Park City Municipal Water Supply

The Judge Tunnel serves as a primary source of drinking water for portions of Park City. The water from the Judge tunnel is captured at the portal, routed through a chlorination/holding tank, and delivered to consumers.

The tunnel was originally created to provide access and drainage for the silver miners and now serves to capture high volumes of ground water. Local geology and past mining practices create the potential for release of heavy metals into the water. However, water from the tunnel has been repeatedly tested in the past for water quality and has been approved for use as a water source by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ). Only very low levels of heavy metals were found during required testing in the past.

In July 2000, as a result of concern expressed by residents suspecting poor water quality, Park City took numerous water samples in areas served by the Judge Tunnel. The primary area affected was the Rossi Hill area in lower Deer Valley and parts of Old Town. The results showed that some of the samples had elevated levels of lead (greater than 15 parts per billion) and other samples did not. While the sample results did not constitute a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, (SDWA) they did suggest an episodic water supply problem in the area served by Judge Tunnel. Sample results also suggested that the lead was attached to fine sediments present in the water.

On August 24, 2000 Park City, after consulting with EPA and UDEQ, took steps to advise the public about the elevated lead levels. City Council was advised at their regularly scheduled meeting and notification was made through the Park City Record and the local radio station KPCW. Park City also worked with EPA and UDEQ to develop a plan for initial response to the problem. These initial steps were detailed in the Judge Tunnel Work Plan - September 2000 which can be found on the "current documents" page. Pursuant to this plan, Park City performed the following actions to immediately reduce the possibility of a reoccurrence of the problem and to further pinpoint its source:

• A turbidity meter was installed at the Judge Tunnel with an automatic turnout and alarm when an excessive amount of sediment is present in water coming from the tunnel. The meter will automatically divert water with high sediment levels before it enters the drinking water distribution system.

• A written protocol was established requiring United Park City Mines (UPCM) to provide 24 hour notice to Park City prior to entering the Judge Tunnel. UPCM is under contract with Park City to provide maintenance on the tunnel. When maintenance activity occurs in the Tunnel, the Park City Public Works Department opens the turnout valve so Judge Tunnel water does not enter the drinking water system. This provides assurance that any disturbance to the water from maintenance activities will be avoided. Park City is working with UPCM to minimize or eliminate future entry into the tunnel.

• Park City adopted a policy to test consumers’ water at the meter and within a facility/residence within two hours upon notification of water quality problems. The water will be tested for lead, arsenic, copper, iron and zinc. The results will be provided to the consumer within two weeks of receipt of the results by the City. If the results exceed any standards then the consumer will be notified immediately and a second round of testing will be performed.

• Periodic water sampling efforts were significantly enhanced well beyond the actual requirements of the SDWA. Specifically, water at the Judge Tunnel portal will be sampled monthly and more often if the water flow rate changes by 200 gallons per minute within a 30 day time frame. The water will be tested for lead, arsenic, antimony and total dissolved solids.

• A rate of flow device was installed in the vicinity of Deer Valley Drive and Stonebridge to assure water movement in the system.

• Park City worked with EPA and UDEQ to develop strategies for further investigation of the problem.

In October 2000, sampling performed by EPA, UDEQ, and Park City confirmed that sediment from the Judge Tunnel was the primary cause of the problem. Sediment containing high levels of heavy metals was periodically discharging from the tunnel, then accumulating and concentrating in water holding tanks and in some areas of the delivery system piping. Periodic events such as water main breaks, flow changes, or disturbances in the Judge Tunnel could have stirred up enough sediment for water quality to be compromised in certain areas for short periods of time. Because routine monitoring in the past could not detect such events, it is unclear for how long and to what degree these events may have occurred.

Based upon this new knowledge, Park City worked with EPA and UDEQ to immediately devise a strategy for further addressing the problem. In addition to steps previously taken in the Judge Tunnel Work Plan which minimized the potential for sediment entering the system in the future, the following additional actions were taken:

• In November and December, Park City performed a comprehensive flush of the drinking water delivery system in the Old Town area. This included cleaning of 3 holding tanks and flushing of over 18 miles of water pipe. The flush was accompanied by extensive public notice. The purpose of the flush was to remove any sediment which may have settled in the system. Sampling during and after the flush showed that it appeared to be very successful. Plans include continued monitoring and a repeat flush in May and periodically into the future.

• Park City is currently working with UDEQ to develop a bilateral compliance agreement which will formally detail steps for improving the Judge Tunnel source. This agreement should be final later this spring.

• Park City is developing a sampling plan to determine if sediments from the Judge Tunnel may have impacted other areas of the City’s delivery system. This sampling will occur in late spring or early summer of 2002.

Additional information can be found in the public notices issued by Park City which are posted on the "current documents" page. If anyone has questions regarding this issue you may contact:

• Paul Lammers, Park City Municipal Corporation, (435) 615-5112
• Larry Scanlon, UDEQ Division of Drinking Water, (801) 536-4204
• Jim Christiansen, EPA, (303) 312-6748 or 1-800-227-8917, x6748

If you suspect any problems with your drinking water, please call the Park City Public Works Department at 640-1790 for assistance and to request a water sample.