2012 Annual Water Quality Report

for the 2011 Testing Period

Click here for a downloadable .pdf of this Water Quality Report

From The General Manager’s Desk:

I am pleased to present to you this year’s Water Quality Report. This report is required by the federal “SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT” and is a summary of the quality of water provided by Hartselle Utilities to our customers during 2011. Included in this brochure are details about where your water comes from, what it contains and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. The reported data was obtained from testing performed as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We hope this information helps you become more knowledgeable about the quality of your drinking water.

The Water Department of Hartselle Utilities operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a reliable supply of quality drinking water. The current HU Board of Directors continues in the tradition of those of previous decades in the commitment to long range planning to ensure that our water supply continues to be a key resource for public health, fire protection, industry, the economy and the overall quality of life we enjoy in our community. Our goal is to ensure that the residents of Hartselle, both present and future generations, continue to enjoy a drinking water that meets all state and federal regulations.

Water system evaluation and planning for the present and future needs of Hartselle continue to be an integral part of the daily operations. We at Hartselle Utilities thank you for allowing us to serve your needs in the City ofHartselle. With your support, we will continue to provide the services needed for the sustainable growth of our community.

Ferrell Vest
General Manager

Other Hartselle Utilities Info:
We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. To that end, we welcome you to attend our regularly scheduled Board meetings. The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Main Office located at 1010 Sparkman Street NW. If you have questions concerning meeting dates or times, please contact Carol Kirby at ckirby@hartselleutilities.org.

Board Members:		Contact Information:
Chairman	Michael Gunter	For Billing Information	(256) 773-3341
Vice Chairman	Ed Monroe	All Other Offices	(256) 773-3340
Secretary/Treasurer	Jimmy Moore	Mailing Address	P.O. Box 488
Members	Terry Phillips & Garlin Cheatham		Hartselle, Alabama 35640

Where Hartselle’s water comes from…
Our water comes from Decatur Utilities which uses theTennessee Riveras its source. TheTennessee Riveris a surface water source. Raw water is pumped from the river into Decatur Utilities’ treatment plant where chemicals are added to create the settling of particles. The water is then sent through sand filters to remove any unsettled particles. Disinfection is then achieved with the addition of chlorine. Fluoride is also added for the protection of children’s teeth. After the treatment process is complete, the resulting potable water is then pumped into the distribution system. Hartselle Utilities receives water from Decatur Utilities through a metered connection at the Hartselle Utilities’ Water Booster Station. Hartselle Utilities adds additional chlorine to meet minimum standards. From there the water is pumped into Hartselle’s distribution system and storage tanks.

Health Risk Information:
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 sources 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 at (800) 426-4791.

TOTAL COLIFORM: The Total Coliform Rule requires water systems to meet a strict limit for coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in water can be an indication of disease-causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are conducted to determine if harmful bacteria are present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public by newspaper, television or radio.

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. Hartselle Utilities 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 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 at (800) 426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

DIOXIN and ASBESTOS: Based on a study conducted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management with the approval of USEPA a statewide waiver for the monitoring of asbestos and dioxin was issued. Thus, monitoring for any of these contaminants was not required.

The following tables list only the substances that were detected during the January 1st to December 31^st testing period in 2010 and do not include the many other substances tested for that were not detected. All drinking water, including bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least some tested substances. The presence of these substances does not necessarily pose a health risk. To view a list of the other substances for which there were no detects, please click here.

Additional copies of this report and/or a copy of the non-detects list can be obtained at the Hartselle Utilities Main Office at 1010 Sparkman Street NW, Hartselle, Alabama. Copies of the Decatur Utilities 2010 Annual Water Quality Report can be obtained by calling their Customer Service department at (256) 552-1440 or visit them online at www.decaturutilities.com.

How to read the tables
Hartselle Utilities conducts extensive monitoring to ensure that your water meets all water quality standards. The results of our monitoring are included in the tables below. For help interpreting the tables, see the “Definitions” section below. Starting with Substance, read across. Compliance Achieved means that the ADEM and EPA requirements were met. Level Detected represents the measured amount (less is better). Range tells the highest and lowest amounts measured. MCL shows the highest level of a substance (contaminant) that’s allowed. MCLG is the goal level for that substance (sometimes set lower than the MCL allowable level). Typical Source tells where the substance usually originates.

Decatur Utilities Test Results
Substance (units)	Compliance Achieved	Level Detected	Range	MCL	MCLG	Typical Source of Contamination
Microbiological Contaminants
Turbidity (NTU)	YES	0.0298	0.011 – 0.298	0.5	N/A	Soil Runoff
Inorganic Contaminants
Flouride (ppm)	YES	1.44	0.16 – 1.44	4	4	Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Nitrate (as Nitrogen)	YES	0.61	0.61	10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Chlorine (ppm)	YES	1.92	1.57 – 2.42	4	N/A	Added during the treatment process as a disinfectant
TTHM (ppm) (Total trihalomethanes)	YES	0.043 (HRAA)	0.014 – 0.087	0.08	N/A	By-product of drinking water chlorination and organics
HAA5 (ppm) (5 haloacetic acids)	YES	0.035 (HRAA)	0.0010 – 0.084	0.06	N/A	By-product of drinking water chlorination and organics
Hartselle Utilities Test Results
Substance (units)	Compliance Achieved	Level Detected	Range	MCL	MCLG	Typical Source of Contamination
Inorganic Contaminants (Tested from distribution piping)
Copper (ppm)	YES	0.071	0.003 – 0.071	1.3	1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits, leaching from wood preservatives
Lead (ppm)	YES	0.002	0.001 – 0.002	0.015	0	Corrosion of household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Chlorine (ppm)	YES	0.85	0.32 – 2.3	4	N/A	Added during the treatment process as a disinfectant
TTHM (ppm) (Total trihalomethanes)	YES	0.046 (HRAA)	0.023 – 0.11	0.08	N/A	By-product of drinking water chlorination
HAA5 (ppm) (5 Haloacetic acids)	YES	0.040 (HRAA)	0.017 – 0.078	0.06	N/A	By-product of drinking water chlorination

Definitions:
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level)	The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water	NTU(Nephelometric Turbidity Unit)	A measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
MCLG(Maximum Contaminant Level Goal)	The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health	pCi/L(Picocuries per liter)	A measure of radioactivity in water
TT(Treatment Technique)	A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water	ppm(Parts per million)	One part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000
AL(Action Level)	The concentrations of a contaminant, which if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.	ppb(Parts per billion)	One part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years or a single penny in $10,000,000
RAA(Running Annual Average)	Based on the most recent four quarters of testing	HRAA(Highest Running Annual Average)	The highest running annual average during a calendar year based on seven quarters of testing
ND(Non-detects)	Lab analysis indicated no constituent present	mg/l(Milligrams per litre)	Same as ppm

MCL’s (Maximum Contaminant Levels) are set at very stringent levels by the USEPA. 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.

As you can see in the table, our system had no violations. We are proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that some constituents have been detected. The EPA has determined that your drinking water is safe at these levels.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of 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.

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

Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts – On February 15, 2006 EPA instituted a new rule for water systems called the Stage 2 Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts Rule that deals with trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). The rule changed some existing sample sites and added additional sites as well as changing the way that averages will be calculated. HU has been actively sampling the distribution system to ensure that we will be 100% in compliance when the new rules are implemented on January 1, 2012.

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2012 Annual Water Quality Report

for the 2011 Testing Period