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WATER REPORT Is Columbia County water really safe? Why wonder? This past year Columbia County Water Utility tested the drinking water over 140,000 times and is proud to inform our customers their drinking water meets or exceeds the USEPA (Environmental Protec- tion Agency) and USEPD (Environmental Protection Division) guidelines. This report includes data on the quality of your drinking water from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Other topics covered in this report include source water information, numerical values of detected finished water quality parameters, health facts, and term definitions. 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 Administration 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 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 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. It can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Columbia County currently withdraws up to 45,000,000 gallons a day of surface water from the Savannah River to the Jim Blanchard Sr. Water Treatment Facility 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 53,000,000 gallons a day to help meet the needs of our customers. SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT Columbia County Water Utility completed a Source Water Assessment study in April of 2002. This assessment identifies potential pollutant sources that could contaminate the water supply. In the ranking of High, Medium, and Low for potential 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. LEAD IN DRINKING WATER 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. Columbia County Water Utility is responsible for providing high quality drink- ing 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 2 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 or at http://www.epa.gov/safe- water/lead. 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, agricul- tural livestock operations, and wild-life; □ Inorganic contaminants salts and metals) which can be naturally occur- ring or result from urban storm run-off, industrial or domestic waste discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; □ Pesticides and herbicides which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water run-off, and residential uses; □ Organic chemical contaminants including and volatile organic chemicals which are by-products of indus- trial processes, petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water run-off, and septic systems; □ Radioactive contaminants which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activi- ties. Unleashing Knowledge, One drop at a time! 2023 Water Quality Report Columbia County Water Utility GA 0730000 ---PAGE BREAK--- Columbia County Water Utility (CCWU) Quality Data for 2023 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 0.81 0.71-0.88 2023 Yes Water additive which promotes strong teeth. Nitrate (ppm) 10 10 <0.2 <0.2 2023 Yes Runoff from fertilizer use; septic tank leachate. Turbidity (ntu) TT n/a Maximum Detected = 0.28 n/a 2023 Yes Soil runoff and erosion of riverbanks and shoreline. TT=percentage of Percent Below 0.3ntu 2023 Turbidity (percent) samples < 0.3ntu n/a 100% n/a 2023 Yes Soil runoff and erosion of riverbanks and shoreline. Regulated Inorganic Substances Detected in Treated Water at Tap Substance (Units) Action Maximum 90th Number of Previous Did CCWU Corrosion of household plumbing; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservative. Level Allowed Level Goal Percentile sites above Sample Meet Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could # of sites tested (AL) (MCLG) in CCWU AL Date Requirements experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in Copper (ppm) 50 1.3 1.3 0.16 0 2023 Yes attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop Lead (ppb) 50 15 0 3.2 3 2023 Yes kidney problems or high blood pressure. Regulated Organic Substances Detected in Treated Water at Tap Substance (Units) Max Yearly Maximum Max Yearly Annual Range Sample Did CCWU Average Allowed Level Goal Site LRAA Detected in Date Meet (MCL) (MCLG) Detected in CCWU CCWU Requirements Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) 80 n/a 67.4 19.1 - 96 2023 Yes By-product of drinking water disinfection by chlorination. Total Haloacetic Acids (ppb) 60 n/a 32.0 13.3 - 40.5 2023 Yes By-product of drinking water disinfection by chlorination. Substance (Units) Maximum Maximum Yearly Range Sample Did CCWU Residual Level Level Goal Average Detected Detected in Date Meet Allowed (MRDL) in CCWU CCWU Requirements Chlorine (ppm) 4 4 1.0 0 - 2.2 2023 Yes Water additive used to control microbes. Total Organic Carbon (ppm) TT n/a 1.6 1.3 - 2.0 2023 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% 2023 Yes diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other They may pose a special risk for E-Coli (P/A) 120 MCLG = 0 0 0 2023 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 other requirements which a water Substance Detected in system must follow. CCWU Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Sodium 10.0 ppm - 11.0 ppm Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. allow for a margin of safety. Alkalinity 1.1 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. Please Call Below is a list of the Unregulated Contaminants that were detected in the Columbia County drinking water in 2019. For more information about the CCWU (ID # 0730000), please contact the Water Laboratory Parameter MCL MCLG CCWU - Ranges ug/L CCWU - Average ug/L Sample Date Violation Manager, Rodney Silvey at (706) 868-3460 or the Treatment Operations Manager, John Maldonado Bromochloroacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 1.10 - 2.6 1.8 2019 N/A at (706) 860-2587. The Public Works Committee (PWC) meets the 4th Tuesday of the Bromodichloroacedic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 1.10 - 2.0 1.5 2019 There is no MCL for these month at 8:30 am in the Auditorium at the Evans Government Center. Chlorodibromoacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.31 - 0.57 0.18 2019 Parameters Monobromoacedic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.31 - 0.34 0.05 2019 Dichloroacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 5.7 - 16 10.62 2019 Columbia County Water Utliltiy was involved in a study of our source water for Monobromoacedic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.0 - 3.0 0.75 2019 is a parasite that can cause intestinal disease. Trichloroacetic acid Not Regulated Not Regulated 5.1 - 15 8.85 2019 People with weakened immune systems may develop serious, chronic, and sometimes fatal illness. Manganese Not Regulated Not Regulated 0.65 - 17 4.3 2019 This Study ended in September 2015 and showed no in our source waters. Total Organic Carbon (Source Water mg/L) Not Regulated Not Regulated 1.4 - 2.4 1.9 2019 This report contains important information about our drinking water. To translate it, or to speak with someone who understands it please call [PHONE REDACTED]. 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].