Barrow County Water System

The Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority (BCWSA) is proud to present this Annual Water Quality Report summarizing our water supply performance. This report outlines where your water comes from, its composition, and how it compares to standards established by regulatory agencies.

BCWSA is dedicated to delivering clean, safe, and reliable water to our service area. For additional information, please contact our office at 770-307-3014. This report contains vital information about your water supply - please review it carefully. Si necesita información en español, por favor contacte nuestra oficina o hable con alguien que pueda traducir esta información.

Water Source Information: BCWSA obtains all water from the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority. The primary water sources are Bear Creek and the Middle Oconee River.

Understanding Contaminants: Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial waste, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban stormwater, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, naturally occurring or resulting from energy production and mining

Long-term exposure to trihalomethanes above maximum contaminant levels may cause liver, kidney, or central nervous system issues and potentially increase cancer risk.

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set similar standards for bottled water, both ensuring public health protection.

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