Boil-water advisory for contaminated well ends
The city of Summerville, Georgia, and Chattooga County Water have lifted a boil-water advisory imposed after a well tested positive for a “fecal indicator.”
The advisory went into effect Aug. 12 and was officially lifted on Aug. 21.
On Friday, Aug. 7, Chattooga County Water collected a sample from Well No. 7. When the results came back, the sample tested positive for microbes whose presence indicates the water may be contaminated with “human or animal wastes,” according to the advisory.
Well No. 7 serves customers in the Marble Springs area, south of the River Bridge on Highways 27 and 100.
Even though the boil-water advisory has been lifted, there are certain restrictions still in place for water customers in the city.
At the end of January, city officials were notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that water from Raccoon Creek showed high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid.
Those human-made chemicals are used to make carpet, clothing fabric, cookware, paper, food packaging and other materials.
The city has said the levels of both chemicals in its water supply have not increased but that the EPA standards changed in 2016.
In June, city officials found that a test-well site on Highway 48 will be able to supply the amount of water needed to dilute the current supply and provide drinking water that will meet government standards.
The project will include drilling a new well and installing a 16-inch transmission line that will run 3 miles and pipe water back to the Filter Plant Road water station. The cost will be higher than originally thought.
The city is also considering water rate increases to cover the costs of the original issue.
The health advisory for the manufactured chemicals is still in effect. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants are most sensitive to these chemicals and can reduce their potential risk by not drinking city water until further notice.
For Chattooga County Water customers, call 706-734-2827 for questions. Summerville water customers should contact the city at 706859-0900.