^{2008 Drinking Water Quality Report}

^{The Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta, Alabama}

We’re very pleased to provide you with this year's Annual Water Quality Report for the year ended December 31, 2007. We want to keep you informed about the excellent water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. We have dedicated ourselves to produce drinking water that meets or does better than all state and federal drinking water standards. Our goal is, and always has been to provide to you, our customer, a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Our water comes from two different sources: Our wells draw from the Fort Payne Chert Aquifer and our surface water is drawn from the Calvert Prong of the Warrior River.

This report shows our water quality and what it means, it will let you know the quality of the water that we are dedicated to provide you and your family.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Bruce Dickie or Rodney McCain at 274-2159. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the second Monday of every month at 5:00 P.M. at the office of the Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta. The office is located at 105 High School Street in Oneonta.

The Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta routinely monitors according to Federal and State laws, for constituents in your drinking water. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1^st to December 31^st, 2007. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents. It's important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk.

In this table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

Parts per trillion (ppt) or Nanograms per liter (nanograms/l) - one part per trillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000.

Parts per quadrillion (ppq) or Picograms per liter (picograms/l) - one part per quadrillion corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000,000 years or one penny in $10,000,000,000,000.

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Millirems per year (mrem/yr) - measure of radiation absorbed by the body.

Million Fibers per Liter (MFL) - million fibers per liter is a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

Action Level - the concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT) - (mandatory language) A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level - (mandatory language) The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) 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.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal - (mandatory language) The “Goal”(MCLG) 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.

* NO NUMBER GIVEN

TEST RESULTS
Contaminant		Violation Y/N	Level Detected	Unit Measurement	MCLG	MCL	Likely Source of Contamination
Microbiological Contaminants
1. Total Coliform Bacteria		N	0	Per 100/ml	0	presence of coliform bacteria in 5% of monthly samples	Naturally present in the environment
2. Fecal coliform and E.coli		N	0		0	a routine sample and repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. coli positive	Human and animal fecal waste
3. Turbidity		N	< 0.5	NTU	n/a	TT	Soil runoff
Radioactive Contaminants
4. Beta/photon emitters		N	0	Mrem/yr	0	4	Decay of natural and man-made deposits
5. Alpha emitters		N	0	PCi/1	0	15	Erosion of natural deposits
6. Combined radium	N		0	PCi/1	0	5	Erosion of natural deposits
Inorganic Contaminants
7. Antimony		N	0	Ppb	6	6	Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder
8. Arsenic		N	0	Ppb	n/a	10	Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes
9. Asbestos		N	0	MFL	7	7	Decay of asbestos cement water mains; erosion of natural deposits
10. Barium		N	0	ppm	2	2	Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits
11. Beryllium		N	0	ppb	4	4	Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories; discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries
12. Cadmium		N	0	ppb	5	5	Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints
13. Chromium		N	0	ppb	100	100	Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits
14. Copper		N	0	ppm	1.3	AL=1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives
15. Cyanide		N	0	ppb	200	200	Discharge from steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories
16. Fluoride		N	0.32	ppm	4	4	Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
17. Lead		N	0	ppb	0	AL=15	Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
18. Mercury (inorganic)		N	0	ppb	2	2	Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills; runoff from cropland
19. Nitrate (as Nitrogen)		N	.386	ppm	10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
20. Nitrite (as Nitrogen)		N	0	ppm	1	1	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
21. Selenium		N	0	ppb	50	50	Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines
22. Thallium		N	0	ppb	0.5	2	Leaching from ore-processing sites; discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories
Synthetic Organic Contaminants including Pesticides and Herbicides
23. 2,4-D		N	0	ppb	70	70	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
24. 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)		N	0	ppb	50	50	Residue of banned herbicide
25. Acrylamide		N	0		0	TT	Added to water during sewage/wastewater treatment
26. Alachlor		N	0	ppb	0	2	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
27. Atrazine		N	0	ppb	3	3	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
28. Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH)		N	0	nanograms/l	0	200	Leaching from linings of water storage tanks and distribution lines
29. Carbofuran		N	0	ppb	40	40	Leaching of soil fumigant used on rice and alfalfa
30. Chlordane		N	0	ppb	0	2	Residue of banned termiticide
31. Dalapon		N	0	ppb	200	200	Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way
32. Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate		N	0	ppb	400	400	Discharge from chemical factories
33. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate		N	0	ppb	0	6	Discharge from rubber and chemical factories
34. Dibromochloropropane		N	0	nanograms/1	0	200	Runoff/leaching from soil fumigant used on soybeans, cotton, pineapples, and orchards
35. Dinoseb		N	0	ppb	7	7	Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans and vegetables
36. Diquat		N	0	ppb	20	20	Runoff from herbicide use
37. Dioxin [2,3,7,8-TCDD]		N	0	picograms/l	0	30	Emissions from waste incineration and other combustion; discharge from chemical factories
38. Endothall		N	0	ppb	100	100	Runoff from herbicide use
39. Endrin		N	0	ppb	2	2	Residue of banned insecticide
40. Epichlorohydrin		N	0		0	TT	Discharge from industrial chemical factories; an impurity of some water treatment chemicals
41. Ethylene dibromide		N	0	nanograms/1	0	50	Discharge from petroleum refineries
42. Glyphosate		N	0	ppb	700	700	Runoff from herbicide use
43. Heptachlor		N	0	nanograms/1	0	400	Residue of banned termiticide
44. Heptachlor epoxide		N	0	nanograms/1	0	200	Breakdown of heptachlor
45. Hexachlorobenzene		N	0	ppb	0	1	Discharge from metal refineries and agricultural chemical factories
46. Hexachlorocyclo- pentadiene		N	0	ppb	50	50	Discharge from chemical factories
47. Lindane		N	0	nanograms/l	200	200	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cattle, lumber, gardens
48. Methoxychlor		N	0	ppb	40	40	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock
49. Oxamyl [Vydate]		N	0	ppb	200	200	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on apples, potatoes and tomatoes
50. PCBs [Polychlorinated biphenyls]		N	0	nanograms/1	0	500	Runoff from landfills; discharge of waste chemicals
51. Pentachlorophenol		N	0	ppb	0	1	Discharge from wood preserving factories
52. Picloram		N	0	ppb	500	500	Herbicide runoff
53. Simazine		N	0	ppb	4	4	Herbicide runoff
54. Toxaphene		N	0	ppb	0	3	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cotton and cattle
Volatile Organic Contaminants
55. Benzene		N	0	ppb	0	5	Discharge from factories; leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills
56. Carbon tetrachloride		N	0	ppb	0	5	Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial activities
57. Chlorobenzene		N	0	ppb	100	100	Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories
58. o-Dichlorobenzene		N	0	ppb	600	600	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
59. p-Dichlorobenzene		N	0	ppb	75	75	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
60. 1,2 - Dichloroethane		N	0	ppb	0	5	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
61. 1,1 - Dichloroethylene		N	0	ppb	7	7	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
62. cis-1,2-ichloroethylene		N	0	ppb	70	70	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
63. trans - 1,2 -Dichloroethylene		N	0	ppb	100	100	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
64. Dichloromethane		N	0	ppb	0	5	Discharge from pharmaceutical and chemical factories
65. 1,2-Dichloropropane		N	0	ppb	0	5	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
66. Ethylbenzene		N	0	ppb	700	700	Discharge from petroleum refineries
67. Styrene		N	0	ppb	100	100	Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; leaching from landfills
68. Tetrachloroethylene		N	0	ppb	0	5	Leaching from PVC pipes; discharge from factories and dry cleaners
69. 1,2,4 -Trichlorobenzene		N	0	ppb	70	70	Discharge from textile-finishing factories
70. 1,1,1 - Trichloroethane		N	0	ppb	200	200	Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories
71. 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane		N	0	ppb	3	5	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
72. Trichloroethylene		N	0	ppb	0	5	Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories
73. TTHM [Total trihalomethanes]		N	46.5	ppb	0	80	By-product of drinking water chlorination
74. Toluene		N	0	ppm	1	1	Discharge from petroleum factories
75. Vinyl Chloride		N	0	ppb	0	2	Leaching from PVC piping; discharge from plastics factories
76. Xylenes		N	0	ppm	10	10	Discharge from petroleum factories; discharge from chemical factories

Microbiological Contaminants:

(1) Total Coliform. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present.

What does this mean?

The table shows that our system now has no violations or problems.

All 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 the water poses a health risk. We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that some constituents have been detected. The EPA has determined that your water IS SAFE at these levels. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.

In our continuing efforts to maintain a safe and dependable water supply and to continue to meet the growing water needs of Blount County, it may be necessary to make improvements in our water system. The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure. Rate adjustments may be necessary in order to address these improvements. The Board asks for your understanding as we continue to work to supply you and your family’s water needs.

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 microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

The Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta wants to make you aware that there is not a problem with lead in our drinking water. However, if present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta takes great pride and understands fully the responsibility of providing you and your family high quality drinking water, but the Board cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing connections. When your water has been sitting in your lines for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by allowing your water to run for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using the 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.

This publication conforms to the SDWA requirement that water utilities annually provide detailed water quality information to you-our customer. We are committed to providing you with this information about your water supply. Customers who are well informed are our best allies in supporting improvements necessary to maintain the highest drinking water standards.

We at the Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta work around the clock to provide quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.