2022 Water Quality Report - GSRWD

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?

Our water source is groundwater and comes from eight wells permitted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). They are located at a specific depth within the Middendorf Aquifer. This aquifer lies in the Coastal Plain of our state.

Source water assessment and its availability

A Source Water Assessment was completed in June 2006 by SCDHEC. This was done to identify potential contaminant sources (PCS). This revealed 13 PCS. A copy of this assessment is available for your review on our website a www.gsrwater.com/reports/.  If you do not have internet access, please contact Mark Forrester at (803) 892-5544 to make arrangements to review this document.

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 storm water 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 storm water 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 storm water 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?

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Mark Forrester, Water District Manager, at (803) 892-5544. Information is also available on our website at www.gsrwater.com. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month (except December) at the Gilbert-Summit Rural Water District Office, 136 Hampton Street, Gilbert, SC 29054.

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. Gilbert-Summit Rural Water District 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.

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 Cl2) (ppm)

4

4

1.08

.05

1.76

2022

No

Water additive used to control microbes

TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb)

NA

80

15.6

2.4

15.6

2022

No

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Inorganic Contaminants

Barium (ppm)

2

2

0.06

0

0.06

2022

No

Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits

Fluoride (ppm)

4

4

1.1

1

1.1

2022

No

Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

Nitrate [measured as Nitrogen] (ppm)

10

10

5.1

0

5.1

2022

No

Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits

 

Sodium (ppm)

 

NA

NA

22

5.3

22

2022

No

Erosion of natural deposits

Radioactive Contaminants

Radium (combined 226/228) (pCi/L)

0

5

4.43

0

4.43

2022

No

Erosion of natural deposits.

Beta/photon emitters

0

50*

6.98

0

6.98

2022

No

Decay of man-made and natural deposits

Gross Alpha (pCi/L)

0

15

9.04

0

9.04

2022

No

Erosion of natural deposits

 

Contaminants

MCLG

AL

90th

Percentile

Sample
Date

# Samples
Exceeding AL

Exceeds AL

Typical Source

Inorganic Contaminants

Copper - action level at consumer taps (ppm)

1.3

1.3

0.903

2022

1

No

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganic Contaminants

Lead - action level at consumer taps (ppb)

0

15

7

2022

2

No

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits

*The MCL for beta particle results is 4 mrem/year. EPA considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles. Because the beta particle results were below 50 pCi/L, no testing for individual beta particle constituents was required.

 

 

 

Coliform Bacteria

MCLG

Total Coliform

MCL

Highest No. of Positive

Fecal Coliform or E. Coli

MCL

Total No. of Positive E.Coli or Fecal Coli Samples

Violation

Likely Source of Contamination

0

1 positive monthly sample

1

 

0

N

Naturally present in the environment


Unit Descriptions

Term

Definition

ppm

ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)

ppb

ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L)

pCi/L

pCi/L: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)

NA

NA: not applicable

ND

ND: Not detected

 

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.

 

 

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Mark Forrester, Water District Manager, at (803) 892-5544. Information is also available on our website at www.gsrwater.com.  We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.  If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings.  They are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month (except December) at the Gilbert-Summit Rural Water District Office, 136 Hampton Street, Gilbert, SC, 29054.

 

For more information please contact:

 

Contact Name: Mark Forrester

Address: PO Box 172

                136 Hampton St.
                Gilbert, SC 29054
                Phone: (803) 892-5544     
                                                                          System # 3220001