Water Quality Annual Water Quality Report Card: results from laboratory testing of our drinking water in the 2009 calendar year; information on our water sources, water treatment, etc. More details...   Safe disposal of unused medication PLEASE DO NOT FLUSH UNUSED MEDICATION DOWN THE TOILET unless the label or accompanying information specifically indicates it is safe to do so. This electronic brochure includes the US Environmental Protection Agency's and Food and Drug Administration's guidelines for medication disposal. More details...   Summary of drinking water test results in 2009 In 2009, we tested for about 150 substances in our drinking water and found 13 at detectable levels. None exceeded the limits under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. More details...   Testing water for over 150 substances in 2009 In 2009, our Laboratory staff tested our drinking water almost 46,000 times for more than 150 substances, of which 13 were present at detectable levels. (None exceeded the limits under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.) To read the list of all substances we tested for and the results for each, please click the following "More details" link. More details...   Notice of drinking water monitoring violation On September 3, 2009 OWASA received a Notice of Violation from the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources because OWASA tested 79 instead of the required 80 water samples for coliform bacteria in April, 2009. OWASA staff made a mistake in counting the number of water samples taken at locations approved by the State. However, OWASA tested for coliform bacteria at 103 locations overall in April, because OWASA tests water in response to customers’ requests, when new water mains are installed, etc. Coliform bacteria were not found in any of the 103 samples which OWASA tested in April. However, none of the additional 24 samples in April were taken from the locations approved by the State. Therefore, the State does not consider them as meeting the requirement to do 80 tests for regulatory purposes. More details...   Questions and Answers about OWASA drinking water Information from OWASA's Laboratory staff regarding various questions you may have about our drinking water. More details...   Why does OWASA release water from fire hydrants? We release water from our fire hydrants and some water valves at various times and locations. The purposes of this work, which we call "flushing," may include improving the quality of our water where water use is low, and clearing up our water when it is discolored or has air bubbles due to repairs, etc. More details...   2008 Water Quality Report Card Results from testing of our drinking water in 2008, with additional information on our water sources, drinking water treatment, testing our water for lead, the need to neutralize the disinfectant in our drinking water before using it in an aquarium or pond for fish, etc. (Our Water Quality Report Card for 2009 will be published in the spring of 2010.) More details...   2008 Water Quality Report Card--concise version (A more detailed version of our 2008 Water Quality Report Card is also provided.) More details...   What is the pink growth found in toilets, etc.? The reddish-pink color often found in bathrooms on shower stalls, tubs, tile, toilets, sinks and toothbrush holders may be due to the growth of an airborne bacterium called Serratia. These naturally-occurring bacteria are commonly found in or on the soil, untreated water, plants, insects, and vertebrates including people. More details...   Causes of taste or odor in our drinking water The cooling of water at the surface of our lakes in the fall, the growth of algae in our lakes and the change to disinfection only with chlorine in March can give our drinking water taste or odor. More details...   2008 drinking water quality test results Lists the results from our testing of drinking water for more than 150 substances. Only twelve substances were found, as indicated in the separate website posting of our 2008 Water Quality Report Card, and our water continues to comply with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and related State standards. More details...   Specially treated water at local businesses Some people with impaired immune systems may need to use specially treated water on the advice of their health care professionals. Please use the following "More details" link to get information on local businesses which sell water that has been treated with reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light disinfection. More details...   Recycling byproducts of drinking water treatment Our drinking water treatment processes such as filtration and the operation of settling tanks leave a byproduct of recyclable solid particles. A company in Chatham County uses these solids, which we call "residuals," in a composting process to help make soil additives for use in landscaping, etc. More details...   2007 Water Quality Report Card Our water quality test results from the 2007 calendar year, including our testing for lead in older buildings. Also provides information on our water sources and drinking water treatment processes including disinfection with a compound of chlorine and ammonia ("chloramines"). More details...   2007 water testing results--over 140 substances Lists more than 140 substances and water characteristics we tested for in 2007. Many of the test results are below the detectable level ("BDL"). More details...   Calidad de Agua Potable en el 2007 En el 2007, el personal de laboratorio en nuestra planta de tratamiento de agua de Jones Ferry Road realizo mas de 60,000 pruebas de nuestra agua potable analizando mas de 100 sustancias o contaminantes cumpliendo con los requisitos federales y estatales. No hubo ninguna violación de los códigos sanitarios tanto federales como estatales. More details...   2006 Water Quality Report Card: In 2006, the Laboratory staff at our Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant tested our drinking water more than 60,000 times in accord with State and Federal requirements. There were no violations of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act or related State and Federal standards. More details...