South Santa Rosa Utilities

South Santa Rosa Utility System (SSRUS) is proud to present the 2016 Annual Water Quality Report. Our ongoing mission is to provide you with reliable and safe water service. This report highlights our water quality results and what they mean.

We strive to continuously enhance our water treatment processes and protect our valuable water resources. If you have questions regarding this report or your water service, please contact Nathan Ford, Assistant to the City Manager at (850) 934-5100.

Our primary water supply comes from Fairpoint Regional Water System (FRWS), a wholesale water provider jointly owned by the City of Gulf Breeze, Midway Water System, and Holley-Navarre Water System. FRWS operates six wells drawing from the Sand & Gravel Aquifer. This water undergoes treatment with lime & orthophosphates for pH balancing and chlorine for disinfection. For more information about FRWS, contact Donna Lupola at (850) 939-2427 x234.

We purchase additional water from Midway Water System, which operates four groundwater wells accessing both the Sand and Gravel Aquifer and the Floridan Aquifer. Their water receives similar treatment with lime and orthophosphates for pH adjustment plus chlorine disinfection. For details about Midway's water supply, contact Tory Byrd at (850) 932-5188.

Due to the high quality of water we receive from both suppliers, SSRUS only needs to add chlorine to maintain proper disinfection levels throughout our distribution system.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminants in public water systems to ensure safe drinking water. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide comparable public health protection. All water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. However, the presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

SSRUS, FRWS, and Midway routinely test your water for contaminants according to Federal and State regulations. The table in this report shows monitoring results from January 1st through December 31st, 2016. While SSRUS conducted testing for Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids, Chlorine, Bacteria, Lead, & Copper, other results were obtained by FRWS and Midway. Some data, while representative, may be more than one year old, representing the most recent available information.

In 2016, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducted Source Water Assessments for both Midway Water System and FRWS. These assessments identify potential contamination sources near supplier wells. No potential contamination sources were found near FRWS wells, while Midway had three potential sources identified with low susceptibility levels. Assessment results are available at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp or directly from South Santa Rosa Utility System.

1. What contaminants might be present in Gulf Breeze water?
2. How often is municipal water tested in Santa Rosa County?
3. Should residents with specific health concerns use filtration systems?
4. How does water hardness affect household appliances?
5. Where can residents report water quality concerns?