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Northeast Knox Utility District is pleased to
present to its customers this years Water Quality Report. This
report is designed to inform the customer about the quality water
and services Northeast Knox Utility District delivers to the
customer everyday, and is prepared in cooperation with the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation Division of Water Supply. Northeast
Knox Utility District's goal is to provide the customer a safe and
dependable supply of drinking water. The utility is again proud of
the fact that it has met state and federal drinking water
standards.
Northeast Knox Utility District will be making improvements
to the distribution system in the near future to better serve you.
Northeast Knox Utility District is committed to ensuring the
quality of its customers water and would like its customers to be
informed about their water quality. We Ask our customers to please
make sure a cut-off valve is installed on your line. We also ask
that you use care not to damage the automated meter and equipment.
If you have any questions concerning this report please call Gregg
Morgan at 687-5345 or Jamie Smith at 525-0782. Northeast Knox
Utility District's Board of Commissioners meetings are held at its
office at 7214 Washington Pike on the 4th Monday of each month,
starting at 8:30AM. Please feel free to participate in these
meetings.
Vacancies on the Board of Commissioners of the Northeast Knox
Utility District are filled by the certification of a list of three
nominees to fill the vacancy with the Knox County Mayor. The Knox
County Mayor appoints one of these three nominees to fill the
vacancy. If the Knox County Mayor does not appoint one of the
nominees from the Board's list of three nominees, the Knox County
Mayor enters an order rejecting the three nominees. The Board of
Commissioners continues to certify additional lists of three
nominees to the Knox County Mayor until an appointment is made from
such additional lists. Decisions by the Board of Commissioners on
customer complaints brought before the Board of Commissioners under
the District's customer complaint policy may be reviewed by the
Utility Management Review Board of the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservations pursuant to Section 7-82-707(7) of
Tennessee Code Annotated.
Richard C.
Phillips
General
Manager
The following Water Quality Data table shows the results of
Northeast Knox Utility District's monitoring for the period of
January 1, thru December 31, 2010. In the table the customer will
find many terms and abbreviations. To help better understand these
terms Northeast Knox Utility District has provided the following
definitions.
Turbidity -
Turbidity does not present any risk to your health. We monitor
turbidity, which is a measure of the cloudiness of water, because it
is a good indicator that our filtration system is functioning
properly.
(nd) - non-detects -
laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
(ppm) - parts
per million or (mg/1) milligrams per liter - one part per million
corresponds to one minute in 2 years or a single penny in $10,000.
(ppb) - parts
per billion or micrograms per liter - one part per billion
corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years or a single penny in
$10,000,000.
(pCi/l) -
picocuries per liter - A measure of radioactivity in water.
(mrem/yr) -
millirems per year - a measure of radiation absorbed by the body.
(MFL) - million
fibers per liter - A measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that
are no longer than 10 micrometers.
(NTU) -
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit - A measure of the clarity of water.
Turbidity of 5NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
(AL) - Action
Level - The concentration which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements which water systems must follow.
(TT) - Treatment
Technique - A required process intended to reduce the level of a
contaminant in drinking water.
(MCL) - Maximum
Contaminant Level – or the highest level of contaminant that is
allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as
feasible using the best available treatment technology.
(MCLG) - Maximum
Contaminant Level Goal - The level of a contaminant in drinking
water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
MCLG's allow for a margin of safety.
(MRDLG) -
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, or the level of a 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.
(MRDL) – Maximum
Residual Disinfectant Level, or the level of disinfectant allowed in
drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a
disinfectant is necessary for the control of microbial
contaminants.
(BDL) - Below
Detectable Limit
(P/A) - Presence
or Absence of a Contaminant
Unless otherwise noted the data presented in this table is from
sampling performed during the 2010 calendar year
About the data: Northeast Knox Utility District monitors for some
contaminants less than once per year, and for those contaminants,
the date of the last sample is shown in the table.
262 bacteria samples were taken in the distribution
system in 2010 with no Total Coliform MCL violations. Three
samples total tested positive for Total Coliform that were believed
to have been a result of the condition of the point of use devise
sampled and sampling technique.
Total Coliform is a bacteria naturally present in the
environment and is used as an indicator that other, potentially
harmful bacteria may be present.
Northeast Knox Utility District monitored regulated and unregulated
volatile organic chemicals four separate quarters throughout the
calendar year 2010. All results are within compliance level or below
detectable levels.
Northeast Knox Utility District has been granted waivers for all
synthetic organic monitoring by the state except atrazine, which was
sampled in 2008 and found to be <0.1 ppb with the MCL set at 3.0
ppb.
18 Inorganics sampled in 2008 were within compliance levels or below
detectable limits.
All sample records, including regulated, unregulated, special
unregulated chemical monitoring, special chemical monitoring, and
any other water quality reports, are available for viewing during
normal business hours with an appointment.
Water Quality Data Table
|
Contaminant |
Violation
Y/N |
Level
Detected |
Unit
Measurement |
Range of
Detection |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely Source of
Contamination |
Date of
Sample |
|
Turbidity 1 |
N |
0.043
Annual Average |
ntu |
0.02 to 0.10 |
n/a |
TT |
Soil runoff |
Max. Sample 02/18/10 |
|
Copper 2 |
N |
0.193
90th perc. |
ppm |
BDL to 0.23 |
1.3 |
AL=1.3 |
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching
from wood preservatives |
09/09/08 |
|
Fluoride |
N |
1.11 Annual Average |
ppm |
0.91 to 1.33 |
4 |
4 |
Erosion of natural
deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
01/01/10 thru 12/31/10 |
|
Lead 2 |
N |
<3.0
90th perc. |
ppb |
<3.0 |
0 |
AL=15 |
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits |
09/09/08 |
|
Sodium |
N |
10.1 |
ppm |
10.1 |
n/a |
None |
Naturally present in the
environment |
02/05/10 |
|
THAA (total
Haloacetic acids) |
N |
24.4 Running Avg. |
ppb |
10.0 to 45.0 |
n/a |
60 |
By-product
of drinking water chlorination |
01/01/10 thru 12/31/10 |
|
TTHM (Total
trihalomethanes) |
N |
43.4
Running Avg. |
ppb |
11.8 to 73.6 |
n/a |
80 |
By product of drinking
water chlorination |
01/01/10 thru 12/31/10 |
|
Total
Organic Carbon ”3” |
N |
1.26
Annual Average |
ppm |
21%
reduction, 15%reqd. |
n/a |
TT |
Decaying organic material |
01/01/10 thru 12/31/10 |
|
Sulfate |
N |
54.9 |
ppm |
54.9 |
n/a |
250 |
Naturally present in the
environment |
02/21/08 |
|
Nitrate |
N |
.932 |
ppm |
0.932 |
10 |
10 |
Erosion of natural
deposits, runoff from fertilizer, septic runoff |
02/05/10 |
|
Chlorine |
N |
1.15
Annual Average |
ppm |
0.50 to 2.70 |
MRDLG
4 |
MRDL
4 |
Used as disinfectant in
water treatment |
01/01/10 thru 12/31/10 |
|
Arsenic 4 |
N |
<2.0 |
ppb |
<2.0 |
n/a |
10 |
Run off from orchards,
glass and electronics production waste, erosion of
natural deposits |
02/21/08 |
|
Total Coliform Bacteria |
N |
1.0 |
p/a |
0 to 1 |
0 |
1 |
Naturally Present in the
Environment |
01/01/10 thru 12/31/10 |
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1-
1,784 Turbidity
samples were analyzed in 2010 with an annual average of 0.043 NTU,
Northeast Knox Utility met the treatment technique for
turbidity with 100% of our samples below the turbidity limit of .30 NTU.
2- Lead and Copper samples only required every 3 years. 30
samples from various points in the distribution system. 0 sites of
30 exceeded Action level. "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.
Northeast Knox 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 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 or at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead"
3-
Northeast Knox Utility District met the treatment technique
requirements for TOC in Calendar year 2010.
4-
Laboratory detection limit 2 ppb.
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Northeast Knox Utility
District
Northeast Knox Utility District's water treatment plant is
capable of producing 6,912,000 gallons per day for its
customers in Northeast Knox County and also provides water
to Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District and to the City
of Maynardville, TN. The plant draws its water from the
Holston River and uses conventional treatment techniques.
What is the source of my
water?
Your water, which is
surface water, comes from the Holston River. Our goal is to
protect the 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 source 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 rated as reasonably susceptible,
moderately susceptible or slightly susceptible based on
geologic factors and human activities in the vicinity of the
water source. The Northeast Knox Utility District Water
System source is rated as reasonably 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 at
www.tn.gov/environment/dws/dwassess.shtml or you can call
TDEC EAC at 1-888-891-8332 or you may contact the Water
System to obtain copies of specific assessments.
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 contaminates 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).
The sources of drinking
water (both tap water and bottled water include rivers,
lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As
water travels over the surface of the land or through the
ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in
some cases, radioactive material, can be picked up
substances resulting from the presence of animals or from
human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source
water:
·
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 of result from
urban stormwater 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
stormwater 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
stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
·
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 and Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation prescribe regulations which
limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided
by the 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 the
general population. Immunocompromised persons such as
persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who
have under-gone 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).
The State and EPA
require Northeast Knox Utility District to test and report
on its water on a regular basis to ensure safety. Northeast
Knox Utility District has met all of these requirements and
would like the customer to know we observe all the rules and
regulations set forth by the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation and the EPA. Northeast Knox
Utility District scored a 100 on its most recent sanitary
survey by the Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation..
Northeast Knox
Utility District works around the clock to provide top
quality water to every tap. The utility asks that all its
customers help to protect the water sources, which are the
heart of the community, the way of life, and the children's
future.
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