Q 3 = Quality System x Quality Service x Quality Water

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2 INSIDE THIS CCR: Government Mandated Our People Questions and Answers Our Mission A Commitment to Water Quality Quality Service in Every Drop Source Water Assessment Where Does My Water Come From? System Information for The Water Treatment Process Water Quality Data Definitions Water Word Match INSIDE THIS REPORT CCR: GOVERNM The Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB), like water utilities across CCR: GOVERNMENT MANDATED the U.S., is required by the Environmental Protection Agency to send its customers this water quality report or Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) each year. In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act by adding a provision requiring all community water systems to deliver to their customers an annual water quality report, or CCR, which contains information on the water system s source water, the levels of any detected contaminants, compliance with drinking water rules and other educational information. In 2011, as in years past, the BWWB met all state and federal regulations for water quality. OUR PEOPLE Board of Directors OUR PEOPLE A. Jackie Robinson, III Chairman/President Sherry W. Lewis First Vice Chairman Anthony L. Barnes Second Vice Chairman David S. Herring Secretary-Treasurer Ann D. Florie Assistant Secretary-Treasurer EnviroLab Management Anton Jones, Sr., MSM, REM Manager of EnviroLab/Water Quality Drusilla Hudson, CSEM Quality Control Officer Jerry Horncastle Chief Chemist Executive Staff Mac Underwood, CPA General Manager Darryl R. Jones, P.E. Assistant General Manager Operations and Technical Services T.M. Sonny Jones, IV, P.E. Assistant General Manager Engineering and Maintenance Michael Johnson, CPA Assistant General Manager Finance and Administration Regulatory Compliance Lori Brown Regulatory Compliance Coordinator Water Treatment Joel Rhaly Water Treatment Manager 1

3 WHAT YOU NEE What is the Consumer Confidence Report? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is an annual report required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the water quality of a particular water system such as the BWWB. The report details and outlines contaminants and their levels in drinking water. For whom is this report produced? The CCR is produced for customers and wholesalers of the BWWB and ensures that everyone is provided safe drinking water. How much does it cost to receive this report? This report is free of charge to all customers and stakeholders of the BWWB. Why am I getting this report? The BWWB is federally mandated by the EPA to provide this information to you. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) enforces these rules for the EPA. Regulated drinking water substances that were detected during the 2011 calendar year are provided in the chart. Where can I get additional copies of this report? You may obtain additional copies of the CCR at the BWWB Customer Service Center, by mail (upon request) or by visiting For questions concerning the CCR, please call Lori Brown at What authorities regulate contaminant levels? In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA and ADEM prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain substances in water provided by public water systems. OUR MISSION The Birmingham Water Works Board is committed to providing the highest OUR MISSION quality water and service to our customers and our entire service area. As a concerned corporate citizen, we are responsive to the needs of the entire community and strive to maintain, preserve and conserve our precious water resources in order to ensure adequate water quality and supply for future generations. The Birmingham Water Works Board has open meetings monthly at its main office located at 3600 First Avenue N., Birmingham, AL Meeting dates and times are posted on our Web site and at our main office. The Board welcomes public input and comments during its meetings. For questions, please call or visit A COMMITMENT 2011 Awards: A COMMITMENT TO WATER QUALITY The Alabama Water and Pollution Control Association (AWPCA) awarded Western and Putnam Filter Plants with its Award of Excellence for operations achieved during AWPCA presented the BWWB with the Best Operated Plant Award for the outstanding operation in their Distribution System. AWPCA presented the BWWB with its Three Year Award for Best Operated Plant for consecutively achieving outstanding operations in the Distribution System. The Partnership for Safe Drinking Water awarded Carson Filter Plant the Five-Year Directors Award for exceptional operations leading to greater water quality Awards: The Partnership for Safe Drinking Water awarded Putnam Filter Plant the Five-Year Directors Award for outstanding operations leading to superior water quality. ADEM presented Western Filter Plant with the Plant Optimization Award, which is based on excellence in operations that maximize public health, for the seventh consecutive year. ADEM presented Putnam Filter Plant with its Four Year Optimized Plant Award for consistently surpassing regulatory requirements for water quality and providing safe drinking water for customers. The Alabama Water and Pollution Control Association (AWPCA) presented Carson, Putnam and Western Filter Plants with its Award of Excellence for efficiency in water delivery. 2 3

4 QUALITY SERVICE IN EVERY DRO QUALITY SERVICE IN EVERY DROP Quality System Quality, Quality, Quality! It is in our system, in our service, and especially in the water you drink. Customers never have to rethink the safety of what they are consuming. The Birmingham Water Works Board takes pride in knowing customers water supply needs are always met. From the time the Water Board was created in the 1950s until today, our company has spent millions of dollars on projects to help ensure the highest quality of water treatment. One of our most recent projects is the upgrade to the Shades Mountain Filter Plant. It is one of the largest capital improvement projects ever undertaken by the Birmingham Water Works Board and it is nearing the final stages of construction. The ongoing project includes new piping and electrical work, a finished water pump station, an intermediate pump station and two 6 million-gallon clearwells.the clearwells provide additional space for water storage at the plant to meet peak water usage needs and also guarantees that customers will receive an uninterrupted supply of the highest quality water. The new finished water pump station will support the constant growth of the BWWB service area and demands within the existing service areas. The new pumps will support operations for the next years improving reliable water delivery. Quality Service Water is an essential element of everyday life. Did you know that the average resident uses over 100,000 gallons of water indoors and outdoors during the year? Every year the BWWB receives multiple awards for our exceptional operations leading to greater water quality. The service provided to the citizens in our service area speaks for itself. Daily, we strive to put quality in everything we do. This year the BWWB earned the Alabama Water and Pollution Control Association s (AWPCA) Three Year Award.The award gives recognition to our successful achievement of outstanding operations in our water distribution system for three years in a row. We have been supplying reliable water to our customers for more than 137 years and we would not fathom the thought of compromising quality now. 4 Quality Water Our treatment plants consistently produce some of the highest quality water in the nation. Starting with good sources of water and treating it to the highest degree possible with up-to-date treatment facilities, these plants operate around the clock, seven days a week to ensure that the quality of water we deliver to our customers is the best. We, as well as our families, drink the water we serve you. We take our commitment to water quality very seriously. Our treatment plant operators continuously sample and test the water during all stages of treatment to ensure nothing is overlooked when it comes to our water quality. Our treatment plant operators also work closely with the chemists and biologists on water quality testing at our main testing facility, the EnviroLab. Information from the EnviroLab is used to tweak and adjust the treatment process in order to maximize treatment efficiency. Positioned in the back of our main campus, the EnviroLab is one of the largest utility-owned certified laboratories in Alabama. The 7,000-square foot laboratory accommodates microbiological testing, organic testing and inorganic testing required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. EnviroLab technicians collect samples of water from all over the BWWB s service area to make certain water quality is at the top of the list in the water distribution system. Throughout the year, chemists in the lab run more than 100,000 water quality tests on samples collected. Our EnviroLab team is consistently testing treated and untreated water to assure the quality of water supplied to customers exceeds all government regulations. It is our responsibility to make sure that we do all that we can to provide customers in Birmingham and surrounding areas with a high quality water resource for their day-to-day activities. It is our goal to remain consistent in providing a quality system, quality service and quality water. 5

5 SOURCE WATE A source water assessment has been updated for the water system. It is SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT available for review at the BWWB s main office during normal business hours. The following is a list of the sources of raw water along with the susceptibility rating of the contaminant source Service Area Map and the contaminant sources: Inland Lake low susceptibility (septic tank); moderate susceptibility (boat launch) Cahaba River moderate susceptibility (highways, secondary roads and railroad) Mulberry Fork moderate susceptibility (septic tanks and propane tanks); high susceptibility (industrial facility, bridge and highway) Sipsey Fork - moderate susceptibility (power plant) The Birmingham Water Works Board is making a maximum effort to physically protect all of our critical assets. WHERE DOES Black Warrior Basin WHERE DOES MY WATER COME FROM? Sipsey Fork Mulberry Fork Inland Lake / Blackburn Fork Cahaba Basin Big Cahaba River Little Cahaba River Lake Purdy SYSTEM INFOR Gallons of water produced each day: million* SYSTEM INFORMATION FOR 2011 People served: 600,000* Square miles in service area: 759* Miles of water main (pipes) in system: 3,970* *Approximations THE WATER TR 1. Intake - Water is taken from the source. Fish, plants and other debris are THE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS screened out and water is drawn into the treatment plant. 2. Chemical Addition - Chemicals are added to kill germs, remove odor and improve taste. 3. Mixing - Water and chemicals are rapidly mixed. 4. Coagulation & Flocculation - The particles stick together and form larger particles called floc. 5. Sedimentation - The water and floc particles flow into a sedimentation basin. The floc then settles to the bottom and is removed from the water. 6. Filtration - Water flows through filters. The filters are made of layers of sand and gravel. 7. Disinfection - A small amount of chlorine or other disinfecting chemical is added to kill any remaining germs and keep the water safe as it travels to your house. 8. Storage - Water is placed in a closed tank or clearwell. 9. Distribution - Water is transported to houses. The BWWB delivers an average of 100 million gallons of water per day. ABBREVIATION NA: Not Applicable ABBREVIATIONS CDC: Centers for Disease Control ND: Not Detected NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit EPA: Environmental Protection Agency ADEM: Alabama Department of Environmental Management 6 7

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7 WATER DATA The most recent testing for Lead and Copper Compliance within the distribution system was from June September This testing was done in accordance with applicable regulations. The 90th percentile lead sample was <0.005 mg/l. No lead samples exceeded the action level. The 90th percentile copper sample was 28.8 mg/l. No copper samples exceeded the action level The BWWB voluntarily monitors for the organisms cryptosporidium and giardia quarterly at our raw water sites. The BWWB uses acrylamide based polymers in its solids handling operations. On April 27, 2011, tornado damage caused power failures that resulted in a loss of water pressure. A boil water notice was issued for the affected area of our water system. On May 2nd, the system was restored to normal operation. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have you water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at Based on a study conducted by ADEM with the approval of the EPA, a statewide waiver for the monitoring of asbestos and dioxin was issued. Thus, monitoring for these contaminants was not required.

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9 All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and radioactive material, and it can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. People who are immuno-compromised, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly people and infants can be particularly at risk for infection. People at risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA / CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at For further information, contact the Jefferson County Health Department at ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR HEALTH ADDITIONAL INFORM 14 15

10 Unregulated Organic Substances - In compliance with ADEM regulations, the BWWB must sample and monitor for the unregulated substances in the chart below

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12 DEFINITIONS ACTION LEVEL (AL) Concentration of contaminant that, when exceeded, DEFINITIONS triggers treatment of other requirements that a water system must follow. MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG) Level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) Highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL GOAL (MRDLG) The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL (MRDL) The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. TREATMENT TECHNIQUE (TT) Required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. RUNNING ANNUAL AVERAGE (RAA) Compliance period where an average of four consecutive quarterly samples are used. CONTAMINANT Any substance other than water. Note that contaminants, as defined, include dissolved minerals, purifying and dental health promotion additives. TURBIDITY Measure of the clarity of water as it relates to its particle content. VARIANCE AND EXEMPTIONS ADEM or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or treatment technique under certain conditions. mg/l milligrams per liter, or parts per million (ppm). ug/l micrograms per liter, or parts per billion (ppb). TOTAL TRIHALOMETHANES (TTHM) By-product of drinking water chlorination. TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAA5) By-product of drinking water chlorination. 6. a 7. h 8. e 9. f 10. b 1. j 2. d 3. g 4. i 5. c Water Word Scramble Answers WATER WORD Write the letter of the correct match next to each question. WATER WORD MATCH 1. What is the name of the BWWB s water quality headquarters? 2. What are land areas surrounding water sources called? 3. What are facilities dedicated to treating water called? 4. Where is the place the BWWB gets water from? 5. What is the measure of clarity as it relates to its particle content? 6. How do you abbreviate milligrams per liter, or parts per million (ppm)? 7. What requires all systems to deliver an annual water quality report? 8. What does CCR stand for? 9. The BWWB works hard to provide what? 10. What is the required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water? word bank a. mg/l b. Treatment Technique c. Turbidity d. Watershed e. Consumer Confidence Report f. Quality Water g. Treatment Plants h. Safe Drinking Water Act i. Source j. EnviroLab Answers on page

13 R e q u i r e d Please Read Government 3600 First Avenue N. Birmingham, AL PRSST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #1789 BIRMINGHAM, AL