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.

*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.

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.

Contact Name: Mark Forrester

Address: PO Box 172

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