Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 8B
THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010
The Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority
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QUALITY REPORT
The Jackson County Water and Sewerage
Authority is committed to providing you with
the safest and most reliable water supply,
Informed consumers are our best allies in
maintaining safe drinking water. We encourage
public interest and participation in our community's
decisions affecting drinking water, You can learn
more about your water system when the Jackson
County Water and Sewerage Authority Board meets
on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
at the Jackson County Water Authority main office,
YEAR IN REVIEW
Water System ID GA 1570117
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To ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
EPA prescribes limits on the amount of pin
certain contaminants in water provided
by public water systems,
(JCWSA) is pleased to present a summary of the quality
of water provided to you during the past year. The Safe
Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that utilities issue
an annual “Consumer Confidence” report to customers.
This report details where your water comes from, what it
contains, and the risks our water testing and treatment
are designed to prevent.
How to Read This Chart
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Water Source
During 2009, the JCWSA obtained its water supply from
the 505-acre Bear Creek Reservoir managed by the
Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority and treated at the
Bear Creek Water Treatment Facility. The Bear Creek Reservoir
is located at the extreme south tip of Jackson County. Source
Water Assessment (SWAP) identifying potential pollution
sources which pose a risk to Bear Creek's water sources was
conducted in July 2002 by Brown & Caldwell, A copy of this
report is available at Bear Creek Water Treatment Facility for
review, In addition, Jackson County received a small portion of
water from the City of Commerce Water Treatment Plant which
obtains its water from Grove River Reservoir located in the City
of Commerce, A SWAP was conducted for the City of Commerce
in May 2003 by Stevenson & Palmer, A copy of this report is
available at City of Commerce Water Treatment Plant for review.
Regulation Compliance
If you have any questions please call the Jackson County
Water and Sewerage Authority at (706) 367-1741; or
you may contact Stacy Jenkins at (706) 367-1741 ext,
223. Water Quality Data for community water systems
throughout the United States is available at www.waterdata.
com, A copy of this Water Quality Report will be mailed
to each individual customer and additional copies will
be available at the Jackson County Water Authority
main office at 117 MLK Avenue in Jefferson, A
copy is also posted on the JCWSA website,
www.jcwsa.com.
Este informe contiene information muy importante, Traduscalo o liable con ini amigo quien lo entierda bien.
Important
Information
from the EPA
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All sources of drinking water are subject to
potential contamination by substances that
are naturally occurring or man-made, These
substances can be microbes, inorganic or
organic chemicals and radioactive substances.
The presence of contaminants does not
necessarily indicate that 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 (1-800-426-4791].
Some people may
be more vulnerable
to contaminants in
drinking water than
the general population,
Immuno-compromised
individuals, such as persons
with cancer undergoing
chemotherapy, persons
who have undergone organ
transplants, people with
HIV/AIDS or other immune
system disorders, some elderly people, and
infants can be particularly at risk from infections.
These people should seek advice about
drinking water from their health care providers.
Guidelines from the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention on appropriate means to lessen the
risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other
microbial contaminants are available from the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
All drinking water, including
bottled water, may reasonably be
expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants.
Required Additional
iealth Information
FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water,
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 water poses a health
risk. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water)
include rivers, lake, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells, As
water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dis
solves naturally-occurring minerals and radioactive material, and can
pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from hu
man activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may
come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural live
stock operations, and wildlife,
(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be
naturally-occurring or results from urban storm runoff, industrial or domes
tic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming,
(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of
sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.
(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile
organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum
production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water
runoff and septic systems.
(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be
the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that lap water is safe to drink; EPA prescribes regulations
which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public
water systems, FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled
water which must provide the same protection for public health. Some people
may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is 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 guide
lines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium
are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Water Quality Table Footnotes
1 ppb of fad reported as tl
2 ppb of copper reported as the 90th percentile of samples taken
3 Compliance for TOC is metwith a treatment of technique. Ho violations
occurred in 2009.
4 Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness in water. We monitor turbidity
because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.
The chart in this report provides representative analytical results of water samples
collected in 2009 from the Jackson County water system, Please note the following definitions:
Maximum Contaminant Level (or MCL)
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set
as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (or MCLG]
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or
expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Action Level (or AL)
The concentration of a contaminant, which triggers treatment or other require
ment, which a water system must follow.
Bear Creek and the City of Commerce Water Treatment Plants
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LEAD S COPPER RESULTS DATE UNITS
AL MCLG DETECTED MAJOR SOURCES
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AL (Action Level)
The concentration of a contaminant, which if exceeded,
triggers treatment or other requirements which a water
system must follow,
MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal)
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below
which there is no known or expected risk to health,
MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level)
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in
drinking water. MCLs are set as [lose to the MCLGs as
feasible using the bestavailable treatment technology.
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level)
The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.
There is convincing evidence that addition ofadisinfectant
is necessaiy for control of microbial contaminants.
Mil DIG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal)
The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which
there is no known or expected risk to health, MRDLCs
do not reflect the benefits ofthe use of disinfectants to
control mlcrabiat contamination.
ND (non-detected)
No measurable level of a substance or contaminant
detected.
Why are there
Contaminants in
Drinking water sources include streams,
lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and wells, which
are subject to potential “contamination"
by a wide variety of substances that oc
cur naturally or are man-made. As water
travels over the surface of the land or
through the ground, it dissolves natural
minerals, and in some cases radioactive
material and can pick up substances
resulting from human activity or the
presence of animals.
Contaminants that could he present
in source water before it is treated:
1. Microbial contaminants, such as
viruses and bacteria that may come
from sewage treatment plants,
septic systems, agricultural livestock
operations, and wildlife.
2. Inorganic contaminants, such as
salts and metals, which can be natu
rally occurring or result from urban
storm runoff, industrial or domestic
wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining or farming.
such as agriculture, urban storm wa
ter runoff, and septic systems,
4. Organic chemical contaminants,
including synthetic and volatile
organic chemicals, which are by
products of industrial processes
and petroleum production, and
can also come from gas stationers,
urban stormwater runoff, and septic
systems.
5. Radioactive contaminants, v
can be naturally occurring or be the
result of oil and gas production or
defense activities.
3. Pesticides and herbicides, \
may come from a variety of sources,
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to
drink, EP/I prescribes regulations that limit
the amount of certain contaminants in water
provided by public water systems. Food and
Drug Administration regulations establish
limits for contaminants in bottled water.
Ppm (parts per million]
The equivalent ef eight ounces (i cup, in 62.S mUlion gallons of water.
Ppb (parts per billion)
The equivalent of eight ountes (1 rap, in 62,5 billion gallons of water,
IT (Treatment Technique]
A required process intended to reduce the level of a contami
nant in drinking water.
Turbidity
A measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor turbidity be
cause it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration
system. NTH is a measurement of the clarity ofthe water.
What about lead
in drinking water?
Testing shows that the amount of
lead in our drinking water is well
below the EPA allowed levels
(see Water Test Results).
It is important to know that lead
in drinking water is primarily from
materials and components asso
ciated with water service lines and
home plumbing. Lead in elevated
levels can cause serious health
problems, especially for pregnant
women and young children.
JCWSA is responsible for provid
ing high quality drinking water, but
cannot control the variety of mate
rials used in residential plumbing.
When your water has been
sitting for several hours, you can
minimize the potential for lead
exposure by flushing your tap
for 30 seconds up to 2 minutes
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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 form the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at
www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.