Watts Bar Utility District

What is the source of my water? Our supply comes from groundwater and purchased surface water. One of our primary goals is to protect our water sources from contaminants, and we're actively collaborating with the State to assess potential vulnerabilities in our water supply.

The Tennessee Department of Natural Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has completed a Source Standard Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report for the untreated water sources serving this system. The SWAP Survey evaluates how susceptible untreated water sources are to potential contamination. To ensure safety, all public water systems treat and routinely test their water. Water sources have been classified as moderately susceptible, reasonably susceptible or slightly susceptible based on geological factors and human activities near the water source.

The Watts Bar Utility Center sources are rated as potentially susceptible to contamination. Our 2017 Drinking Water Quality results indicate the effectiveness of our treatment processes. Samples were collected for numerous contaminants, many of which were not detected in our water supply. Those detected are included in our annual report.

Manatee County Utilities Department demonstrates daily commitment to providing high-quality drinking water to residents. Our drinking water is a blend of filtered groundwater and purified surface water. In 2017, we used approximately 16.14 million gallons daily of deep groundwater and 24.46 million gallons daily from surface water.

The groundwater is pumped from the Floridan Aquifer via six 1,200-foot deep wells in eastern Manatee County. This water travels through a 36-inch pipe approximately 13 miles to our Purification Plant. Surface water comes from Lake Manatee located in central Manatee County.

In 2017, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) performed a Source Water Assessment on our system to identify potential contamination sources. They identified twelve possible sources with susceptibility levels ranging from low to moderate. Assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website or by contacting our Water Purification Plant.

The County has implemented rigorous measures to protect these water sources. In the late 1980s, Manatee County voters approved the purchase of 20,500 acres within the 82,000-acre watershed area that includes our Reservoir and Wellfield. County and State agencies have continued acquiring additional watershed land, with approximately 35,000 acres now in public ownership. This ensures that activities harmful to water quality or quantity won't occur on these public lands.

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