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City of Bowdon Water Quality Report 2009
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,
City of Bowdon Annual Water Quality
Report 2009
Last year, we conducted tests for over 80 contaminants. We only detected 9 of those
contaminants, and found only 1 at a level higher than the EPA allows. As we told you at the
time, our water temporarily exceeded drinking water standards. (For more information see the
section labeled Violations at the end of the report.) This report is a snapshot of last year's water
quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it
compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. We are committed to providing you with
information because informed customers are our best allies.
Is my water safe?
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).
Do I need to take special precautions?
Our water source is Lake Tisinger Reservoir in the Little Tallapoosa River Watershed.
Where does my water come from?
The categories of potential pollution sources found in the Source Water Assessment are
confined animal feed lots, NPDES stormwater and mining, airports, hazardous waste facilities,
LAS permit holders and roads that cross over streams.
Source water assessment and its availability
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?
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.
Water conservation measures are an important first step in protecting our water supply. Such
measures not only save the supply of our source water, but also can save you money by reducing
your water bill.
How can I get involved?
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.
Water Conservation Tips
Protection of drinking water is everyone’s responsibility. You can help protect your
community’s drinking water source in several ways:
· Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides – they contain
hazardous chemicals that can reach your drinking water source.
· Pick up after your pets.
· If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to
water sources or consider connecting to a public water system.
· Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil to a recycling center.
· Volunteer in your community. Find a watershed or wellhead protection organization in
your community and volunteer to help. If there are no active groups, consider starting
one. Use EPA’s Adopt Your Watershed to locate groups in your community, or visit the
Watershed Information Network’s How to Start a Watershed Team.
· Organize a storm drain stenciling project with your local government or water supplier.
Stencil a message next to the street drain reminding people “Dump No Waste - Drains to
River” or “Protect Your Water.” Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind
residents that storm drains dump directly into your local water body.
Source Water Protection Tips
Water conservation measures are an important first step in protecting our water supply. Such
measures not only save the supply of our source water, but also can save you money by reducing
your water bill.
How can I get involved?
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. Bowdon Water System 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.
Additional Information for Lead
Water Quality Data Table
The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report.
The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. 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 change frequently.
Contaminants MRDLG MRDL Water Low High Date Violation Typical Source
or TT, or Your Range Sample
MCLG MCL,
(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants)
Disinfectants & Disinfectant By-Products
Water additive used to control
4 4 1.27 0.26 1.86 2009 No microbes Chlorine (as Cl2)
(ppm)
By-product of drinking water
NA 60 61.4 32 100 2009 Yes chlorination Haloacetic Acids
(HAA5) (ppb)
By-product of drinking water
NA 80 49.7 28.8 76.4 2009 No disinfection
TTHMs [Total
Trihalomethanes]
(ppb)
Naturally present in the
NA TT 44.31 NA 2009 No environment Total Organic
Carbon(% Removal)
Inorganic Contaminants
Erosion of natural deposits;
Water additive which
promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories
Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.81 0.5 1.21 2009 No
Runoff from fertilizer use;
Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Nitrate [measured as 10 10 0.24 NA 2009 No
Nitrogen] (ppm)
Microbiological Contaminants
100% of the samples were below the TT value of 1. A value less than 95% constitutes a TT violation. The highest
single measurement was 0.18. Any measurement in excess of 5 is a violation unless otherwise approved by the state.
Turbidity (NTU) NA 1 100 NA 2009 No Soil runoff
Contaminants MCLG AL Water Date Exceeding AL AL Typical Source
Your Sample # Samples Exceeds
Inorganic Contaminants
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion
of natural deposits
1.3 1.3 0.5 2007 0 No
Copper - action level
at consumer taps
(ppm)
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion
of natural deposits
Lead - action level at 0 15 8.1 2007 2 No
consumer taps (ppb)
Violations and Exceedances
Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting cancer. Samples collected for the third and fourth quarters exceeded the MCL. Measures are
being taken to lower the contaminate level.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Unit Descriptions
Term Definition
ppm ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ìg/L)
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measure of the
cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of
the effectiveness of our filtration system.
NTU
NA NA: not applicable
ND ND: Not detected
NR NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.
Important Drinking Water Definitions
Term Definition
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.
MCLG
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.
MCL
TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level
TT of a contaminant in drinking water.
AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded,
triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must
follow.
AL
Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL
Variances and Exemptions or a treatment technique under certain conditions.
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.
MRDLG
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.
MRDL
MNR MNR: Monitored Not Regulated
MPL MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level
For more information please contact:
Contact Name: City of Bowdon
Address:
136 City Hall Avenue
Bowdon, GA 30108
Phone: 770-258-8980
Website: Bowdon.net
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