St. Simons Island Water Company

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act require all states to conduct Source Water Assessments for public water systems within their jurisdiction. These assessments include several key components:

(1) Identification of the Drinking Water Protection area (the surface region directly above the aquifer section that supplies our wells)

(2) Identification of potential contamination sources within these protection zones

(3) Determination of the relative vulnerability of well water from identified sources

These assessments provide water systems with essential information for developing protection strategies for their water resources. Sources of water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or through ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, while also potentially collecting substances from animal presence or human activity.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

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

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure drinking safety. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

1. Where does St. Simons Island water come from?
   St. Simons Island supplies groundwater to St. Simons Island, Georgia.
2. Does St. Simons Island test its tap water?
   Yes. Like every public water system, St. Simons Island 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. Does St. Simons Island 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.
4. Is St. Simons Island 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.