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1. Where does my drinking water come from?

Your drinking water comes from three sources: the Bear Creek Reservoir, the North Oconee River, and the Middle Oconee River. By storing water, we make sure that you always have the water you need - even during times of the day when water use in the community is at its highest. Stored water also ensures that water is available at all times for emergencies such as firefighting. We closely monitor the delivery of drinking water, know when demand is changing, and direct water to where it is needed most.

2. What is Athens-Clarke County doing to control lead in our drinking water?

None of our transmission or distribution lines are lead pipes. Based on institutional knowledge and experience, we have no lead service lines in our system. Athens-Clarke County started using an Ortho-Phosphate blend back in 1991, as a means of corrosion control. Controlling corrosion in lead pipes significantly reduces the possibility of lead leaching into tap water, even in the oldest of homes.

To gauge the effectiveness of the corrosion control chemical dosage, quarterly metal coupons (samples) are placed at selected places in our distribution system. At the end of the quarter we remove the coupons and send them to an independent lab which measures the amount of corrosion to the coupons, and the effectiveness of our dosage/treatment.

We maintain the pH to between 7.5 and 7.75 to further minimize the possibility of our water being corrosive. pH is a measure of acidity, and the lower the number, the more acidic and corrosive the water is. pH of 7.0 is considered neutral.

We have never exceeded EPD Action Levels during decades of sampling.

3. How do I know that our tap water is safe to drink?

We routinely collect and test water samples at many points before it reaches your tap - at the rivers and the Bear Creek Reservoir, at the water treatment plant, and in the distribution system. The Water Laboratory reports test results to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Our laboratory technicians are state certified and must pass proficiency tests twice a year. See our Water Quality Report for more information.

4. Why is our drinking water fluoridated?

The short answer is Georgia law 391-3-5-.16 states that all potable water supplies in incorporated communities and counties lying wholly within this State must be fluoridated. Athens-Clarke County has put together a fact sheet regarding fluoridation of the water within our county. Copy and paste this link into your browser to access this information: http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/27083