2017

CITY OF VALDOSTA
Water Quality Report

Water System ID No.

1850002
PROVIDING

SAFE WATER
During 2017, the City of Valdosta Utilities Department treated 3.2
billion gallons of water and provided safe, clean, high-quality
water for all our customers. The purpose of this Water Quality
Report is to inform our customers about where their water is
obtained, how it is treated and how it compares to the standards
set by regulatory agencies.

Test results for water samples collected and

analyzed are provided in the Water Quality Data
Table, located on page 3. The Data Table provides
information only for those items that are regulated
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
whose presence was detected in representative
system samples. For example, the dental profession
recommends that fluoride levels of about 1.00 ppm
(mg/l) are good for dental health, and the Valdosta
Water Treatment Plant adds fluoride to achieve the
recommended level as shown in the table. However,
EPA regulates fluoride and requires that the
concentration of fluoride in drinking water not
exceed 4.0 ppm. The list of parameters and their
concentration level in the table is not an indication
of a problem unless a violation is noted. The city
analyzes hundreds of samples for many parameters
some hourly, some daily, and others on a quarterly
basis. These samples are collected throughout the
system as part of quality control of the treatment
process. Groundwater will always contain trace
amounts of dissolved limestone or calcium, as well
as iron and other elements. The city’s finished
water contains some sodium, phosphates, fluoride,
and chlorine that have been added to improve the
water quality. The report also includes required
health effects information regarding the use of
water.
 Valdosta’s Water Source
The City of Valdosta obtains its water supply
from wells that are drilled into an underground
layer of porous, water-bearing limestone known
as the Upper Floridan Aquifer. This limestone
layer lies under most of South Georgia and all
of Florida. Generally, the aquifer can provide a
prolific supply of good, clean water. In Valdosta,
the top of the aquifer lies approximately 200
feet below ground surface, and the city’s wells
are drilled an additional 200 feet into the
limestone.

The Upper Floridan Aquifer below Valdosta and

Lowndes County is known as a karst aquifer.
This is an aquifer that has cracks, underground
solution channels and caverns. These cracks
can provide a route to allow contaminants to
enter the aquifer, move about in the aquifer and
alter the water supply, which can cause special
challenges for the city’s water system. Just
north of Valdosta, one of these cracks is
located beneath the Withlacoochee River. The
underground crack has formed a sinkhole in the
streambed of the flowing river. The river loses
about 20 cubic feet per second (cfs) during the
wet season and two cfs during the dry season
to the aquifer below the sinkhole. The surface
water contains tannic acids and organics from
vegetation growing along the river. This mixture
of water and organics causes a unique situation
for all Upper Floridan Aquifer users in this area.

The City of Valdosta Ground Water

Withdrawal Permit, which allows the city to
take water from the aquifer and distribute it to
its customers, was renewed in December
2012. This permit from the Environmental
Protection Division of the Department of
Natural Resources allows the withdrawal of an
annual average daily flow (AADF) of 11.4
million gallons per day (MGD) and a
maximum monthly average daily flow
(MMADF) of 15.3 MGD. Currently, the city’s
AADF is 8.739 MGD, and the MMADF is
10.913 MGD.
 DETERMINING HEATH EFFECTS OF

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.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in Pesticide and Herbicides which may come from a
drinking water than the general population. Immuno- variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater
compromised persons such as those undergoing runoff, and residential uses.
chemotherapy for cancer, who have undergone organ
transplants, who have HIV/AIDS or other immune system Organic Chemical Contaminants including synthetic
disorders, as well as the elderly and infants, can be and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of
particularly at risk for infections. These people should seek industrial processes and petroleum production, and can
advice about drinking water from their health care also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff,
providers. and septic systems.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health Radioactive Contaminants which can be naturally
problems, especially for pregnant women and young occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and
children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials mining activities.
and components associated with service lines and home
plumbing. The City of Valdosta is responsible for providing To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA
high-quality drinking water, but it cannot control the variety prescribes regulations that limit the number of certain
of materials used in plumbing components. When your contaminants in water provided by public water
water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations
the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 establish limits for contaminants in bottled water
seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or which must provide the same protection for public
cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, health.
you may seek to have your water tested.
Citizens may receive more information about
The sources of drinking water (both bottled water and tap contaminants and potential health effects by calling the
water) include aquifers, rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or
reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the visiting www.epa.gov/safewater.
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.

Contaminants that may be present in source water

before the city treats it include the following:
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 stormwater runoff,
industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining or farming.
 :$7(548$/,7<'$7$7$%/(
City of Valdosta Water System ID No. 1850002. The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 201 calendar year. The
presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is
from testing completed from January 1 - December 31, 201. * EPD requires the city to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the
concentrations of these FRQWDPLQDQWVDUHQRWH[SHFWHGWRYDU\VLJQLILFDQWO\IURP\HDUWR\HDU6RPHRIWKHGDWDWKRXJKUHSUHVHQWDWLYHRIWKHZDWHUTXDOLW\LVPRUHWKDQ
RQH\HDUROG6DPSOHVZHUHtested for many other contaminants that were not found in the water and, therefore, are not listed.

,125*$1,&&217$0,1$176
CONTAMINANT (units) MCL MCLG Result [Range] Violation? 6DPSOH'DWH 0DMRU6RXUFH

Fluoride (ppm) 4.0 4.0 [.] No 201 Water additive that promotes strong teeth

LEAD AND COPPER MONITORING

CONTAMINANT (units) MCL (AL) * MCLG WK3HUFHQWLOH9DOXH6DP- Violation? 6DPSOH'DWH 0DMRU6RXUFH
ples exceeding AL)

Copper (ppb) 1300 0 320/ [zero] No 201 Corrosion of household plumbing systems

Lead (ppb) 15 0 0 / [zero] No 2

92/$7,/(25*$1,&&217$0,1$1765HJXODWHG
CONTAMINANT (units) MCL MCLG Result [Range] Violation? 6DPSOH'DWH 0DMRU6RXUFH

Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) 80 0 [4] No 201 Byproduct of drinking water chlorination

Haloacetic Acids (ppb) 60 0 [] <HV 201

0,&52%,2/2*,&$/&217$0,1$176
CONTAMINANT (units) MCL MCLG Highest Monthly % of Violation? 6DPSOH'DWH 0DMRU6RXUFH
3RVLWLYH6DPSOHV>5DQJH@

Total Coliform Bacteria (TC) <5% positive samples Zero positive samples 0% [0-0%] No 201 Coliform bacteria are naturally present in the
during a monthly testing during monthly testing environment
period period

)5((&+/25,1(5(6,'8$/
CONTAMINANT (units) MCL (MRDL) NCLG (MRDLG) Result [Range] Violation? 6DPSOH'DWH 0DMRU6RXUFH

Free Chlorine (ppm) 4.0 4.0 [1.] No 201 Chemical added for disinfection

27+(5&217$0,1$1765DGLRQXFOLGHV
CONTAMINANT (units) MCL MCLG Result Violation 6DPSOH'DWH 0DMRU6RXUFH

* Alpha Emitters (pCi/L) 15 15 4+/-1 No 201 Erosion of natural deposits

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF ABBREVIATIONS

Contaminant: Any natural or man-made physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water, which is at a level that may have an
adverse effect on public health, and which is known or anticipated to occur in public water systems. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and
components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Valdosta Water System 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
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): 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.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): 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.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a
disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM): Four compounds (chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane & bromoform) that form as a result of disinfection.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA): Five separate compounds (monochloroacetic acid,monobromoacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid trichloroacetic acid, dibromoacetic acid) that
form as a result of disinfection. Some people who drink water containing HAAs in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their livers, kidneys,
or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Total Coliform Bacteria (TC): A group of bacteria commonly found in the environment. They are an indicator of potential contamination of water. Adequate and
appropriate disinfection effectively destroys coliform bacteria.
Treatment Technology (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Range: The lowest and highest results recorded for the year.
ppm: Parts per million or milligrams per liter. Disinfection: A process that effectively destroys coliform bacteria.
pCi/L: Picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation). ppb: Parts per billion.
N/D: Not detectable at testing limit. n/a: Not applicable

The testing results from the 4th Quarter indicated that our system exceeded the standard or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for halacetic acid (HAAs). As a
result of various system improvements and operational adjustments, recent follow-up tests indicate a marked improvement to HAA5 levels. Further reductions are
expected.