2024 Annual Water Quality Report

Report Overview

We are pleased to present to you this year's Annual Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the water quality and services we deliver to you every day. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to providing our customers with the safest and highest quality drinking water possible. This Water Quality Report is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act and tells you where your water comes from, what tests by independent laboratories show about it and other information you should know about your drinking water.

Our surface water treatment plant is located at 16531 US Hwy 72, where we source water from the Tennessee River. The treatment process utilizes coagulation, sedimentation, flocculation, disinfection and filtration.

Colbert County Rural Water System, AL0000314. Office: 2750 Hwy 20, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. Phone: 256-386-8504. Hours: 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

County Commissioners

• Tommy Barnes - District 1
• W. Tyrus Mansell - District 2
• Jimmy Gardiner - District 3
• Tori Bailey - District 4
• Darol Bendall - District 5
• David C. Isom - District 6
• Jeremy Robison - County Engineer

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Jeremy Robison, County Engineer, 256-386-8504. Regularly scheduled meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the Colbert County Courthouse.

PFAS Update

On March 14, 2023, the EPA announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS in drinking water. On April 10, 2024, the EPA finalized its proposed NPDWR.

The EPA's new regulation provides a window of up to five years for public water systems to reach full compliance. Colbert County Rural Water has been monitoring PFAS, notifying the public of the levels of these PFAS, and undertaking efforts to evaluate how best to reduce the levels of these PFAS in drinking water. Due to the unique chemical properties of PFAS, conventional water treatment plants are incapable of fully removing PFAS from drinking water.

As a result, CCRW is evaluating state-of-the-art water filtration systems to reduce PFAS to non-detectable levels. CCRW is currently working with engineers to select the best method of removing PFAS from the water supply.

CCRW states that it does not believe that the past, present and future capital costs and increased operational expenses associated with removing PFAS from the water supply should be the responsibility of ratepayers. CCRW retained outside legal counsel and filed suit in the Circuit Court of Colbert County, Alabama. The report states that the litigation is moving forward.

More information about contaminants in drinking water and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Source Water Assessment

We have developed a source water protection plan that can be reviewed in our office. This plan provides additional information such as potential sources of contamination. No sites evaluated pose a significant risk to our customers. It includes a susceptibility analysis, which classified potential contaminants as high, moderate, or non-susceptible (low) to contaminating the water source. The assessment determined that the source water susceptibility ranking has a low-risk potential. The assessment has been performed, public notification has been completed, and the plan was approved by ADEM.

Anyone wishing to review the SWAP can review it at the office by appointment. The report asks customers to protect the source of water by carefully following instructions on pesticides and herbicides and properly disposing of household chemicals, paints, and waste oil.

UCMR5

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that once every five years the EPA issues a list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems (PWSs). The fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) was published on December 27, 2021. UCMR 5 requires sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants between 2023 and 2025 using analytical methods developed by the EPA and consensus organizations.

UCMR Definitions

UCMR Minimum Reporting Level (MRL)

The minimum concentration that may be reported by a laboratory as a quantified value for a method analyte following analysis. The MRLs were established based on the capability of the analytical method, not based on a level established as significant or harmful.

UCMR Reference Concentration

Reference concentrations are based on publicly available health information in EPA resources. They are subject to change as new health assessments are completed and are not legally enforceable federal standards.

Health Reference Levels (HRL)

Risk-derived screening concentrations used in the Regulatory Determination process. HRLs are not final determinations and are not legally enforceable federal standards.

Health Advisories (HA)

EPA health advisories are non-enforceable and non-regulatory and provide technical information on health effects, analytical methodologies and treatment technologies.

Level 1 Assessment

A study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine, if possible, why total coliform bacteria have been found in the water system.

Level 2 Assessment

A very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine, if possible, why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found on multiple occasions.

General Information

All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

The sources of drinking water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells.

As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it may pick up naturally occurring minerals, radioactive material, and substances resulting from animals or human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include microbial contaminants, inorganic contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, organic chemical contaminants, and radioactive contaminants.

EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, some elderly people, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. EPA/CDC guidance is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Based on a study conducted by ADEM with EPA approval, a statewide waiver for monitoring asbestos and dioxin was issued. Monitoring for those contaminants was not required.

Lead in Drinking Water

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. The report states: NEVER make baby formula with warm or hot tap water.

Lead is rarely found in source water. If lead is present in tap water, it is primarily from corrosion of materials used in older plumbing, solder, or pipes connecting a house to the water main.

The water system uses an independent laboratory to analyze distribution-system samples for lead according to a monitoring schedule set by ADEM.

EPA and CDC Recommendations in the Report

• Before using tap water for drinking or cooking, run the cold-water tap for 1-2 minutes, especially if the water has been sitting undisturbed for several hours.
• For making baby formula, drinking, or cooking, use only water from the cold tap.
• Periodically remove the faucet aerator and wash out debris such as metal particles.

Boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in water. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Lead Service Line Inventory

The Lead Service Line Inventory was completed and submitted by the October 16, 2024 deadline, and a copy is available at the Colbert County office as required by EPA.

Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Radon

Source water is tested for pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The report states that all test results were within state and federal standards and that Cryptosporidium and Giardia have not been detected in finished drinking water.

Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in surface water throughout the United States. Filtration removes Cryptosporidium, but commonly used filtration methods cannot guarantee 100 percent removal. The report encourages immune-compromised individuals to consult a doctor about appropriate precautions.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas present in some groundwater. The report explains that inhaled radon has been linked to lung cancer and discusses exposure after release of radon from water into indoor air. The report notes a proposed MCL of 300 pCi/L.

Monitoring Results

The report states that the system had no violations. Monitoring and testing detected some constituents, and the report states that the drinking water meets federal and state requirements. The tables below reproduce the detected-contaminant results from the report.

Abbreviations and units are explained in the Definitions section below. Values such as AL=1.3 and TT are retained as presented in the source report.

The West Morgan East Lawrence turbidity value above is reproduced as printed/extracted in the source report: .030-.021-100.

Definitions

Action Level

A concentration that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Coliform Absent (ca)

Laboratory analysis indicates that the contaminant is not present.

Cryptosporidium

A microscopic parasite that can cause disease, mainly diarrhea, if swallowed.

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs)

Compounds formed when disinfectants react with bromide and/or natural organic matter in source water.

Distribution System Evaluation (DSE)

A 4-quarter study to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of DBPs.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)

A level below which there is no known or expected risk to health; MCLGs allow a margin of safety.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)

The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)

A disinfectant level below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

Millirems per year (mrem/yr)

A measure of radiation absorbed by the body.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU)

A measure of the clarity of water.

Non-Detect (ND)

Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present above detection limits of laboratory equipment.

Parts per billion (ppb)

Micrograms per liter.

Parts per million (ppm)

Milligrams per liter.

Parts per quadrillion (ppq)

Picograms per liter.

Parts per trillion (ppt)

Nanograms per liter.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L)

A measure of radioactivity in water.

Running Annual Average (LRAA)

Yearly average of the DBP results at each specific sampling site in the distribution system.

Standard Units (S.U.)

Used for pH, which measures the water's balance of acids and bases.

Treatment Technique (TT)

A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Variances & Exemptions (V&E)

State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.

Other Contaminants Tested

The report states that the following contaminants are tested where applicable. They were not detected in drinking water unless they are also listed in a detected-contaminant table elsewhere in the report.

Standard Primary Drinking Water Contaminants

• Total Coliform Bacteria
• Fecal Coliform and E. coli
• Turbidity
• Cryptosporidium
• Beta/photon emitters
• Alpha emitters
• Combined radium
• Uranium
• Antimony
• Arsenic
• Asbestos
• Barium
• Beryllium
• Cadmium
• Chromium
• Copper
• Cyanide
• Fluoride
• Lead
• Mercury
• Nitrate
• Nitrite
• Selenium
• Thallium
• 2,4-D
• Acrylamide
• Alachlor
• Atrazine
• Benzene
• Benzo(a)pyrene (PAHs)
• Carbofuran
• Carbon tetrachloride
• Chlordane
• Chlorobenzene
• Dalapon
• Dibromochloropropane
• 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
• 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (para)
• o-Dichlorobenzene
• 1,2-Dichloroethane
• 1,1-Dichloroethylene
• cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
• trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
• Dichloromethane
• 1,2-Dichloropropane
• Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate
• Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
• Dinoseb
• Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)
• Diquat
• Endothall
• Endrin
• Epichlorohydrin
• Ethylbenzene
• Ethylene dibromide
• Glyphosate
• Heptachlor
• Heptachlor epoxide
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
• Lindane
• Methoxychlor
• Oxamyl (Vydate)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls
• Pentachlorophenol
• Picloram
• Simazine
• Styrene
• Tetrachloroethylene
• Toluene
• Toxaphene
• 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
• 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
• 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
• 1,1,2-Trichloroethane
• Trichloroethylene
• Vinyl Chloride
• Xylenes
• Chlorine
• Chlorine Dioxide
• Chloramines
• Bromate
• Chlorite
• HAA5 (Total haloacetic acids)
• TTHM (Total trihalomethanes)

Secondary Contaminants

• Alkalinity, Total
• Copper
• Manganese
• Specific Conductance
• Aluminum
• Corrosivity
• Odor
• Sulfate
• Calcium
• Foaming agents (MBAS)
• Nickel
• Total Dissolved Solids
• Carbon Dioxide
• Hardness
• pH
• Zinc
• Chloride
• Iron
• Silver
• Color
• Magnesium
• Sodium

Unregulated Contaminants

• Aldicarb
• Aldicarb Sulfone
• Aldicarb Sulfoxide
• Aldrin
• Bromoacetic Acid
• Bromobenzene
• Bromochloromethane
• Bromodichloromethane
• Bromoform
• Bromomethane
• Butachlor
• N-Butylbenzene
• Sec-Butylbenzene
• Tert-Butylbenzene
• Carbaryl
• Chloroethane
• Chloroform
• Chloromethane
• o-Chlorotoluene
• p-Chlorotoluene
• Dibromochloromethane
• 1,2-Dibromoethane
• Dibromomethane
• 1,1-Dichloroethane
• 1,3-Dichloropropane
• 2,2-Dichloropropane
• 1,1-Dichloropropene
• 1,3-Dichloropropene
• Dicamba
• Dichlorodifluoromethane
• Dieldrin
• Hexachlorobutadiene
• 3-Hydroxycarbofuran
• Isopropylbenzene
• p-Isopropyltoluene
• m-Dichlorobenzene
• Methomyl
• Methylene chloride
• Methyl tert-butyl ether
• Metolachlor
• Metribuzin
• MTBE
• Naphthalene
• 1-Naphthol
• Paraquat
• Propachlor
• N-Propylbenzene
• 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
• 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
• Tetrachloroethene
• Trichloroacetic Acid
• 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
• Trichloroethene
• Trichlorofluoromethane
• 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
• 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
• 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene