Civic Alert Sent from City of Casa Grande
Alert Sent On: 02/07/2025 12:39:07 PM MST
The Copper Mountain Ranch Water System has high levels of nitrates.
DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA
Water samples collected by the City of Casa Grande on February 3, 2025, detected nitrate levels of 12.3 mg/L, exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L. High nitrate levels in drinking water pose a serious health risk to infants under six months old.
Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial or agricultural sources (including septic systems and run-off). Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year.
What should I do? What does this mean?
DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.
Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.
Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants because they can’t process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.
What is being done? The City of Casa Grande is following protocol by the direction of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The City of Casa Grande will be working closely under the direction of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to resolve the issue.
The Copper Mountain Ranch Water Company utilizes a nitrate removal system to treat the well water pumped into our distribution system. In early December 2024, a plastic brine tank within the system developed a leak. Although initial repairs were attempted, they were unsuccessful, prompting a second round of repairs. By mid-January 2025, it became apparent that further repairs were no longer feasible, and a temporary brine tank was installed to maintain operation while awaiting the delivery of a replacement tank, which is expected in late February 2025.
Due to the ongoing leak and the rate at which the brine tank was losing water, it is likely that the brine did not reach the necessary saturation level, which may have led to inefficient ion exchange and elevated nitrate levels. However, it is important to note that Copper Mountain Ranch staff conducts daily nitrate level testing, and these tests have not indicated any exceedance of the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) prior to or since February 3, 2025. A confirmation sample was collected on February 7, 2025, and sent to our contract laboratory for expedited analysis. We are confident that the issues with our system have been resolved and will provide the results of this confirmation sample as soon as they are available, which is expected to be no later than February 12, 2025.
For more information, please contact the City of Casa Grande Public Works Department @: 520-340-0365
Address: 3181 N. Lear Ave Casa Grande AZ 85122
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by the –Copper Mountain Ranch Water Company. State Water System ID#: PWS 11-328. Date distributed: 2/7/2025.
Any ADEQ translation or communication in a language other than English is unofficial and not binding on the State of Arizona.
