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1/10/2025
WT Staff
 Got water questions? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@wtga.us
January 10, 2025 1002 am EST
SaferStates.org for drinking water source protection
Drinking water source protection
Why so much ado about hazardous spills, toxic releases at WaterToday? Toxic materials pollute drinking water sources, above and below ground. Hazardous materials spills reported to state authorities are shown on our map. The Toxic Release Inventory reports industrial discharges from federally regulated sites. There are landfills that leach contaminants to groundwater, industrial point source discharges regulated by national and state permits, municipal wastewater releases, combined sanitary and storm overflows and non-point source contamination, such as nutrient leaching off agricultural properties. In our CrimeBox column we cover the unreported releases of contaminants, the criminal violations of the Clean Water Act. All of these factor in to the security of drinking water sources, the subject of interest.
Recently, WT has been looking into the incidental contamination that comes from municipal wastewater. Toxics are shedding from homes into wastewater, the remediation of this situation will through public awareness and a change in consumer behavior along with limitations imposed on the producers of consumer goods.
A growing number of states have introduced and adopted new regulations to curb the use of harmful molecules in consumer goods. Some manufacturers have been cooperative with social pressure to make products safer, others have launched lawsuits to protect their patents and profits. While the policy-makers and industry lobbyists wrestle for control of this situation, we have looked at ways the average person can manage exposure in the home. We are reminded that labeling for harmful chemicals is not required in many instances, beginning to look for independent certification for those alternative goods and products that are free of harmful chemicals.
To the degree the public chooses the safer alternative products, the local drinking water supply can be protected.
See SaferStates.org, for more information here.
Safe Drinking Water Advisories
Houston County: A boil water advisory was issued late Tuesday following a water main break near the intersection of State Route 247 and Elberta Road. Residents and businesses near Elberta Road, State Route 247 north of Elberta Road, Dunbar Road, Story Road and Plantation Road are advised to boil water at a hard rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth.
The advisory will remain in effect until the Houston County Water Department confirms water safety through testing. For more information, concerned individuals may contact the Houston County Utility Department between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 478-987-4280.
Houston County provides drinking water under at least five active permits, Feagin Mill, Haynesville, Henderson, Elberta and Elko. The Elberta water treatment plant serves a population of 3080 residents from a groundwater well source in the Ocmulgee River watershed.
EPA is due to release the new round of compliance stats this week or early next, check back here for the updated Serious Violator list. See the prior quarterly report, how Georgia's drinking water facilities SDWA compliance compares to Ohio, New York, Louisiana and California, here.
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