Charles Town Utilities Water Company

Why are you receiving this report? In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, Charles Town Utility Board provides its customers with this annual water quality report. This document explains your water source, composition, and how it compares to regulatory standards.

The information in this report shows our monitoring results from January 1st to December 31st, 2017, or earlier if not on an annual schedule. For questions about this report, please contact Chris Hutzler, Chief Operator, at 304-725-3761. For additional inquiries or suggestions, we welcome you to attend our regularly scheduled board meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 4:00 PM at the Charles Town Utility Board office.

Where does your water come from? Your municipal water is sourced from the Shenandoah River surface water. A Source Water Assessment conducted in 2003 by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health determined that our intake has higher vulnerability to contamination due to the sensitive nature of surface water supplies and potential contaminant sources in the area. This doesn't indicate contamination has occurred, only that conditions exist where surface water could be affected by potential contaminant sources.

Why is water treatment necessary? All municipal water contains various amounts of contaminants. Federal and state regulations establish limits and treatment requirements to minimize these substances and their potential health effects. To ensure tap water safety, EPA regulations limit certain contaminants in public water systems, while FDA regulations establish similar protections for bottled water.

Water contaminants may include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil and gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that may occur naturally or result from oil and gas production and mining activities

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and infants may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek advice about municipal water from healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminant risks are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

1. Where does Charles Town Utilities water come from?
   Charles Town Utilities supplies surface water to Charles Town, West Virginia.
2. Does Charles Town Utilities test its tap water?
   Yes. Like every public water system, Charles Town Utilities must test its water under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and publish an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report). Ask the utility for the latest report or look for it on its website.
3. How do I contact Charles Town Utilities?
   Call 304-725-2316 or visit 661 South George Street, Suite 101, Charles Town, WV 25414, or use the contact options on the utility’s website.
4. Does Charles Town Utilities water contain lead?
   Water usually leaves the treatment plant without lead. Lead can enter tap water from older service lines, solder and brass fixtures inside homes, especially when water sits in the pipes. Run the tap before drinking if water has been sitting, and ask the utility about lead testing and service line records.
5. Is Charles Town Utilities water hard?
   Hardness depends on the source and changes over time. The annual water quality report lists hardness, or you can test it at home. If it is above about 7 grains per gallon, a water softener sized to your measured hardness will stop scale and spotting.