Protecting Our Source Water Water Safety Regulations Drinking Water Sources Each of us can add to source water pollution without To ensure tap water is safe to drink, EPA and the Sources of drinking water (tap and bottled water) include even knowing it. Here are ways you can help protect our Tennessee Department of Environment and Conser- rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. source water and the environment. vation (TDEC) prescribe regulations that limit the Our source is surface water from the Tennes see River, • Take unwanted automotive products, cleaning amount of certain contaminants in water provided which supplies the Mark B. Whitaker Water Plant. by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug As water travels over land or through the ground, it products, pesticides, paint, lawn chemicals, etc. to a re- Administration (FDA) establishes regulations and limits Consumer Confidence Report dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, sometimes, cycling center. Residents of Knoxville and Knox County for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide With concerns about water quality and aging radioactive material. It can pick up substances result- can take waste to the Household Hazardous Waste the same level of protection for public health. infrastructure making national headlines, I want ing from human activity or the presence of animals. Facility at 1033 Elm Street. For more information visit to assure you that the water you receive from KUB cityofknoxville.org/solidwaste/hazwaste.asp. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reason- Contaminants that may be in source water include: ably be expected to contain at least small amounts of is safe. KUB met all drinking water standards and • Never flush unused medications down the drain or • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, some contaminants. The presence of contaminants regulations and had no violations in 2015. toilet. Instead, take them to collection sites or events which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health We are proud of our excellent water quality record, systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. or to the permanent drop box at the Knoxville Police and we are com mitted to maintaining it through risk. For more information about contaminants and • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, Department Safety Building, 800 Howard Baker Jr. stringent monitoring and testing. potential health effects, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking which can occur naturally or result from urban storm- Avenue. For more information, see www.kub.org, KUB’s state-of-the-art Water Quality Laboratory Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater dis- Hot Topics Index, Unwanted Medicine Disposal. performs about 100,000 tests annually—many more charges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. than required by law—to ensure your water is safe. Protecting the Public Water System Information for Consumers at Risk And we check for over 150 contaminants to help • Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a KUB routinely looks for cross connections between Some people may be more vulnerable to contami- variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban storm- protect our drinking water and waterways. a customer’s service and the public water system to nants in drinking water than the general population. water runoff, and residential uses. We also focus on renewing the more than 1,400 protect water quality. Undetected cross connections Immuno-compromised people, such as people with miles of pipe and dozens of pump stations and storage • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic can introduce contaminants into the water system. cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have facilities that help deliver water to and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-prod- Customers with a potential cross connection must undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS our community. Under Century II, ucts of industrial processes and petroleum produc- install a backflow device or use an air gap to help pre- or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and tion, and can also come from gas stations, urban our system replacement and main- vent contamination. infants, can be particularly at risk from infections. stormwater runoff, and septic systems. tenance program, KUB replaces For residential customers, cross connections can Those people should seek advice about drinking 1 percent of our water system per • Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally- occur where lawn irrigation systems, pools, saunas, water from their health care providers. year. The pipe has an average life occurring or be the result of oil and gas produc- water treatment or fire protection systems exist. EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tion and mining activities. of 100 years, which keeps us on a Alternative water sources like wells, springs, and har- guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk sustainable cycle. KUB works with the Tennessee Department of En- vested rainwater can also pose a risk, if connected to of infection by cryptosporidium and other micro- Replacement projects are expensive, but the viron ment and Conservation (TDEC) to protect our your home’s plumbing. Chemicals or stagnant water biological contaminants are available from the EPA’s investment in our community’s health and future water from contaminants. TDEC has a Source Water from those sources can potentially enter the public Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 1-800-426-4791. is worth it. And KUB’s water is still a great value at Assessment Program (SWAP) Report that assesses the water system. If you have a potential cross connection susceptibility of untreated water sources to potential about one-half cent per gallon. or have any questions regarding cross connections, contamination. The SWAP rates sources as reasonably I hope you find this Water Quality Report useful. please contact KUB or visit kub.org. Contact Information: susceptible (high), moderately susceptible (moderate), For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call We want you to be confident you’ll get a reliable and or slightly susceptible (low) based on geologic factors KUB’s Guide to Safe Drinking Water the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. If you have abundant supply of safe water every time you turn and human activities near the water source. For more information about KUB’s questions about KUB’s water or this report, contact KUB at 524-2911 or on your tap. If you have questions, please call KUB at KUB’s water source is rated reasonably susceptible water system and treatment pro- visit our website at www.kub.org. 524-2911. to potential contamination. To ensure safe drinking KUB’s Board meets monthly in open public session. Please feel free to cess, see our guide online at participate in the meetings. Information on regularly scheduled meetings water, all public water systems treat and routinely test Thank you, www.kub.org. [Look for Drinking can be obtained on our website or by calling KUB. their water. An explanation of the SWAP, Source Water Water Guide under the Hot Topics Assessment summaries, susceptibility scorings, and the Index on the home page.] The Información en Español: overall TDEC report to EPA can be viewed online at guide also has tips on protecting Esta información es muy importante. Por favor traduscalo o hable con https://www.tn.gov/environment/article/wr-wq-source-water-assessment, our source water and answers to alguien que lo entienda bien. Para mas información en español, llame a KUB Mintha Roach or you may contact KUB for copies of specific assessments. al numero de teléfono 524-2911 y oprima el numero 2. KUB Chief Executive Officer some common water questions. Water Quality Summary Table From Your Meter to Your Tap Did you know your home’s plumbing may affect the Inorganic and Disinfection By-Product Monitoring quality of water coming from your tap? Concerns Parameter MCLG or MRDLG MCL or MRDL Range or Level Detected Likely Source in Drinking Water about lead in drinking water primarily come from the Discharge of drilling wastes and metal refineries; corrosion, or wearing away, of materials in household Barium N/A 2000 ppb 25 ppb erosion of natural deposits plumbing that contain lead. Older homes (pre-1930) Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; are more likely to have plumbing and fixtures contain- Nitrate 10 ppm 10 ppm 0.54 ppm sewage; erosion of natural deposits ing lead. Even newer homes, however, can have lead Erosion of natural deposits; water additive, which solder or fixtures with lead. To control corrosion and Fluoride 4 ppm 4 ppm 0.30 - 0.94 ppm (avg.0.54) promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and reduce the risk of lead from customers’ plumbing, aluminum factories KUB continues to use a safe corrosion inhibitor that Sodium N/A N/A 10 ppm Used in treatment process meets strict standards for use in drinking water. KUB Total Organic Carbon (Source)1 N/A TT 1.6 - 2.8 ppm (avg 1.9) Naturally present in the environment also routinely monitors water quality to ensure effec- tive corrosion control. Those efforts greatly reduce Total Organic Carbon (Tap)1 N/A TT 1.0 - 1.4 ppm (avg 1.2) Naturally present in the environment corrosion and ensure that KUB’s water will continue Maximum LRAA: 61 ppb2 Total Trihalomethanes (THM) N/A 80 ppb 3 Byproduct of drinking water chlorination to comply with all regulatory standards for lead. For Individual site range: 20 to 81 ppb information on lead in drinking water, testing meth- Maximum LRAA: 40 ppb2 Haloacetic Acids (HAA) N/A 60 ppb Byproduct of drinking water chlorination ods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure, call Individual site range: 14 to 55 ppb the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) 2015 Chlorine Dioxide MRDLG = 0.8 ppm MRDL = 0.8 ppm 0.10 - 0.36 ppm (avg 0.11) Water additive used to control microbes or KUB (524-2911).