ML12223A216

Tennessee American Water 2011 Annual Water Quality Report TN_0000107_CCR

ML12223A216
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	01/01/2011
From:	Tennessee American Water
To:	Watts Bar Special Projects Branch
Poole J
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Download: ML12223A216 (5)

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A Message from the Tennessee American Water President 2011 Annual To Our Valued Customer:

Water Quality Tennessee American Water is proud to be your local water service provider, and I am pleased to share with you good news about the quality Report of your drinking water. Each year, we provide you with our Annual Water Quality Report and like so many years prior youll find that we continue to supply water that meets or surpasses all state and federal water quality regulations.

This doesnt happen by chance. It requires having the right team of experts and technologies in place. Delivering high-quality, reliable water service to your tap around the clock also requires significant investment in our water infrastructure. In 2011 alone, we invested more than $9 million in water system improvements in our community. From upgrading our treatment facilities to replacing aging water pipelines, we invest prudently and with purpose.

And, because we invest our dollars responsibly, we provide our water at LESS THAN a penny per gallonan exceptional value for a service that is so essential to our daily lives.

We hope you agree, its worth every penny and worth learning more about. Please, take the time to review this report. It provides details about the source and quality of your drinking water using the data from water quality testing conducted for your local water system from January through December 2011. For an electronic copy of this report, visit us online at www.tennesseeamwater.com.

At Tennessee American Water, our customers Tennessee are our top priority. Since 1887 Tennessee PWS ID: TN0000107 American Water has been committed to providing the highest quality drinking water and service possible to the Chattanooga area.

Sincerely, Deron E. Allen President, Tennessee American Water Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

This report contains important information about your drinking water. If you do not understand it, please have someone translate it for you.

About American Water Community Participation Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest If you are interested in becoming involved in water investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility quality concerns at Tennessee American Water, company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the please call us at (423) 755-7613. Our normal office company employs approximately 7,000 dedicated hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.

professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater We also encourage you to stay involved by:

and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as

• Reading the information provided in bill inserts parts of Canada. More information can be found by and special mailings.

visiting www.amwater.com.

• Contacting the company directly with questions or to discuss issues.

About Tennessee American Water

• Attending events conducted by the company.

Tennessee American Water, a wholly owned

• Responding to survey requests.

subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, How to Contact Us providing high-quality and reliable water services to For more information about this report, or for more than 350,000 people in Tennessee and any questions relating to your drinking water, please northern Georgia. call Susan Holmes, Water Quality Supervisor, at (423) 755-7649. For questions about your water Source Water Information bill, please call our Customer Service Center Tennessee American Water draws surface water from at (866) 736-6420.

the Tennessee River. Our goal is to protect our water from contamination and we are working with the Share This Report state to determine the vulnerability of our water Landlords, businesses, schools, hospitals and other source to potential contamination. The Tennessee groups are encouraged to share this important water Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) quality information with water users at their location has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program who are not customers of Tennessee American (SWAP) Report for the untreated water sources Water. Additional copies of this report are available serving this water system. The SWAP Report by contacting us at (423) 755-7613.

assesses the susceptibility of untreated water sources to potential contamination. Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in To ensure safe drinking water, all public water surface water throughout the US. Although systems treat and routinely test their water. Water Cryptosporidium can be removed through sources have been rated as reasonably susceptible commonly-used filtration methods, US EPA issued (high), moderately susceptible (moderate) or slightly a new rule in January 2006 that requires systems susceptible (low) based on geologic factors and with higher Cryptosporidium levels in their source human activities in the vicinity of the water source. water to provide additional treatment. Tennessee Tennessee American Water sources rated as American Water monitored for Cryptosporidium reasonably susceptible to potential contamination. and based upon our results, no additional treatment will be required by the new US EPA An explanation of Tennessees Source Water regulation.

Assessment Program, the Source Water Assessment summaries, susceptibility scorings and the overall Some people may be more vulnerable to TDEC report to EPA can be viewed online at: contaminants in drinking water than the general http://www.tn.gov/environment/dws/dwassess.shtml or population. Immuno-compromised persons such contact TDEC EAC at 1-888-891-8332 (1-888-891-TDEC) as persons with cancer undergoing to obtain copies of specific assessments. Tennessee chemotherapy, persons who have undergone American Water can also be contacted at 1-866-736- organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or 6420 to obtain a copy of the source water assessment other immune system disorders, some elderly, specifically for our company.

and infants may 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 EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Water Information Sources Table Definitions and Abbreviations Tennessee American Water

• Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant www.tennesseeamwater.com that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other Tennessee Department of Environment and requirements that a water system must follow.

Conservation

• BDL: Below Detection Limit www.state.tn.us/environment/dws

• MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level):

United States Environmental Protection Agency The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed www.epa.gov/safewater in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791 MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

American Water Works Association www.awwa.org

• MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which Remember to Be Water Smart there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Wise Water Use Tips For Inside Your Home:

• Fix leaking faucets, pipes, toilets, etc.

• MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level):

• Replace old fixtures; install water-saving devices The highest level of disinfectant routinely allowed in drinking water. Addition of a disinfectant is in faucets, toilets and appliances.

necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

• Wash only full loads of laundry.

• Do not use the toilet for trash disposal.

• MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level

• Take shorter showers. Goal): The level of drinking water disinfectant below

• Do not let the water run while shaving or which there is no known or expected risk to health.

brushing teeth. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of

• Soak dishes before washing. disinfectants to control microbial contamination.

• Run the dishwasher only when full.

• mrem/year: Millirems per year (a measure of Wise Water Use Tips for Outside Your Home: radiation absorbed by the body.

• Use mulch around plants and shrubs.

• NA: Not applicable.

• Repair leaks in faucets and hoses.

• Use water-saving nozzles.

• NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units: Turbidity How to Read This Table is a measure of the clarity of the water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTUs is just noticeable to the Tennessee American Water conducts extensive average person.

monitoring to ensure that your water meets all water quality standards. The results of our monitoring are

• pCi/L (picocuries per liter): Measurement of reported in the following tables. While most the natural rate of disintegration of radioactive monitoring was conducted in 2011, certain contaminants in water (also beta particles).

substances are monitored less than once per year because the levels do not change frequently. For

• ppm (parts per million): One part substance per help with interpreting this table, see the Table million parts water, or milligrams per liter, explained Definitions section. in terms of money as one penny in $10,000.

Starting with a Substance, read across. Year

• ppb (parts per billion): One part substance per Sampled is usually in 2011 or year prior. MCL billion parts water, or micrograms per liter, explained shows the highest level of substance (contaminant) in terms of money as one penny in $10,000,000.

allowed. MCLG is the goal level for that substance

• TT (Treatment Technique): A required process (this may be lower than what is allowed). Amount intended to reduce the level of a contaminant Detected represents the measured amount (less in drinking water.

is better). Range tells the highest and lowest amounts measured. A Yes under Compliance Achieved means that the government requirement was met. Typical Source tells where the substance usually originates.

Substances Expected to be For more information about contaminants and in Drinking Water potential health effects, call the U.S. EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small During 2009 Tennessee American Water amounts of some contaminants. The presence monitored for contaminants listed in the Unregulated of contaminants does not necessarily indicate Contaminant Monitoring Rule 2 that water poses a health risk. More information (UCMR 2). The UCMR 2 monitoring revealed about contaminants and potential health effects no detections for the contaminants as tested by the can be obtained by call the U.S. Environmental rule. Unregulated contaminants are those Protection Agencys Safe Drinking Water for which EPA has not established drinking Hotline (800) 426-4791. water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in To ensure that tap water is of high quality, determining the occurrence of unregulated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the contaminants in drinking water and whether Tennessee Department of Environment and future regulation is warranted. For additional Conservations prescribe regulations limiting the information call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline amount of certain substances in water provided at (800) 426-4791. The results of all unregulated by public water systems. U.S. Food and Drug monitoring are available by contacting Tennessee Administration regulations establish limits for American Water at 423-755-7649.

contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Tennessee Water Quality Statement American Waters water treatment processes are We are pleased to report that during the past year, designed to reduce any such substances to levels the water delivered to your home or business well below any health concern.

complied with, or was better than, all state and The source of drinking water (both tap water federal drinking water requirements. For your and bottled water) includes rivers, lakes, streams, information, we have compiled a list in the table, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water showing what substances were detected in your travels over the surface of the land or through drinking water during 2011. Although all of the the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals substances listed below surpasses or meets all and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can federal and state water quality regulations, we feel it pick up substances resulting from the presence is important that you know exactly what was of animals or from human activity. detected and how much of the substance was present in the water.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which 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 may also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

• Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or may be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Regulated Substances Year Amount Compliance Substance (units) MCLG MCL Range Typical Source Sampled Detected Achieved No more than 5% of Total Coliform (% of positive samples) 2011 0 the monthly samples 2.2% 0% - 2.2% Yes Naturally present in the environment can be positive Total Organic Carbon1 (TOC) (ppm) 2011 NA TT 1.94 1.00 - 1.94 Yes Naturally present in the environment Turbidity2 (NTU) 2011 NA TT 0.22 0.03 - 0.22 Yes Soil runoff Alpha emitters (pCi/L) 2011 0 15 0.44 BDL - 0.44 Yes Erosion of natural deposits Beta/photon emitters3 (pCi/L) 2011 0 50 1.29 0.657 - 1.29 Yes Decay of natural and man-made deposits Chlorine4 (ppm) 2011 MRDLG=4 MRDL=4 2.16 0.07 - 2.16 Yes Water additive used to control microbes Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which 0.85 Fluoride (ppm) 2011 4 4 0.53 - 1.08 Yes promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and (average) aluminum factories Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks; Nitrate (ppm) 2011 10 10 0.43 0.20 - 0.43 Yes sewage; Erosion of natural deposits Sodium (ppm) 2011 NA NA 9.8 7.6 - 9.8 Yes Erosion of natural deposits; used in water treatment Disinfection By-Products Year Compliance Substance (units) MCLG MCL Amount Detected Range Typical Source Health Effects Language Sampled Achieved By-product of drinking NA Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb) 2011 NA 60 26.7 (2nd Quarter) 12.4 - 58.4 Yes water disinfection Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL By-product of drinking over many years could have problems Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) (ppb) 2011 NA 80 53.7 (2nd Quarter) 33.9 - 93.8 Yes water chlorination with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems and may have an increased risk of getting cancer 1

The treatment technique for Total Organic Carbon was met 100% for 2011.

2 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. We met the turbidity requirement in 2011 with 100% of samples less than 0.3 NTU.

3 The MCL for Beta/photon emitters is written as 4 mrem/year. EPA considers 50 pCi/L as the level of concern for beta emitters.

4 Chlorine levels as measured in the distribution system.

Tap water samples were collected for lead and copper analyses from 54 homes in the service area Year Amount Detected Number of Homes Compliance Substance (units) Action Level MCLG Typical Source Sampled (90th %tile) above Action Level Achieved Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of Copper (ppm) 2010 1.3 1.3 0.119 0 Yes natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of Lead (ppb) 2010 15 0 3 1 Yes natural deposits 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. Tennessee American Water 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 Water Quality Parameters of Interest This table shows average levels of additional water quality parameters which are often of interest to consumers. Values shown here are averages of operating data for 2011. Values may vary from day to day. There are no health-based limits for these substances in drinking water.

Additional Water Quality Parameters of Interest Substance (units) Year Sampled Amount Detected (average) Range Alkalinity (ppm) 2011 63 39 - 75 Chloride (ppm) 2011 11.8 7.3 - 14.0 Hardness (ppm) 2011 82 58 - 94 Hardness (grains/gallon) 2011 4.8 3.4 - 5.5 Sulfate (ppm) 2011 12.8 11.4 - 15.0 Temperature (ºCelcius) 2011 19.7 6.7 - 31.0 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (ppm) 2011 104 104 pH (units) 2011 7.1 7.0 - 7.3 Chromium 6 (ppb) 2011 0.08 0.07 - 0.08 Chromium 6 is not currently regulated as an individual substance. Tennessee American Water voluntarily performed this monitoring based on recommendations from USEPA. For more information on chromium 6, please visit our web site. Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. For additional information call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.