Water Quality Manager John Roth. “So we go above and beyond what the agencies expect, simply because it’s the right thing to do.”
The Clark Public Utilities water system pumps a daily average of about 14 million gallons to more than 100,000 customers through about 38,000 connections in unincorporated Clark County, as well as Yacolt, Amboy, Battle Ground, La Center and Ridgefield.
On the way to their taps, that water supply has undergone a barrage of tests, filtration and treatment and more tests to ensure it is an outstanding product.
Public water systems are required by law to meet rigorous testing and quality standards to ensure customers have a product that is fit for consumption. Clark Public Utilities takes their water quality testing and controls much further than what regulators require.
The Washington State Department of Health has strict standards and requires water utilities to test untreated water quality just once before setting up a treatment system, followed by regular testing after treatment. For a more precise understanding of its product, Clark Public Utilities goes beyond the minimum standard and tests its raw water supplies regularly, in addition to routine post-treatment testing.
“We also test for several things beyond the state’s requirements, or we were testing for them long before it was mandated,” Roth said.
For example, the state set action levels on five different Perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS just last year. Clark Public Utilities has tested for them since 2015. Fortunately, none of those the widely distributed “forever chemicals” were present in the utility’s drinking water supply. However, the utility will continue testing for their presence.
Clark County’s unique geologic heritage includes a groundwater supply that requires minimal treatment compared to many other systems around the county.
The utility also goes beyond the mandate by testing its raw water supplies for the presence of coliform bacteria, iron and manganese so it can be treated for them, if necessary.
Iron and manganese, which can affect taste and cause staining, are the two most common dissolved materials present and treated for in the aquifer.
To leave no doubt the water is safe for consumption, a small amount of chlorine is also added. Getting the chlorine levels correct is crucial for both taste and safety.
Like any consumable, water has a shelf life. If it sits in the system too long it can become stale and develop a strange taste or odor. The utility monitors for these conditions and, when necessary, will flush the system to clear out the unpleasant water.
If the water ever tastes or smells off, Clark Public Utilities Water Utility customers should contact Customer Service at 360-992-3000.
Utility staff will flush the system at our nearest hydrant or blow-off and then ask the customer to run a bathtub to flush it out of their lines.
The utility also annually publishes a water quality report that is available to the public, the most current version is always available at clarkpublicutilities.com and physical copies are available upon request. The 2022 report will be released by June.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
