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2008 Water Quality Report 

Water, Gas & Light Commission is proud of the fine drinking water it provides. This annual water quality report shows the source of our water, lists the results of our tests, and contains much more important information about water and health. The Water, Gas & Light Commission will notify you immediately if there is any reason for concern about your water. We are happy to show you how we have surpassed water-quality standards.

The Albany Water System draws its water from four different aquifers. They are the Floridian, Tallahatta, Clayton, and the upper Cretaceous. We use 40 wells located throughout the city and county to supply an average of 20 million gallons of water a day to our customers.  The Albany Water Treatment Plant continues daily to assist with our water production. This assures Albany with an adequate supply for the future.   A Source Water Assessment has been performed for our area to provide baseline data about the quality of water before it is treated and distributed to our customers. This is important because it identifies the origins of contaminants within our area and indicates the susceptibility of our water system to such contaminants. To complete your understanding of our water supply, request a copy of this information from The Georgia Environmental Protection Division at 1-800-241-4113 or visit website http://www.gaepd.org/.

2007 Albany Water Treatment Plant-Testing Results:

Contaminant	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Detected Level	Range	Major Sources	Violation
Total Organic     Carbon       (TOC)	ppm	TT	TT	0	0-0.58	Composed primarily of Non-specific humic materials	NO
Nitrates	ppm	10	10	5.8	5.6-5.8	Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks; Sewage; erosion of natural               deposits	NO

2007 Albany Water System-Testing Results:

How to Read This Table

The table shows the results of our water-quality analysis. Every regulated contaminant that was detected in our water, even in the most minute traces, is listed. The table contains the name of each substance, the highest level allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health, the amount detected, the usual sources of such contamination, footnotes explaining our findings, and a key to units of measurement. Definitions of MCL and MCLG are important.

(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic waste water discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.

(E) 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 which limit the amount of certain contaminants in the water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is 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 are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

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.  Water, Gas & Light 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 minimuze exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Compliance

Water is our most precious natural resource. Together we can preserve the quality of our water supply. If you notice a change in the look, smell or taste of your drinking water, please contact the Water, Gas & Light Commission.