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Quench Your Thirst WithThis Knowledge 2024 Water Quality Report – Columbia County Water Utility This report includes information collected from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. Approximately 140,000 Tests Run! In order for Columbia County Water Utility to ensure the safety of our customers’ drinking water, our water treatment facilities constantly run process control tests throughout each day. Our laboratory also runs tests in the distribution system to help ensure water safety. In 2024 our lab tested the homes and businesses approximately 1,500 times just for Bac- teria alone. This report is written each year to give our customers information on the quality of their drinking water. Topics covered in this report include source water information, numerical values of detected finished water quality parameters, violations, term definitions, testing exemptions and health facts. Health Facts For health reasons, the EPA has prescribed regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administra- tion regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. 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 the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-[PHONE REDACTED]). Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer un- dergoing 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 health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-[PHONE REDACTED]). Water Sources The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material and can pick up substances result- ing from the presence of animals or from human activity. Source Water Assessment Columbia County Water Utility completed a Source Water Assessment study in April 2002. This assessment identifies potential pollutant sources that could contaminate the water supply. In the ranking of High, Medium, and Low for poten- tial pollutants, our water supply was ranked Low at both the Jim Blanchard Water Treatment Plant and the Clarks Hill Water Treatment Plant. This assessment is available to the public. If you would like to review or purchase a copy, please call (706) 863-6928 during normal business hours. Contaminants that may be present in source water include the following: □ Microbial contaminants viruses and bacteria) that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wild-life; □ Inorganic contaminants salts and metals) which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm run-off, industrial or domestic waste dis- charges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; □ Pesticides and herbicides which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater run-off, and residential uses; □ Organic chemical contaminants including and volatile organic chemicals which are by-products of industrial processes, petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater run-off, and septic systems; □ Radioactive contaminants which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. Our Drinking Water Sources Columbia County currently withdraws up to 45,900,000 gallons a day of surface water from the Savannah River to the Jim Blanchard Sr. Water Treatment Facili- ty on Point Comfort Road. An additional 8,000,000 gallons of surface water could be withdrawn from the Clarks Hill Reservoir and treated at the Clarks Hill Water Treatment Facility on Highway 221. Combined, the Water Utility is able to treat up to 53,900,000 gallons a day to help meet the needs of our customers. Lead Service Line Information Lead can cause serious health effects in people of all ages, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and parts used in service lines and in home plumbing. Columbia County Wa- ter Utility is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in the plumbing in your home. Because lead levels may vary over time, lead exposure is possible even when your tap sampling results do not detect lead at one point in time. You can help protect yourself and your family by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. Using a filter, certified by an American National Standards Institute accredit- ed certifier to reduce lead, is effective in reducing lead exposures. Follow the instructions provided with the filter to ensure the filter is used properly. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Before us- ing tap water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, flush your pipes for several minutes. You can do this by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. If you have a lead service line or galvanized requiring replacement service line, you may need to flush your pipes for a longer period. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact our laboratory manager Rodney Silvey at [PHONE REDACTED]. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. The Service Line Inventory (SLI) is a requirement under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) to help water systems identify and re- place lead service lines. It mandates that all public water systems develop and maintain an inventory of service line materials to assess the pres- ence of lead and protect public health. The inventory will support proactive lead reduction efforts and ensure compliance with regulatory re- quirements to minimize lead exposure in drinking water. To access the SLI for Columbia County Water Utility go to ga-epd.120water-ptd.com or contact Brittany Akins at 706-[PHONE REDACTED]. ---PAGE BREAK--- Columbia County Water Utility (CCWU) Quality Data for 2024 Regulated Inorganic Substances Detected in Treated Water Entering Distribution System Substance (Units) Maximum Maximum Average Range Sample Did CCWU Major Sources and Health Effects Level Allowed Level Goal Detected Detected in Date Meet in Drinking Water (MCL) (MCLG) in CCWU CCWU Requirements Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.71 0.61 - 0.82 2024 Yes Water additive which promotes strong teeth. Nitrate (ppm) 10 10 0.13 0.25 2024 Yes Runoff from fertilizer use; septic tank leachate. Turbidity (ntu) TT n/a Maximum Detected = 0.28 0.07 - 0.28 2024 Yes Soil runoff and erosion of riverbanks and shoreline. TT=percentage of Percent Below 0.3ntu 2024 Turbidity (percent) samples < 0.3ntu n/a 100% n/a 2024 Yes Soil runoff and erosion of riverbanks and shoreline. Regulated Inorganic Substances Detected in Treated Water at Tap Lead and Copper Testing Information Action Maximum 90th Number of Range Did CCWU Corrosion of household plumbing; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservative. Infants and children Previous Sampling dates - 2023 Level Allowed Level Goal Percentile sites above Detected Meet who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental Substance (Units) - # of sites tested (AL) (MCLG) in CCWU AL Requirements development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water Copper (ppm) - 50 1.3 1.3 0.16 0 0.0035 - 0.570 Yes over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. For more information on all individual Lead (ppb) - 50 15 0 3.2 3 0.0 - 17.0 Yes testing results, please contact the Laboratory Manager: Rodney Silvey ([PHONE REDACTED]). Regulated Organic Substances Detected in Treated Water at Tap Substance (Units) Max Yearly Maximum Max Yearly Annual Range Sample Did CCWU Total Trihalomethanes (THM) Violation Average Allowed Level Goal Site LRAA Detected in Date Meet Columbia County Water Utility exceeded the MCL for THMs during the third and fourth quarters of 2024. (MCL) (MCLG) Detected in CCWU CCWU Requirements Some possible health effect associated with high THM levels are liver, kidney, or central nervous system problems. Total Trihalomethanes (THM) (ppb) 80 n/a 86.4 12.5 - 103.5 2024 No Those with a compromised immune system, caring for infants, pregnant, or elderly may be at increased risk. Total Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) (ppb) 60 n/a 36.8 9.66 - 50.3 2024 Yes For further information please visit the following web page: Substance (Units) Maximum Maximum Yearly Range Sample Did CCWU Residual Level Level Goal Average Detected Detected in Date Meet or contact Margaret Doss at [PHONE REDACTED] or [EMAIL REDACTED] Allowed (MRDL) in CCWU CCWU Requirements Action taken: Currently Columbia County is increasing our flushing program and looking into other treatment options. Chlorine (ppm) 4 4 1.0 0 - 2.2 2024 Yes Water additive used to control microbes. Total Organic Carbon (ppm) TT n/a 1.6 1.3 - 1.9 2024 Yes Naturally present in the environment. Regulated Bacteriological Sampling Substance (Units) Number of Required Maximum Number Highest Sample Did CCWU Coliform bacteria, including E-coli, are naturally present in the environment. Fecal Coliform Samples Collected Level Allowed of Percent Date Meet and E-coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with Per Month (MCL) Violations Requirements human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as Total Coliforms (P/A) 120 5.00% 0 2.5 2024 Yes diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other They may pose a special risk for E-Coli (P/A) 120 MCLG = 0 0 0.0 2024 Yes infants, young children, some elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. For Your Information Definitions Normal Range Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring (UCMR5) Substance Detected in other requirements which a water system must follow. Columbia County Water Utility is currently in process of testing for PFOS and PFOAs in our drinking CCWU Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. At the present time Columbia County is within MCL limits on all tested parameters. water. MCLs are set as close to the as feasible using the best available treatment technology. This study will be completed in July of 2025, and all results will be available soon thereafter. Sodium 7.6- 9.8 mg/L Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below As of December 31, 2024, the following parameters have been detected but are not regulated: which there is no known or expected risk to health. allow for a margin of safety. perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) 0.0030 ug/L Alkalinity 20 - 50 Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): Maximum disinfectant residual allowed in the distribution system. Not Detected (nd): The amount of a material in a sample that was not detected during analytical testing. Hardness 1 - 40 ppm on average (Soft Water) Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Parts per Billion (ppb): One part per billion is equivalent to one penny in 10 million dollars. pH 6.5 - 8.5 Parts per Million (ppm): One part per million is equivalent to one penny in 10 thousand dollars…... (1 ppm = 1 mg/L) Violation: Failure to comply with any drinking water regulation. Iron < 0.3 mg/L on average LRAA - Locational Running Annual Average Columbia County Water Utility monitors for unregulated parameters in order to assist the EPA in determining where certain contaminants occur and whether additional regulations may be necessary. Waivers and Exemptions (January 1, 2023 - December 31,2025) Below is a list of the Unregulated Contaminants that were detected in the Columbia County drinking water in 2019. Currently, Columbia County Water Utility has a waiver and is exempt from testing some Parameter MCL MCLG CCWU - Ranges ug/L CCWU - Average ug/L Sample Date Violation Organic chemicals. It is also exempt from Asbestos and Cyanide. Bromochloroacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 1.10 - 2.6 1.8 2019 N/A If you would like a full list of chemicals we have a waiver for, please contact the laboratory manager. Bromodichloroacedic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 1.10 - 2.0 1.5 2019 There is no MCL for these Please Call Chlorodibromoacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.31 - 0.57 0.18 2019 Parameters For more information about the CCWU (ID # 0730000), please contact the Water Laboratory Monobromoacedic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.31 - 0.34 0.05 2019 Manager, Rodney Silvey at (706) 868-3460 or the Treatment Operations Manager, John Maldonado Dichloroacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 5.7 - 16 10.62 2019 at (706) 860-2587. The Public Works Committee (PWC) meets the 4th Tuesday of the Monobromoacedic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.0 - 3.0 0.75 2019 month at 8:30 am in the Auditorium at the Evans Government Center. Trichloroacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 5.1 - 15 8.85 2019 Columbia County Water Utliltiy was involved in a study of our source water for Manganese Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.65 - 17 4.3 2019 is a parasite that can cause intestinal disease. Total Organic Carbon (Source Water mg/L) Not Regulated Not Regulated 1.4 - 2.4 1.9 2019 People with weakened immune systems may develop serious, chronic, and sometimes fatal illness. This report contains important information about our drinking water. To translate it, or to speak with someone who understands it please call [PHONE REDACTED]. This Study ended in September 2015 and showed no in our source waters. Spanish: Este informe contiene información importante acerca de nuestra agua potable. Para traducirlo, o para hablar con alguien que entiende que por favor llame al [PHONE REDACTED].