Old Town Water District | 2025 Copper Exceedance

WHAT IS OLD TOWN WATER DISTRICT DOING ABOUT THE COPPER EXCEEDANCE:

We are immediately notifying our affected customers, conducting further evaluations to identify the source of the issue, and reviewing current corrosion control measures to mitigate copper levels.

Old Town Water District is working with an independent consultant to assist with this challenge.

Conducting additional sampling at various locations within the distribution system to pinpoint the source of the copper issue and evaluate further treatment options.

 

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What Customers Can Do:

Copper levels will be at their highest when the water has been sitting in your pipes for long periods of time. Let your water run for 1 minute before drinking or cooking with it when this is the case.

 

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Common Questions and Answers:

How long has the level exceeded the action level of 1.3 milligrams per liter for copper and when were the last tests done?

Old Town Water has not exceeded the action level in prior testing in May of 2025.

How often will the tests be done now and for how long?

We will now test twice per year with 40 samples, and will continue until the results are below the action level of 1.3 milligrams per liter.

How does increasing the frequency and the number of samples help decrease the copper action level?

This helps to evaluate current water quality conditions to adjust our corrosion control process and system, and to take corrective measures.

If copper is an essential nutrient, how can it be considered a contaminant?

Copper is good for health in small concentrations, but can be of concern in larger amounts.

What happened to increase the copper action level?

We are conducting an evaluation of our current source of water corrosion control process to determine this.

How does corrosion control affect the copper action level?

The corrosion control process controls the level of leaching from copper pipes. Our water main distribution system is made of ductile iron and cast iron, with copper service lines from the mains to customer outside main shut off. Customers private service lines and internal piping can be made of copper or other material.

Why is the estimated time frame for corrective action over a year?

The time is necessary to collect samples, to evaluate the water chemistry, the current corrosion control process, and why it has changed to reevaluate how to make it more effective. The corrective action changes will be determined during this process.