Read the full article by The Summerville News

“As the city contends with a new health advisory from the federal government, free drinking water is being offered to Summerville customers.
A tanker truck filled with fresh water is heading to city hall and should arrive tonight. It will be located in a parking lot in front of the fire department on Cox Street.
‘Bring your own containers to fill up,’ City Manager Janice Galloway said.
The water shipment is part of the city’s reaction to a phone call City Manager Janice Galloway received Friday afternoon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A water test from Raccoon Creek showed a slightly higher amount of two manmade chemicals called Perfluoroctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA).
‘[These chemicals] are used to make carpet, clothing fabrics, cookware, paper and packaging for food,’ the city manager said.
The quality of the drinking water has not changed, city officials said. The advisory is part of changing standards from the EPA.
In the past, the acceptable standard was having less than 600 parts-per-trillion (ppt) gallons of water. The local creek water was 92 parts-per-trillion and within the acceptable limit.
Then in May 2016, the EPA changes its guidelines and suggests the new limit should be 70 ppt.
‘Parts per trillion would be like one rain drop in an Olympic sized swimming pool,” said Carter and Sloope Engineer Chad Sipes.
People being exposed to these chemicals isn’t something new. They are found in a wide array of consumer products, including cookware…

On January 30, 2020 sample results came back showing combined levels of PFOA and PFOS in the finished water from the Raccoon Creek treatment plant of 98 parts per trillion, which is above the U.S. EPA Health Advisory Level. In addition, combined levels of PFOA and PFOS in the Goodwin Hill Tankwere found to be 92 parts per trillion.
In light of the EPA Health Advisory, the City of Summerville, in consultation with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Georgia EPD). has determined that we need to notify you of this new information. update you on what it means and what we are doing about it. As more information becomes available, we will provide additional updates…”