Fort Jackson’s
2003 Consumer Confidence Report
System ID# 4010501
Fort Jackson’s Directorate of Engineering and Logistics (DLE) is
pleased to provide you with the 2003 Consumer Confidence Report. The intent of this report is to inform you
about the quality of the water we have delivered to you over the past
year. I am
pleased to report that your drinking water is safe and meets all Federal and
State requirements.
Fort Jackson purchases its drinking water from the City of Columbia (ID# 4010001).
The city treats surface water from the Congaree River and provides this water to Fort Jackson through their distribution system. All sources of drinking water are subject to
potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man
made. As water travels over the surface
of the land, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up
substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. These substances include microbes, inorganic
or organic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, and radioactive
substances. 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 the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Fort Jackson and
the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)
routinely monitor your drinking water for contaminants according to Federal and
State requirements. EPA and DHEC
administer and enforce the rules and regulations pertaining to drinking water
quality.
The table attached to this report summarizes
the monitoring results for Fort Jackson’s water system during the period of January
1, 2003 to December
31, 2003. This table uses terms and abbreviations that
you might not be familiar with. To help
you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:
·
Maximum
Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The
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.
·
Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL) - The 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.
·
Parts per
million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to approximately 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
approximately one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
·
Action
Level - the concentration of a
contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a
water system must follow.
On November 4, 2003, Fort Jackson received notification that our drinking water system
exceeded haloacetic acid (HAA) levels.
Samples collected on November 5, 2003 revealed that the HAA levels were once again below
the MCL. HAAs are a by-product from
using chlorine for disinfection. Some
people who drink water containing HAAs in excess of the MCL over many years may
have an increased risk of getting cancer.
EPA and DHEC have determined that Fort Jackson’s drinking water is safe for consumption. Fort Jackson and DHEC will continue to monitor the installation’s
drinking water to ensure HAA levels remain below the limits established by
DHEC. In addition, the City of Columbia is installing a new treatment process at their Broad River Canal treatment facility that will aid in further reduction
of HAA levels. This process, which is
already in operation at the Lake Murray treatment facility, has reduced HAA levels in the
city’s drinking water by 40-60%. Once
this process is in operation at the Broad River Canal treatment facility, we can expect to see reduced HAA
levels in Fort Jackson’s drinking water.
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 and the Center for
Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection
by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
So far, testing has revealed no signs of Cryptosporidium
in either Fort Jackson’s or the City of Columbia’s drinking water.
Consumers may also be interested to know that DHEC has completed their
Source Water Assessments of both the Broad River Canal and Lake Murray treatment facilities as part of the State Source
Water Assessment Program. The results of these assessments will be provided in
next year’s water quality report.
Fort Jackson is proud that our drinking water meets or exceeds
all Federal and State requirements. Our goal is to continue to provide our consumers with the highest quality water. If you would like to
learn more about Fort Jackson’s drinking water, contact Ed McDowell
at 751-6853 or via e-mail at
mcdowelle@jackson.army.mil.