CITY OF LINCOLNTON, GEORGIA
JAMES ALLEN REED WATER TREATMENT PLANT
PLANT ID# GA1810000
2023 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
The James Allen Reed Water Treatment Plant, capable of producing 2 million gallons of water per day.
Furman Parton
WATER SUPERINTENDENT
City of Lincolnton, Georgia
Water Department
706-359-4696
Prepared by:
The City of Lincolnton
P.O. Box 489
Lincolnton, GA 30817
In Accordance with: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Regulation 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142
The City of Lincolnton Water system is proud to provide the following information on the safe drinking water that they produce for the City of Lincolnton and portions of Lincoln County. Our diligent working Certified Operators have in the past, and are still, striving to produce the safest and best tasting water possible at our James Allen Reed Water Treatment Plant. We hope the following information in this report will be helpful on any questions that you, the consumer, may have. If you have any questions concerning the information provided, you may contact Furman Parton from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday at 706-359-4696 or 706-359-3239. You may also contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. The City Council meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. at City Hall located at 125 North Peachtree Street.
WHERE DOES YOUR DRINKING WATER ORIGINATE?
The City of Lincolnton obtains all its raw water (surface water) from Soap Creek, which is a part of the Clarks Hill Reservoir located approximately three (3) miles east of the City of Lincolnton on U.S. Highway 378. The lake has over 1,200 miles of shoreline with many tributaries feeding into it.
HOW WATER IS TREATED
Surface water treatment plants are designed to take a raw water source of variable quality and produce consistent, high quality finished water. Multiple treatment processes are provided in series to remove turbidity, in addition to removing and inactivating protozoan cysts and other microorganisms. Each process represents a barrier to prevent the passage of cysts and other organisms through the plant. At the City’s Water Filtration Plant, the barriers include chemical treatment, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
Left: The 2 million gallons per day Raw Water Station with backup generator
Right: The old existing 0.63 million (630,000) gallons per day Raw Water Station
The newer clearwell holds 500,000 gallons of finished water
The older clearwell holds 100,000 gallons of finished water
TURBIDITY
The highest single turbidity in 2023 was 0.29 N.T.U.’s. The lowest monthly percentage of samples meeting the turbidity limits specified in 40 CFR 141.73 for the relevant filtration technology in 2023 was 100.00%. Less than 95% below 0.30 NTUs is a violation. We were in compliance.
“Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor turbidity because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.”
MICROBIOLOGICAL SAMPLING (TOTAL COLIFORM BACTERIA
We have six (6) designated sites that we collect samples from, alternating two (2) per month for a total of 24 per year to send to the EPD Laboratories in Atlanta to be analyzed. We are proud to report that the City of Lincolnton collected 24 routine samples. All tested negative (good) in 2023 for coliform bacteria.
VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS (VOC)
REGULATED CONTAMINANTS TABLES
PARAMETER EPA METHOD RESULTS ANALYSIS DATE MCL or QC RANGE
Bromoflourobenzene 524.2 4.32 UG/L 3/22/2023 3.85-5.75
Dichlorobenzene 524.2 4.39 UG/L 3/22/2023 3.68-6.00
2023 TTHM’s & HAA5’s
REGULATED CONTAMINANTS TABLE
TTHM MCL- > 80 ug/L HAA5 MCL- > 60 ug/L
TTHM ANNUAL AVERAGE HAA5 ANNUAL AVERAGE
72.6 ug/L 49 ug/L
HIGH- 103.6 ug/L HIGH- 70.0 ug/L
LOW- 41.2 ug/L LOW- 25.3 ug/L
Emergency generator located at the Raw Water Station.
Emergency generator located at the James Allen Reed Water Treatment Plant
2023 MINIMUM, MAXIMUM, AND AVERAGE CHLORINE RESIDUAL
MRDL- 4.0 mg/L
The highest residual in the distribution system was 2.01 mg/L.
The lowest residual in the distribution system was 0.10 mg/L.
The average residual in the distribution system was 1.22 mg/L.
TOC (TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON)
The TOC Removal Ratio > 1.00 is in compliance, but < 1.00 is out of compliance. The twelve (12) month average for 2023 is 0.98. The range of the highest and lowest during the year was 1.28 in March 2023 and 0.55 in November 2023, respectively.
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
The Pollution Susceptibility for the City of Lincolnton Water Treatment Plant has been classed as Low. This was done through a study by Parsons Engineering Science, Inc. The Potential Pollution Sources (PPS) were very few. A copy of the Source Water Assessment Plan is on file for review at the James Allen Reed Water Treatment Plant, 2247 McCormick Highway, Phone # 706-359-4696.
TESTING PARAMETERS
The City of Lincolnton has its final drinking water analyzed by the Georgia EPD Laboratories for all parameters outlined in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Consumer Confidence Report 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142, unless a waiver has been granted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The City of Lincolnton also analyzes for many unregulated chemical compounds. The table provided in this report shows all the contaminants detected in Lincolnton between January 1 and December 31, 2023, unless otherwise noted for tests not required annually.
LEAD AND COPPER— OCTOBER 4, 2022
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the Action Level for Lead at 15 ug/L and the Action Level for Copper at 1300 ug/L. All our results were well below the Action Levels for Lead or Copper. These results were based on ten (10) samples that were analyzed on October 4, 2022.
“EPD has determined that the concentration of certain water quality monitoring parameters does not change frequently within our system therefore, some of the data represented in this report is greater than one year old.”
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. The City of Lincolnton 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.
The City of Lincolnton will be conducting a Lead Service Line Inventory over the next several months to align with the new Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Some minor excavation may take place in your yard to identify the type of service line supplying your water. This study will be concluded by October 2024. Results of this study will be made available to the public.
UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS TABLE
VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS (VOC)
PARAMETER EPA METHOD RESULTS ANALYSIS DATE
Bromodichloromethane PA 524.2 4.7 ug/L 3/22/2023
Chloroform EPA 524.2 31 ug/L 3/22/2023
Chlorodibromomethane EPA 524.2 Not Detected 3/22/2023
Chloromethane EPA 524.2 Not Detected 3/22/2023
TERMS AND UNITS DEFINED
NTU- Nephelometric Turbidity Units is a measure of water clarity
TREATMENT TECHNIQUE- is a required process to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water
ACTION LEVEL- is the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow
mg/L- milligrams per liter; corresponds to one penny in $10,000
ug/L- micrograms per liter; corresponds to one penny in $10,000,000
TOC- Total Organic Carbon
MCL- Maximum Contaminant Level, set by the USEPA, is 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.
TTHM- Total Trihalomethanes
MCLG- Maximum Contaminant Level Goal is 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.
HAA5- Haloacetic Acids
MRDL (mg/L)- Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
Cl- Chlorine
Because accurate test methods for detecting cryptosporidium at very low levels are not available, EPA does not require testing of treated drinking water unless concentrations in the raw water exceed 10 per liter.
EDUCATION AND HEALTH INFORMATION
1.) “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. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.”
2.) “Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone 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 drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.”
