The City of Bristol, Tennessee pumped about six million gallons of water to customers each day last year, consistently meeting or exceeding all state and federal quality standards.
Detailed information is included in the 2019 Water Quality Report that was recently mailed to the City’s 12,000 water customers. The report includes the results of around-the-clock testing, information about the City’s water treatment processes, and conservation tips for consumers.
“Before the City distributes water to our customers, we are continually testing and monitoring it for contaminants that are naturally found in every water source,” said Water Plant Superintendent Mark Quickel. “Some tests are conducted quarterly, some are done every day, and some are conducted every two hours, 12 times a day. For the 2018 calendar year, we met every goal, every day, without a single violation.”
Water quality standards are established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The City draws water from South Holston River and sends it through a six-step treatment process, then checks the water supply for more than 80 contaminants that can be present as a result of soil runoff, corrosion of household plumbing, or compounds naturally found in the environment. Only eight contaminants were found in the Bristol, Tennessee water supply, Quickel said, and each was at a safe level within state and federal guidelines.
Detailed test results and a brief explanation are included in the report.
To help conserve water, the report also includes tips for consumers. These include:
- Shorten your shower time.
- Don’t leave water running while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded before turning it on.
- Wash full loads of laundry, and set your water level according to the load size.
- Routinely check all faucets in the house for leaks.
To keep the City’s drinking water safe, the report also encourages residents to avoid submerging hoses in buckets or pools containing dirty water or allowing water containing chemicals to collect in tubs or sinks. Additionally, the report reminds customers that a backflow prevention device should be used when spray insecticides and fertilizers are connected to a hose. These safety tips will help prevent contaminants from entering the water system.
Bristol Tennessee’s 12,000 water customers include more than 40,000 individuals and five utility districts. It is estimated that each person uses about 100 gallons of water a day.
The 2019 Water Quality Report is available online at www.bristoltn.org. For additional information, please contact Quickel at (423) 989-5576 or [email protected].
