Bedford Co. Utility District

P.O. Box 2755

214 Bethany Lane

Shelbyville, TN 37162

931-684-1667

Bedford County Utility District Water Quality Report

2008

Is my drinking water safe?

Yes, our water meets all of EPA's health standards. We have conducted numerous tests of contaminants that may be in drinking water. As you'll see in the chart below, we found all of these contaminants at safe levels.

What is the source of my water?

Your water, which is surface water, comes from the Duck River. Our goal is to protect our water from contaminants and we are working with the State to determine the vulnerability of our water source to potential contamination. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report for the untreated water sources serving this water system. The SWAP report assesses the susceptibility of untreated water sources to potential contamination. To ensure safe drinking water, all public water systems treat and routinely test their water. Water sources have been rate as reasonably susceptible, moderately susceptible or slightly susceptible based on geologic factors and human activities in the vicinity of the water source. The Bedford County Utility District sources rate as moderately susceptible to potential contamination.

An explanation of Tennessee's Source Water Assessment Program, the Source Water Assessment summaries, susceptibility scorings and the overall TDEC report to EPA can be viewed online by clicking HERE or you may contact the Water System to obtain copies of specific assessments.

Why are there contaminants in my water?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Community water systems are required to disclose the detection of contaminants; however, bottled water companies are not required to comply with this regulation. 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 Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

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How can I get involved?

Our Water Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at the utility office on Bethany Lane. Please feel free to participate in these meetings.

Is our water system meeting other rules that govern our operations?

The State and EPA require us to test and report on our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We have met all of these requirements. Results of unregulated contaminant analysis are available upon request. We want you to know that we pay attention to all the rules.

Other Information

We at Bedford County Utility District work around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children's future.

Do I need to take special precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 not only their drinking water, but food preparation, personal hygiene, and precautions in handling infants and pets from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water System Security

Following the events of September 2001, we realize that our customers are concerned about the security of their drinking water. We urge the public to report any suspicious activities at any utility facilities, including treatment plants, pumping stations, tanks, fire hydrants, etc. to (931) 294-5117.

For more information about your drinking water, please call Joe Russell at (931) 294-5117.

Water Quality Data

What does this chart mean?

• MCLG - Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or 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 - Maximum Contaminant Level, or 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. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.

• MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, or the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for the control of microbial contaminants.

• MRDLG - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, or the level of 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.

• AL - Action Level, or the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment of other requirements which a water system must follow. Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the contaminant is not present.

• Parts per million (ppm) or Micrograms per liter (mg/l) - explained as a relation to time and money as one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

• Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - explained as a relation to time and money as one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

• Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

• Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

• TT - Treatment Technique or a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

1 - 99.6% of our samples were below the turbidity limit.

2 - During the most recent round of Lead and Copper testing (September 2008), 0 out of total 30 households sampled contained concentrations exceeding the action level for both lead and copper.

3 - If present, 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. Bedford County Utility 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 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 (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

4 - While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for trihalomethanes, it does contain low levels. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

5 - Treatment Technique for TOC was met.

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