2015 Water Quality Report

Providing High Quality Drinking Water

Greenville Water is pleased to present our 2015 Water Quality Report. Each year, the team at Greenville Water works diligently to protect our watersheds, ensure our treatment practices are highly effective, and provide you, our customers, with safe drinking water. Once again, we are happy to report that Greenville Water meets all of the strict drinking water standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). In order to protect its customers, Greenville Water and SCDHEC collected over 36,000 samples and performed more than 100,000 tests for parameters during 2015. Greenville Water ensures your water quality by testing water samples collected during the treatment process and as the water is delivered to customers through approximately 3000 miles of pipeline. The Water Quality Report indicates that our water is safe to drink.

Where Does My Drinking Water Come From?

Greenville Water draws water from three sources: Table Rock Reservoir, North Saluda Reservoir, and Lake Keowee. Table Rock and North Saluda Reservoirs are both located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Greenville County. Greenville Water owns 100 percent of both watersheds. Greenville Water regularly patrols and carefully maintains these uninhabited, pristine lands. The properties are further protected by a Conservation Easement with The Nature Conservancy. Lake Keowee is owned by Duke Energy. In 2013, Greenville Water obtained three South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal permits: 4,650 million gallons per month (MGM) for Lake Keowee, 2,077 MGM for Table Rock Reservoir and 1,860 MGM for North Saluda Reservoir. To raise awareness about the importance of preventing water pollution, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has identified the potential sources of contamination for each drinking water source in the state. More information on source water assessment can be found at: www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/Water/SourceWaterProtection/ and Greenville Water’s Source Water Assessment can be obtained upon request.

2015 Reports

Important Information From the EPA

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 (800.426.4791).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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
  • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno compromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people 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 or other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800.426.4791). Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

What if I Have Questions?

If you would like more information about water treatment techniques or about our water quality, contact Greenville Water’s Laboratory at (864) 241-7836. You
can visit our website at www.greenvillewater.com or contact us by email at laboratory@greenvillewater.com.

Greenville Water

Greenville Water provides service to nearly 500,000 residents of the Upstate region of South Carolina. Recognizing that water service is critical to the health and well-being of its customers and for the growth and economic vitality of the community, Greenville Water ensures the reliable delivery of high-quality water through careful stewardship of its resources. Greenville Water is committed to providing exceptional service and utilizing safe and effective methods for providing water, while adhering to and surpassing health and safety standards. Governed by an elected Commission of Public Works, Greenville Water is the state’s largest water utility.