You may inquire about your account at (800) 850-4482. Payments are still being received at:
Rose Valley Water Company, Inc.
PO Box 29661, Dept 2002
Phoenix, Arizona 85038-9661The pay-by-phone number is (800) 204-7434, for a telephone courtesy fee, for payment by check or credit card.
Correspondence is being received at:
Rose Valley Water Company, Inc.
PO Box 1444
Green Valley, Arizona 85622
Rose Valley Water Company has prepared this Information Sheet to provide accurate information to customers and the community regarding the Company’s water supply:
As a result of the events of October 2002, Rose Valley Water Company has received literally hundreds of phone calls, and the Company has tried to return each one. Many of the questions that have been asked follow several recurring themes. We thought it would be helpful to answer some of the more common questions on this Information Sheet.
Question: What is Naegleria and how could it affect my drinking water?
Naegleria is an amoeba commonly found in the environment. Only one species of Naegleria has been found to infect humans--Naegleria fowleri. Naegleria fowleri is found worldwide. Most commonly, the amoeba is found in the soil and in warm, stagnant bodies of fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, unchlorinated swimming pools, and in warm water discharge pools from industrial plants. Dr. Jonathan B. Weisbuch, Director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, stated that there has never been a reported Naegleria fowleri case associated with a groundwater drinking water system anywhere in the world.
Question: Why doesn’t Rose Valley Water Company normally test for Naegleria fowleri?
Specific testing for the Naegleria fowleri amoeba is not required by any county, state or federal law, and Rose Valley is not aware of any water system anywhere in the world which routinely tests for the amoeba. This is not surprising as the amoeba has never been found in a groundwater drinking water system anywhere in the world.
Question: Is Rose Valley Water Company currently chlorinating its water system?
Yes. In late October, 2002, Rose Valley Water Company began maintaining a chlorine “residual” in its water at the farthest points of the distribution system. On November 3, 2002, Rose Valley suspended operation of its wells and water system, and began working with the City of Peoria to complete the construction of two inter-connections to the City’s water system. Once the connections were completed, Rose Valley’s system was disinfected by super-chlorination. Rose Valley is currently providing water which is being supplied from the City’s water treatment plant. The water is chlorinated. Maintaining a chlorine “residual” (i.e., a tiny, safe level of chlorine in the water) is proof that all bacteria have been removed from the water system because chlorine is consumed in the elimination of bacteria.
Question: Does Rose Valley Water Company take more samples or less samples than the City of Peoria?
Both Rose Valley Water Company and the City have many of the same standard testing requirements. The City’s water system serves approximately 100,000 people, and the City takes an average of 100 samples per month to test for bacteria, or approximately one test per 1,000 people. Rose Valley serves a little less than 7,000 people and takes eight samples per month, or approximately one test per 875 people. Rose Valley fully complies with all County, State and federal testing requirements.
Question: What obligation does Rose Valley Water Company have to inform its customers regarding the quality of the Company’s water?
Rose Valley Water Company prepares and publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report (“CCR”). The CCR contains information and data from the preceding 12 months on the quality of the water delivered, any contaminants detected in the water, violations of safe drinking water standards or requirements, and other information. The CCR is published by Rose Valley in The Arizona Republic, and a copy of the CCR is provided to any customer upon request. Maricopa County may require that additional information be sent directly to Rose Valley’s customers in the event of a violation of the safe drinking water standards or other requirements.
On November 13, Rose Valley Water Company sent a letter to each of its customers updating and clarifying information that had been distributed from a variety of sources. Since that letter was sent, we have received many phone calls and e-mails indicating that the letter was helpful, but asking further questions and requesting additional clarification on a variety of issues. In a continuing effort to keep the company’s customers informed regarding matters affecting their water service, we are providing this additional information that we hope will be helpful.
Question: As a private company, is Rose Valley Water Company regulated by the government?
The delivery of water to the public is a highly regulated activity because of the direct connection between water quality and public health and safety. Although privately owned and operated, Rose Valley Water Company is regulated under many of the same laws as municipal water providers such as the City of Peoria. Set forth below is a listing of the various agencies regulating Rose Valley:
· Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The Environmental Protection Agency is the governmental body responsible for enforcing the Federal Safe Water Drinking Act. The EPA develops Maximum Contaminant Levels (or MCLs) for a multitude of different pollutants that are then adopted by the states and counties. EPA has not established an MCL for Naegleria fowleri.
· Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) -- ADEQ implements, at the state level, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
· Maricopa County Environmental Services Department -- In addition to the federal and state requirements, RVWC is required to comply with and report directly to Maricopa County on a variety of water quality, operational and testing matters. At the county level, RVWC is under the jurisdiction of both the Department of Public Health and the Environmental Services Department.
· Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) – The Arizona Corporation Commission is the governmental body which sets the rates that Rose Valley Water Company may charge for water service. The ACC also establishes rules pertaining to the operation of water companies. In addition, the ACC handles customer complaints (including billing disputes), approves line extension agreements between the water company and land owners, requires the filing of annual reports, authorizes borrowing by the water company, and other matters.
· Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) – The Arizona Department of Water Resources establishes water conservation standards that must be met by Rose Valley Water Company. Also, ADWR approves the location of new wells and requires a well owner or operator to file an annual report regarding the quantity of water withdrawn by the water company.
· City of Peoria – The fire marshal for the City of Peoria regularly monitors the fire flow pressure within Rose Valley Water Company’s service area.
Rose Valley Water Company is operating in compliance with all of the rules, regulations and mandates of the governmental bodies listed above.
Question: How does Rose Valley Water Company produce and deliver water?
Rose Valley Water Company withdraws groundwater through two large wells drilled hundreds of feet into the aquifer. Rose Valley has a third well which is not in service. Groundwater is piped from the two wells and stored in several large tanks. From the storage tanks, the groundwater is piped into pressure tanks and through the distribution system to customer's homes. On average, Rose Valley withdraws between 800,000 and 1,200,000 gallons of fresh groundwater per day (depending upon the time of year) for distribution to the Company's customers.
Question: What is the difference between “groundwater”
and “surface water?”
Groundwater is water found in aquifers deep beneath the surface of the earth. An “aquifer” is a geological formation of permeable rock, gravel or sand containing or conducting groundwater. Surface water is water flowing in streams, canyons, ravines or other natural channels, lakes, ponds, natural springs, and defined underground channels. The water delivered by Rose Valley Water Company is groundwater. By comparison, the City of Peoria delivers a combination of surface water, which is delivered through the Central Arizona Project Canal from the Colorado River, and groundwater. Because surface water is exposed to the environment (and the contaminants that may be found in the open-air environment), it must be treated before it can be used as drinking water. Groundwater, by comparison, need not be treated unless there are known contaminants in the water. Both surface water and groundwater must be regularly tested for contaminants in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Question: Is the water being delivered by Rose Valley Water
Company chlorinated?
Yes. In October 2002, Rose Valley Water Company began maintaining a chlorine
residual in its water at the farthest points of the distribution system. Maintaining
a chlorine "residual" (i.e., a tiny, safe level of chlorine in the
water) is proof that all bacteria have been removed from the water system because
chlorine is consumed in the elimination of bacteria. On November 3, 2002, Rose
Valley suspended operation of its wells and water system, and began working
with the City of Peoria to complete the construction of two inter-connections
to the City's water system. Once the connections were completed, Rose Valley's
system was purified by super-chlorination. Rose Valley is currently delivering
water that is being supplied from the City's water treatment plant. The water
supplied by the City is chlorinated by the City.
Question: Rose Valley Water Company has been in business since 1949. What is the condition of the company’s facilities?
Since the great majority of the homes and businesses served by Rose Valley Water Company were constructed in the past five years, much of the company’s distribution system (i.e., the underground pipes) and the three 400,000-gallon storage tanks are new. Most of the water system was designed by Coe & Van Loo, a leading engineering firm in the design of drinking water systems. The materials used to construct the facilities were excellent quality, and the construction process itself was overseen by the company’s certified operator as well as another engineer hired by Rose Valley as an outside consultant to ensure design and installation quality. In 1999, Rose Valley completed construction of its new state-of-the-art well no. 3. Many of the local residents will remember the construction of this well, which occurred round-the-clock for almost four months. In addition, Rose Valley's well no. 2 was refurbished in the last year, as have many of the older parts of the company's distribution lines and certain smaller water storage tanks. All told, more than $2,000,000 has been spent on the system over the last five years. Each component part of the system has been approved as to its quality and engineering by the governmental agency with jurisdiction over that particular part of the system.
Question: What physical improvements are being made to the water system Rose Valley water system?
Currently, Rose Valley Water Company is installing automatic chlorination systems at its number 2 and number 3 wells. This will enable the company to treat all groundwater with chlorine before the water is piped into the storage tanks. In addition, Rose Valley is installing a chlorine monitoring device at the point where the water leaves the storage tanks and enters the distribution system. This monitoring device will help ensure that the groundwater is always chlorinated at a safe level before it enters the distribution system. Also, Rose Valley's storage tanks have been "shocked" with a high level of chlorine to kill any bacteria which might have existed in those tanks, and each of the tanks is being emptied and thoroughly cleaned inside.
Question: What other improvements has Rose Valley Water Company initiated?
In January 2003, Rose Valley Water Company began posting the monthly water quality
test results for the system on the company's web site. In addition, Rose Valley
has unilaterally decided to take more test samples for total coliforms than
is currently required by any Federal, State or County regulations. Rose Valley
is taking these extraordinary steps to ensure the safety of the water supply
and the peace of mind of the company's customers.
Question: How does
Rose Valley Water Company test its water?
Rose Valley Water Company regularly tests its water to make certain it is safe
at all times. The Maricopa County Environmental Services Department –
Water and Waste Management Division, requires that Rose Valley test its water
each and every month for compliance with the applicable water quality standards
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Samples are taken by a state-certified water
system operator at various points within the distribution system, and the County
approves all sampling points. Water samples are submitted to a state-certified
laboratory, and the results of the tests are provided directly from the lab
to Maricopa County. Both the certified operator and the laboratory are subject
to audit and inspection by Maricopa County. Rose Valley performs additional
water tests at any time during the month if there is any reason to reconfirm
the water quality (for example, if there is a break in a water line). Immediate
action is taken by the certified operator if any of the water samples show detection
of any bacteria.
Question: Does Rose Valley Water Company take more samples or less samples than the City of Peoria?
Both Rose Valley Water Company and the City have many of the same standard testing
requirements. The City's water system serves approximately 100,000 people. At
this size, the State’s rules require that the City takes an average of
100 samples per month to test for bacteria, or approximately one test per 1,000
people. Rose Valley serves less than 7,000 people, and is required to take eight
samples per month, or approximately one test per 875 people. Rose Valley fully
complies with all County, State and federal testing requirements.
Question: What obligation does Rose Valley Water Company have
to inform its customers regarding the quality of the Company's water?
Rose Valley Water Company prepares and publishes an annual Consumer Confidence
Report ("CCR"). The CCR contains information and data from the preceding
12 months on the quality of the water delivered, any contaminants detected in
the water, violations of safe drinking water standards or requirements, and
other information. The CCR is published by Rose Valley in The Arizona Republic,
and a copy of the CCR is provided to any customer upon request. Maricopa County
may require that additional information be sent directly to Rose Valley's customers
in the event of a violation of the safe drinking water standards or other requirements.
Rose Valley’s CCR for 2002 and 2003 is currently posted on the company’s
web site.
We hope this information has been useful. We appreciate your questions and encourage you to continue contacting us with your thoughts and suggestions.
Rose Valley Water Co.
