City of Lavonia GEORGIA

 

2003 Water Quality Report

 

Environmental Protection Division SID # - 1190003

 

 

City of Lavonia, GA

Water Department

(706) 356-8781

 

      Water Treatment Plant       

     (706) 356-8333                                                     

     City of Lavonia                   

P.O. Box 564, 12221 Augusta Road

   Lavonia, Georgia 30553

 

In Accordance With:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division

 

The City of Lavonia city council meets the first                        Monday of each month at 5:30 P.M. in the courtroom at the City Hall.

 

                Last year the City of Lavonia treated over 385,000 million gallons of water. The City of Lavonia did have 1 (one) violation for Lead and Copper sampling.        

The City of Lavonia obtains its raw water from two surface water sources. The principle source is Crawford Creek Reservoir, located on Pleasant Hill Road in Franklin County. The secondary source is Hartwell Lake, which is in the Savannah River drainage basin. Our community  participated in a source water assessment of the Crawford Creek Basin and some of the tributaries of Lake Hartwell, which will provide more information about our water source. We will provide information on how to obtain a copy of that report when it is available.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, 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. Contaminants that may be present in source water include microbial contaminants, inorganic contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, organic chemical contaminants and radioactive contaminants. To ensure tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which 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 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 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 Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

 

Terms and units Defined:

Maximum Contaminant Level (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 (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.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbiological contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): 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.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

NTU: Nephelometric turbidity units

ppm: Parts per million or milligram per liter

ppb: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter

TT: Treatment technique – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

n/d: not detected

(a): Fluoride is added in treatment to bring the natural level to the EPA optimum of 1 part per million.

(b): Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor turbidity because it is a good indicator of water quality and the effectiveness of our filtration system.

 

Drinking Water Analysis

Disinfectants Table

Substance tested and detected            MCDL    MRDLG   Amount detected   Range of detection                Violation                        Probable source

Chlorine (ppm)                                  4               4                       1.2                          0.09 – 2.08               NO                 Disinfection

Inorganic Contaminants Table

Substance tested and detected   MCL       MCLG       Amount detected       Range of detection    Violation          Probable source

Fluoride, ppm (a)                         4              4                    0.98                                     n/d – 1.80               NO                 Water additive that                                                                                                                                                                             promotes strong teeth

Nitrate/Nitrite (ppm)                     10.0   10.0                     n/d                          n/d -- 0.20              NO                 Agricultural practices

Sodium (ppb)                                                                            4000                         n/d – 4000              NO

Turbidity Table

Turbidity, NTU (b)                           0             TT=5NTU                 0.05                       0.03 – 0.18               NO                 Soil runoff                                                            TT= % of                                                                                                                                                <0.5 NTU                          100%

Microbiological Contaminants Table

Substance tested and detected    MCL     MCLG         Amount detected                               Violation                   Probable source

Total Coliform (bacteria)               0               0                         0                                                      NO          Naturally present in the environment                                       

Lead and Copper Contaminants Table (*)

Substance tested and detected    AL          MCLG       90th percentile         Range of detection    Violation              Probable source                                                     

Copper (ppb)                                 1300       1300                     76                         0 - 250                        NO       Corrosion of household plumbing                                                                                           

Lead     (ppb)                                   0            15                       2.5                         0 - 25                          NO       Corrosion of household plumbing

Volatile Organics Contaminants Table

Substance tested and detected              MCL or Range     Amount detected      Range of Detection    Violation            Probable source

4-Bromofluorobenzene                 3.5 to 6.5                         4.4                                                        NO       Agricultural practices       

1,2-Dichlorobenzene                                     3.5 to 6.5                         4.7                                                            NO       Agricultural practices   

Organics Contaminants Table

Total Trihalomethanes TTHMs Table

Substance tested and detected     MCL                        min     –     max          Average        Violation                          Probable Source

Chloroform (ppb)                        80                         17.000   -    63.000          38.875                 NO        By-product of drinking water chlorination                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Bromodichloromethane (ppb)      80                          1.000    -     2.300             1.425           NO        By-product of drinking water chlorination.

Chlorodibromomethene (ppb)      80                                        5.800    -   12.000            8.662            NO        By-product of drinking water chlorination

Halo acetic Acids HAA5 Table

Substance tested and detected     MCL                      min      -      max           Average      Violation                         Probable Source

Monochloroacetic acid (ppb)          60                        3.900     -     6.800              5.350             NO        By-product of drinking water disinfection

Dichloroacetic acid (ppb)               60                        3.300     -     20.000          10.537             NO        By-product of drinking water disinfection

Trichloroacetic acid (ppb)               60                       13.000     -     21.000         16.750             NO        By-product of drinking water disinfection

Total Organics Carbon Table

Substance tested and detected                                    min     -     max             Average        Violation                       Probable Source

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) (ppm)                              0.93     -     1.70                 1.35               NO       By-product of drinking water disinfection

 

 

As authorized by Georgia EPD, our system has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of our data tough representative is more than one year old.

The City of Lavonia was issued chemical monitoring waivers for the below listed synthetic organic compounds and inorganic compounds from January 1, 2002 to midnight December 31, 2004

.

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: Alachlor, Aldicarb Sulfone, Aldicarb Sulfoxide, Atrazine, Benzo (A) Pyrene, Carbofuran, Chloradane, Dalapon, Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Adipate, Dibromochoropropane (DBCP), Dinoseb, Diquat, Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylene Dibromide (EDB), Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Oxymyl (Vydate), Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Polychorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Simazine, 2,4-D, Toxaphene, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin).

INORGANNIC COMPOUNDS: Asbestos and Cyanide.

 

(*) Lead and Copper sampling violation: The City of Lavonia failed to sample the required number of Lead and Copper samples, for reduced monitoring, for the reporting period of June 1, 2003 to September 30, 2003. Only 18 (eighteen) of the 20 (twenty) samples was sent to the state lab.

 

The City of Lavonia Water Department is operated under the direction of the Lavonia City Council. The Council holds its regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 PM on the first Monday of each month. The meetings are open to the public and are held in the courtroom of the city hall at 12221 Augusta Road, Lavonia, GA 30553. The water department business office is open Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5PM. The customer service telephone number is 706-356-8781. For emergencies after 5 PM call 706-356-8333. If you would like a copy of this report or any additional information please contact us at the above address or telephone number.