Newspaper Page Text
Page 10A — Wednesday, May 12, 2021, The True Citizen
Rural roads and speed form a dangerous combination
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Typically, farm vehicles and
highway safety is discussed
during Farm Safety Week, but
County Extension Coordinator
Peyton Sapp believes it needs
to be addressed year-round.
“I have the opportunity to
travel all over Burke County
during the course of a normal
work day,” he said. “It ap
pears to me that we need to
hear about this subject more
frequently.”
Crashes involving farm and
construction equipment are on
the rise throughout the state.
In 2013, there were 364 ac
cidents involving this type of
equipment versus 562 in 2018,
according to The Georgia Of
fice of Highway Safety. Ad
ditionally, 2016 saw a record
number of fatalities associated
with this type of crash.
Sapp pointed out that ap
proximately one third of these
accidents occur on rural roads.
“That means rural communi
ties like ours are experiencing
a disproportionate number of
traffic fatalities in relation to
our population,” Sapp said.
“Country roads and excessive
speed make for a dangerous
combination when met with
a slow-moving farm vehicle.”
When a vehicle travels at 55
mph and comes upon a tractor
moving 15 mph, it takes only
five seconds to close a gap
the length of a football field
between the vehicle and the
tractor.
“Remembering that both
farmers and motorists can
take precautions to ensure
safe travel on Georgia’s rural
roads is the key,” Sapp said.
“Just as motorists are entitled
to operate their vehicles on
public roadways, farmers are
also legally allowed to operate
farm equipment on those same
roadways.”
Sapp reminds motorists not
to assume that a farm vehicle
that pulls to the right side of
the road is going to turn right
or let them pass. Due to the
size of some farm implements,
the farmer must execute wide
left turns.
“If you must enter the on
coming lane of traffic, do not
pass unless you can see clearly
ahead of both you and vehicle
you will pass,” he said. “If
there are any curves or hills
ahead that may block your
view or the view of oncoming
vehicles, do not pass.”
Georgia law requires farmers
to place a slow moving vehicle
reflector on any machine that
travels the road slower than 25
mph. Always point the triangle
reflector upward, keep it clean
and replace it when it fades,
Sapp said.
The installation of retrofit
lighting on older machinery
increases visibility. Spotlights
should be turned off while
operating on roadways. Farm
equipment operators should
avoid the highway during rush
hour and bad weather.
“Do not drive before sunrise
or after sunset,” Sapp advises
farm equipment operators.
More information about farm
equipment safety can be ob
tained by contacting the Burke
County Extension Office at
(706) 554-2119.
Reflective triangles should be kept clean and point upward.
SPORTS
Burke County tracksters
prepare for state comp
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
The last stretch of competi
tion is in sight, and the Burke
County Bears have several
athletes that could bring home
the gold.
Following sectionals, a num
ber of them qualified to move
on to the last competition of the
season — the state track meet.
“The kids did a good job,”
coach
Purvis Dukes said, acknowl
edging the stiff competition
that awaits them. “Once you
make it to state from section
als , if s the best of the best. Any
3A schools that had someone
to qualify in an event will be
represented.”
Representing Burke County
are Donterius Jones, shot put;
Jermaine Jones, discus; Jalen
Golphin, 200-meter; J'Dynn
Allen and Ja'Niyah Gardner,
long jump; Daveion Henry,
pole vault; Brooke Jordan,
300-meter hurdles; and Jakedra
Jones, Laila Jackson, Samira
Roberson, Brooke Jordan and
Dymon Webb, 4x800 relay.
The state meet will begin
Thursday, May 13, and con
tinues through Friday, May 21,
in Albany.
Honor roll
Continued from 9A
Arnold, Cedric Bell, Leigha
Boynton, Zion Bracely, Joshua
Brown, Benjamin Burns, Jor
dan Byrd, Madison Carter,
Landon Clayton, Azaria Davis,
Robert Edenfield, Romalo
Ervin-Scott, Mariah Gilbert,
Anata Gillette, Kilynn Godwin,
London Grace, Cornelius Gray,
Leland Harbuck, Lynnsey Har
ley, Chance Harrison, Dreyden
Hatcher, Jesus Hege, Jeremiah
Henderson, Kelani Herrington,
William Hickman, Ashton
Holmes, Keyondreck Hol
mes, Makayla Holmes, Jayden
Hughes, Mahlanii Hughes,
Riley James, Nyriah Jeffer
son, Rylei Jones Kemp, Ky-
mani Lambert, Brody Lanier,
Samuel Lever, Nicole Lin,
Ever Lopez, Aubri Lovett,
Jasan Luke, Messiah Lynch,
Andrew Mills, Valeria Mi
randa, Derrick Mitchell, Torris
Mitchell, Antanesha Moody,
Chloe Moseley, Ka'ron Pierce,
Kynlee Prickett, Evalisette Ro
driguez, Raegan Seigler, Royce
Sheldon, Madison Shipman,
Bryuna Smith, Kalvin Smith,
Ayden Sullivan, Kameron
Taylor, Melody Tindal, Hudson
Tinley, Ronaldo Valle, Adison
VanWinkle, Braxton Walden,
Brian Walker, Nolah Waltower,
Jalina Whitfield, De'Andre
Williams, Aniya Wimberly,
Kaliyah Worthen and Tony
Young
Third grade: Carrington
Alley, Layla Anton, Jasmine
Atkinson, Kaitlyn Atkinson,
Kaidyn Barber, Brooklyn
Barefield, Larry Barnes, Opal
Belk, Ayden Broxton, Kamryn
Byrd, Gracie Campbell, Mili-
ana Castro-Almazan, Ashten
Chambers, Khaliyah Chance,
Rayunna Chandler, Jordan
Chavez, Christian Cook, Cam
eron Dent, Aryanna Dixon,
Zachary Dyches, Elijah Eacho,
Alcarria Ellison, Violet Garcia,
Kenniya Godbee, Aqua Gon
zalez, Maharmonie Graham,
Tamara Gray, Gamari Harvey,
Ezequiel Hernandez-Ramirez,
Tanarion Hulf, Amar'e Hull,
LeMiracle Hunter, Sha'Teria
Jackson, Khloe Jenkins, Car-
nell Johnson, Jamiyiah John
son, Jasmine Johnson, Maurice
Jones, Tyler Jordan, Jabriya
Kelly, Jaedan Kirkland, Xavier
Knight, Naomi LaCue, Marissa
Lakes, Cari' Lewis, Sincere
Lewis, Rickeria Martin, Aubri
Mitchell, Vidalia Mumford,
Ar'mya Oliver, John Partridge,
Peyton Pendrey, Denard Per
kins, Makenzie Phillips, Pres
ton Prickett, Christina Ra
mos, McKenzie Scott, Zemira
Scott, Aiden Shelton, A'Brea
Sheppard, Kaleb Sims, Demia
Smith, Eliana Smith, Terrance
Smith, Bayleigh Solt, Paola
Story, Maddison Sullivan,
Richard Swift, M'Kai Thom
as, Jamiyah Turner, Elijah
Veal, Aaron Venegas, Chan
cellor Walker, Darius Walker,
Johnmezz Walker, Antonio
Washington, Jermai'jah Way,
Jamari Williams and Vondraya
Williams
City of Waynesboro 2021 CCR
Is my water safe?
We are pleased to present this year's Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence
Report) as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This report is designed to provide
details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards
set by regulatory agencies. This report is a snapshot of last year's water quality. We are
committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.
Do I need to take special precautions?
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/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of
infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe
Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).
Where does my water come from?
The City of Waynesboro is supplied water from 2 different water sources. The 6th St. Well,
which is located on the comer of 6th and Nesbitt Streets, withdraws water from the
Midville/Creatous Aquifer. The second source of water is the Hwy 25 N Well, located at 125
Industrial Blvd. It also withdraws its water from the Midville/Creatous Aquifer.
Source water assessment and its availability
The City of Waynesboro has a Well Head and Source Water Protection Plan in place at the City.
These plans are available from our office. The plans provide information such as potential
sources of contamination and has concluded that the City of Waynesboro's water is at a low level
of risk from contamination.
Why are there contaminants in my drinking 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. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can
be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water
Hotline (800-426-4791). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water)
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 resulting from the presence of animals or
from human activity:
microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment
plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; inorganic contaminants,
such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater
runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban
stormwater runoff, and residential uses; 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 stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems;
and radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas
production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA
prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public
water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for
contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
How can I get involved?
We encourage all of our citizens to get involved in keeping our streams and rivers clean and safe.
We want all our citizens to be informed about the Water Utility. Any questions concerning this
report would be gladly answered by our City Manager Valerie Kirkland, or by J.C. Ellison. If
you would like to leam more, please attend our regularly scheduled City Council meetings.
Water Conservation Tips
Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day
or 100 gallons per person per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to
conserve water. Small changes can make a big difference - try one today and soon it will become
second nature.
• Take short showers - a 5 minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50
gallons for a bath.
• Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to
500 gallons a month.
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you
up to 750 gallons a month.
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to
1,000 gallons a month.
• Water plants only when necessary.
• Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes
to replace. To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank
and wait. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or
replacing it with a new, more efficient model can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can
absorb it and during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation.
• Teach your kids about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water
wisely. Make it a family effort to reduce next month's water bill!
• Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.
Additional Information for Lead
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. The City of Waynesboro is responsible for
providing high quality drinking 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/safewater/lead.
Water Quality Data Table
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the
amount of contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The table below lists all of
the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report.
Although many more contaminants were tested, only those substances listed below were found in
your water. All sources of drinking water contain some naturally occurring contaminants. At low
levels, these substances are generally not harmful in our drinking water. Removing all
contaminants would be extremely expensive, and in most cases, would not provide increased
protection of public health. A few naturally occurring minerals may actually improve the taste of
drinking water and have nutritional value at low levels. Unless otherwise noted, the data
presented in this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the
State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the
concentrations of these contaminants do not vary significantly from year to year, or the system is
not considered vulnerable to this type of contamination. As such, some of our data, though
representative, may be more than one year old. In this table you will find terms and abbreviations
that might not be familiar to you. To help you better understand these terms, we have provided
the definitions below the table.
Contaminants
MCLG
or
MRDLG
MCL,
TT, or
MRDL
Detect
In
Your
Water
Range
Sample
Date
Violation
Typical Source
Low
High
Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products
(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants)
Chlorine (as C12)
(ppm)
4
4
1.31
.94
1.92
2020
No
Water additive used to control
microbes
Haloacetic Acids
(HAA5) (ppb)
NA
60
4.81
4.42
5.16
2020
No
By-product of drinking water
chlorination
TTHMs [Total
Trihalomethanes]
(PPb)
NA
80
9.8
9.15
10.4
2020
No
By-product of drinking water
disinfection
Inorganic Contaminants
Fluoride (ppm)
4
4
.79
.55
1
2020
No
Erosion of natural deposits;
Water additive which promotes
strong teeth; Discharge from
fertilizer and aluminum factories
Nitrate [measured as
Nitrogen] (ppm)
10
10
O
NA
0
2020
No
Runoff from fertilizer use;
Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Nitrite [measured as
Nitrogen] (ppm)
1
1
O
NA
0
2020
No
Runoff from fertilizer use;
Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Dichloromethane
(PPb)
0
5
.74
NA
.74
2020
No
Discharge from pharmaceutical
and chemical factories
Contaminants
MCLG
AL
Your
Water
Sample
Date
# Samples
Exceeding
AL
Exceeds
AL
Typical Source
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper - action level at
consumer taps (ppm)
1.3
1.3
.025
2015
O
No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion of
natural deposits
Lead - action level at
consumer taps (ppb)
0
15
0
2015
O
No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion of
Contaminants
MCLG
AL
Your
Water
Sample
Date
# Samples
Exceeding
AL
Exceeds
AL
Typical Source
natural deposits
Unit Descriptions
Term
Definition
ppm
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
PPb
ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (qg/L)
NA
NA: not applicable
ND
ND: Not detected
NR
NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.
Important Drinking Water Definitions
Term
Definition
MCLG
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
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: 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.
TT
TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in
drinking water.
AL
AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements which a water system must follow.
Variances and
Exemptions
Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique
under certain conditions.
MRDLG
MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant
below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of
the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
MRDL
MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in
drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for
control of microbial contaminants.
MNR
MNR: Monitored Not Regulated
MPL
MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level
For more information please contact:
Contact Name: J.C. Ellison
Address: 615 N. Liberty St.
Waynesboro, Ga 30830
Phone: 706-554-8036
SHELLIE SMITLEY