2022 City of Renton Water Quality Report
Water Source and Treatment
Renton’s Water Sources
In 2021, the City of Renton obtained its drinking water from four sources:
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Six downtown wells located in Liberty and Cedar River Parks, which draw water from the Cedar Valley Aquifer
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Springbrook Springs, a small spring in south Renton
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The Maplewood wellfield located under the Maplewood Golf Course
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An agreement to buy water from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), who source water from the Cedar and Tolt rivers
Our agreement with SPU began in January 2012. During 2021, SPU provided approximately 12 million gallons of water that were used by the Renton Boeing plant. Water is purchased from SPU primarily for the Renton Boeing plant and as a backup supply during summer peak use periods. More information available at SPU.
In 2021, the combined four water sources produced approximately 2.71 billion gallons of water.
Providing Safe, Clean Water
The water pumped from the downtown wells and Springbrook Springs is naturally very clean and needs minimal treatment. Chlorine is added to destroy bacteria, parasites, and viruses that could possibly enter our source water. Chlorine also protects water in the distribution system in case there is a contamination event like a water main break or backflow incident. Sodium hydroxide is added to slightly raise the pH of the water to help prevent the corrosion of household plumbing. Ortho-polyphosphates are added to reduce the internal corrosion of old cast iron water mains found in the neighborhood of West Hill. Fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay, as authorized by Renton voters in 1985.
The downtown wellfield produced 61.5% of Renton’s water in 2021. Springbrook Springs produced 17.8% of Renton’s water in 2021.
Maplewood water is clean as well, but due to naturally occurring minerals, it must first be treated before it is pumped into the distribution system. The treatment process consists of removing manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia from the source water. Chlorine is added to protect the water in the distribution system and fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay.
The Maplewood wellfield produced 20.7% of Renton’s water in 2021.
Water Utility News
GRANT SECURED
To assist with the development of affordable housing, the Water Utility has been awarded $2,084,157 in grant funding from the Department of Commerce through the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure (CHIP) grant program.
Grant funding will reimburse waived system development charges (SDCs) that can be used for future utility improvement projects. Grant funds will also be used for off-site water infrastructure improvements required for the Sunset Gardens affordable housing construction.
The proposed Sunset Gardens will contain 76 new affordable housing units to serve those at risk of homelessness, specifically those with disabilities, seniors, and veterans. Eliminating the cost of the off-site water improvements and system development charges increases the financial viability of these affordable housing projects.
Water Use Efficiency
In 2003, the Washington State Legislature passed the Municipal Water Law to address the increasing demand on the state’s water resources. The law established that all municipal water suppliers must use water more efficiently in exchange for water right certainty and flexibility to help them meet future demand. The Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Rule is part of this law and requires municipal water suppliers to report their goals and progress each year.
In 2021, Renton hosted a public forum and updated the WUE goals as part of the Water System Plan Update. The city has the following measurable WUE goals:
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Reduce DSL to 10 percent or less by 2022.
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Limit the Maximum Daily Demand to Average Daily Demand peaking factor to less than 2.0.
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Maintain an ERU value under 160 gpd/ERU (gallons per day/Equivalent Residential Unit)
As part of the Saving Water Partnership, the city also supports the regional 2019–2028 WUE goal to keep the total average annual retail water use of SWP members under 110 million gallons per day (mgd) through 2028 despite forecasted population growth by reducing per capita water use.
WATER CONSUMPTION AND LOSSES
Renton’s total water produced and purchased in 2021 was 2,709,907,688 gallons. Distribution system leakage (DSL) is reported in the 2021 Water Use Efficiency report to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) as a three-year rolling average, calculated to be 12.7%. Renton’s DSL for the 2021 calendar year was 14.7%, or 398,254,077 gallons. This is a 2.4% increase from 2020. Our three-year rolling average increased by 1.6%. DSL reflects the amount of water and potential revenue that has been lost due to unauthorized water use, water main breaks and leaks, meter inaccuracies, and other causes.
WATER LOSS CONTROL ACTION PLAN
Since the three-year (2019–2021) annual average of the city’s distribution system leakage exceeds 10%, the city is required by the state to develop and implement a Water Loss Control Action Plan. The city is taking the following actions, among others, to identify and reduce water loss in the distribution system:
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Continue the annual replacement of aging and leaky water mains.
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Conduct leak testing on old underground water reservoirs and repair leaky joints on concrete floors and walls.
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Continue using Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology to detect leaks.
Save Water, Help Salmon
Summer is peak water use season—the time when rain stops and people use more water in their yards and gardens. It is especially important to conserve water in summer and fall when stream flows are lowest. Your actions can help to protect salmon and their freshwater habitat.
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Never dump oil or other chemicals down storm drains, and make sure no pollutants are leaking that could get washed into waterways (including pressure washing).
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Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing. Put sweepings in the garbage to prevent pollutants and debris from entering streams.
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Use automatic car washes that recycle water and perform proper disposal of detergents.
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Plant native plants and trees to reduce the need for watering, pest control and fertilization; and reap multiple benefits such as controlling erosion, reducing flooding, filtering pollution, and attracting wildlife.
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Use compost as a natural fertilizer on your lawn, flowers, and garden beds. Compost supports healthy plant roots and slowly releases water to plants. Avoid non-organic fertilizers.
Sustainable Gardening: Save Water and Money!
It’s Watering Season—Make Every Drop Count
From May through September, water use in our region nearly doubles. Most of that extra water is used to water lawns and gardens. And experts estimate that 50% or more of this water goes to waste, due to evaporation, runoff or simply overwatering.
Water may never make it to the plant roots if applied in the wrong way. To make the most of every drop, follow these simple guidelines:
START OFF RIGHT
HOW AND WHEN TO WATER
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Watering deeply but less often encourages deep roots and prevents diseases.
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Let the top few inches of soil dry before watering again so roots and soil life can breathe.
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Water early or late in the day to minimize evaporation.
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Split watering into two or more applications, a few hours apart, to prevent runoff. This is helpful on dry or clay soils, slopes and berms.
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
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Use sprinklers that apply water slowly enough so soil can absorb it without letting it run off.
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If puddling occurs, run sprinklers for a short time, then turn them off and allow water to soak in before resuming watering.
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Place sprinklers to avoid watering driveways, sidewalks or walls.
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Adjust sprinklers to prevent fine misting that just blows away.
When you conserve water, our planet and future generations thank you. The City of Renton wants to make conservation as easy as possible for our customers. For more tips, tools, and resources visit savingwater.org.
Fix Leaks, Prevent Water Waste from Leaking Toilets
Look, listen, and lift the lid to detect toilet leaks.
Look at the bowl of your toilet to see if water flows from the tank when you have not flushed. If water is dribbling into the bowl, you have a leak.
Listen to the tank. If it sounds like it is re-filling even when you haven’t flushed, that means you have a leak.
Lift the top off your toilet’s tank and check to see if the rubber seal or “flapper” looks worn out. If the rubber is cracking or not creating a complete seal, you have a leak.
You can detect silent leaks with food coloring. Put food coloring or a dye strip in the tank, don’t flush, and see if the color appears in the bowl. If it does, you have a leak.
Water-Wise Lawn Care
Follow these natural yard care tips to build a beautiful, healthy lawn that will thrive with minimal watering.
SPRING
Aerate your lawn to build healthy roots.
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Overseed thin areas with Northwest-adapted seed.
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For an extra boost: top-dress your lawn with ½ inch of compost.
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Tune up your sprinkler system. Fix leaks and replace damaged heads.
SUMMER
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It’s okay to let your lawn go golden and dormant – water once a month, and it’ll bounce back in the fall.
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Mow higher, mow regularly, and leave the clippings.
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Water early or late in the day, water deeply, and let the soil dry between waterings.
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Lawns only need about one inch of water a week to stay green.
FALL
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The best time to fertilize is September, when grass is building root reserves.
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Use “natural organic” or “slow release” fertilizers.
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Turn off your sprinkler in mid-September.
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Overseed thin areas with northwest-adapted seed.
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Sharpen your mower blade.
A Message from the EPA
Our drinking water comes from wells and springs. As our water travels through the ground to the wells, it can dissolve naturally occurring minerals as well as substances from human activity. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
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 about drinking water from their healthcare providers. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Renton and the Saving Water Partnership
Renton is a Member of the Saving Water Partnership
Renton signed an agreement to buy water from Seattle Public Utilities in January 2012. As part of this agreement, the City of Renton joined the Saving Water Partnership (SWP). The SWP, which is made up of the City of Renton and 18 water utility partners, set a regional conservation goal: Keep the total average annual retail water use of SWP members under 110 mgd through 2028, despite forecasted population growth, by reducing per capita water use. For 2021, the SWP met the goal, with annual retail water use of members of the SWP at 95.5 mgd.
Together We Provide Water Conservation Programs to the Region
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In 2021, the SWP youth education program conducted 447 in-classroom and remote presentations to nearly 9,900 K–8 students. Popular topics included water supply, the water cycle, and the salmon life cycle. In Renton, Nature Vision taught 63 classes to 1,247 students in 2021 as part of this program.
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The SWP provided rebates for Premium toilets for residential and commercial customers. These fixtures use 1.1 gallons of water per flush (or less), at least 20% less water than a regular WaterSense fixture. The Single Family Toilet Rebate Program upgraded 277 toilets to Premium toilet models region-wide.
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The SWP presented 15 Savvy Gardener classes in the spring, summer, and fall of 2021 with 615 attendees. These classes enable gardeners to create and maintain healthy landscapes that are good for families and the environment. Renton hosted three of these classes with a total of 47 participants.
Sustainable Summer: Save Water While Having Fun!
Sprinklers
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SET A TIMER. Decide how long you want to leave the sprinkler on and set a timer.
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PUT YOUR SPRINKLER NEAR THIRSTY PLANTS. Set up the sprinkler in an area of your yard where the plants need extra water.
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GO HALF STRENGTH. Turn the faucet halfway on to reduce the flow of water.
Kiddie Pools
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DOWN-SIZE. If you start with a smaller pool, you’ll use less water.
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FILL TO FUN, NOT TO FULL. Add an inch or two of water for younger kids and fill it halfway up for older ones.
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REUSE. Use the water from the pool to water plants in your yard.
Car Washing
Water Quality Topics
Lead and Your Health
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.
The City of Renton Water Utility is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or epa.gov/safewater/lead.
If you flush your tap, you can use the flushed water for watering plants or general cleaning. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. Only use water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solder. The most common problem is brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures that can leach lead into the water, especially hot water. Until eight years ago, the legal limit for “lead-free” pipes was up to 8% lead. As of January 1, 2014, all newly installed water faucets, fixtures, pipes, and fittings must meet new lead-free requirements, which reduce the amount of lead allowed to 0.25%. However, these requirements do not apply to existing fixtures, such as those found in many older homes.
Lead Prevention in Renton
Renton works to prevent the corrosion of not only lead, but other metals such as copper and iron. First, the pH of the water is adjusted to prevent the corrosion of household plumbing—the major possible source of lead in our water. Second, in areas of the city with cast iron water mains (West Hill), ortho-polyphosphates are added to prevent corrosion. To make sure this treatment is working, water is periodically tested at residential taps. This testing is in compliance with the DOH’s Lead and Copper Rule. More information is available at doh.wa.gov/leadandcopperrule.
Fluoride
In 1985, the residents of Renton voted to have fluoride added to the city’s drinking water. Fluoride levels were adjusted in 2016 to meet the DOH’s new recommended level of 0.7 ppm. More information on fluoride can be found at the CDC at cdc.gov/fluoridation/faqs.
Water Hardness
Renton’s water falls within the slightly hard, moderately hard, and hard range, depending upon the customer’s water source within the City. The most recent water hardness testing showed 44 ppm for the downtown wells, 69 ppm for Maplewood, and 125 ppm for Springbrook Springs. A water’s hardness is dependent upon the levels of two naturally occurring soluble minerals—calcium and magnesium. Hard water may cause scale buildup in cooking pans, sinks, and water heaters, and may require using more soap to form a lather. This means that dish washing and clothes washing require relatively less soap than in other areas where the water is hard. If you do not know which water source your drinking water comes from, the water utility can help.
Water Quality for Brewers
For brewers in our community, specific water quality parameters are often of interest. Below are the values for the minerals and parameters generally requested. These numbers are the annual range of values. Renton’s water comes from multiple sources and depending upon your location, you may receive water from one source or a combination of our water sources.
PFAS Chemicals
PFAS is an acronym for “per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances.” PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in many consumer products, including food wrappers, fabrics, and carpets, to make them resistant to water, oil, grease, stains, and heat. Certain types of firefighting foam may contain PFAS. Even though PFAS compounds aren’t manufactured in Washington State, there are known cases of PFAS contamination in drinking water linked to the use of firefighting foam.
The EPA has established a health advisory level (HAL) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) at 70 parts per trillion (ppt). This is not a regulatory standard, but in Washington state the DOH is currently considering setting a state standard for PFAS. The Renton Water Utility tested for perfluorinated compounds in 2014 and 2015 under an EPA rule for unregulated contaminants. Perfluorinated compounds were not detected in any of the drinking water samples.
For more information, please visit epa.gov/pfas and ecology.wa.gov/pfas.
Lead Testing in Schools
The Washington State Department of Health has developed a program to provide voluntary testing for lead in drinking water in elementary schools. For updated information, please visit: doh.wa.gov/LeadinSchools.
Our COVID-19 Response
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 through 2022, the City of Renton has worked diligently to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water to our customers and to maintain adequate water supply for fire protection. In order to protect our community resilience, one of our highest priorities has been to ensure safe and reliable water comes out of the faucet for hand washing and cleaning.
How Can I Get Involved?
The City of Renton welcomes your interest in its water system. The Renton City Council is the city’s decision-making body and meets on the first four Mondays of each month at 7 p.m.
The Utilities Committee oversees Water Utility issues. They meet the first and third Monday of the month at 3 p.m.
At the time of publication, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, councilmembers are attending meetings remotely through Zoom. Public testimony during public hearings and audience comments will be accommodated through Zoom and by telephone, but the public is requested to sign up for such testimony by emailing [email protected] in advance.
Members of the Utilities Committee for 2022 are:
James Alberson, Chair
Carmen Rivera, Vice-Chair
Valerie O’Halloran, Member
Call the City Clerk’s office at 425-430-6510 for meeting or agenda information, or check the City Council calendar at rentonwa.gov/council.
2021 Renton Water Quality Results
Ensuring Water Safety
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the DOH and EPA prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Washington Department of Agriculture regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.
The Cedar River Watershed, a main water source for Seattle Public Utilities.
Your Water is Safe
Water from the City of Renton Water Utility and Seattle Public Utilities meets all regulatory standards, ensuring that your water is safe to drink.
2021 SPU Water Quality Results
Since 2012, the city has purchased water from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to serve the Renton Boeing plant and as a backup supply during summer peak use periods. Results of the 2021 water quality monitoring requirements performed by SPU for the Cedar River and Tolt River sources are shown below.
How Can We Help You?
Questions about this report:
Water Utility Engineering at 425-430-7287
Water discoloration, taste, or odor:
Water Quality at 425-430-7400
(7 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) or 425-430-7500 after hours or weekends
To report water pressure problems, water leaking in the streets, or water leaking at a meter:
Water Maintenance at 425-430-7400 (7 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) or 425-430-7500 after hours or weekends
If you are moving and need to arrange for a change of water service, or for general billing questions:
Utility Billing at 425-430-6852
EMERGENCIES: Call 911
This report is written and distributed in compliance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which requires water utilities to provide annual “consumer confidence” reports to their customers. You will find in this report: where our drinking water comes from; what minerals or chemicals it contains; how it compares to stringent water quality standards; what Renton is doing to protect our water supply; and what we are doing to wisely use and conserve our regional water supply. Hopefully this report will help you better understand your drinking water. We assure you that providing high quality and safe drinking water is one of Renton’s highest priorities.