City of Florence, South Carolina

The City of Florence is pleased to report that the drinking water it supplied to its citizens and customers throughout 2001 calendar year was of high quality and exceeded all state and federal health and safety standards.

"We are committed to providing a safe and clean supply of drinking water to our customers," said Drew Griffin, the City of Florence's Director of Public Works and Utilities. "Therefore, it's extremely rewarding that the sampling data confirms that we are fulfilling our goals and commitment."

To insure your drinking water continuously meets or exceeds the health and safety standards set forth in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the City of Florence routinely collects sampling data for nearly 100 elements and substances that may be present in public drinking water supplies from both organic and man-made sources. The sampling data collected by the City of Florence is scientifically analyzed and confirmed by both independent laboratories and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

The most recent sampling data collected and analyzed by the City of Florence for the period January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001 shows your drinking water contains only a few of the elements and substances covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

The technical language, terms, descriptions, definitions, precautionary statements and scientific data contained and displayed in this report were strictly prescribed and mandated by federal authorities and federal law. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) validated the sampling results listed.

For more information about lead, other substances, and potential health effects, you may call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

For more information about this report or your City of Florence water quality, please contact Mack Maloch at (843) 665-3271 or Forrest Whittington at (842) 665-3236.

FLORENCE CITY COUNCIL

Florence City Council governs the policies, funding and management of the City Utility Department. City Council meets the second Monday of every month at 1 p.m. in Room 604 at the City-County Complex, 180 North Irby Street, Florence, SC. Customers and the public are welcome to attend.

WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM

The city of Florence relies on groundwater as its supply source obtained from deep wells drilled into the Middendorf and Black Creek aquifers. This source provides drinking water for approximately 65,000 people including nearly 18,000 residences and more than 4,500 businesses.

As early as 2003, the City of Florence will be starting up the Pee Dee River Regional Water System, located in the Pee Dee Regional Commerce Center, just south of I-95. The new water system will be able to treat and process surface water from the Pee Dee River, making it an abundant, viable source of high-quality drinking water for the City of Florence and the Pee Dee Region.

IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL HEALTH CONCERNS

Some people may be more vulnerable to substances in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons 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 and other microbiological substances are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791).

WHAT'S IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man made. These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances. All drinking water, including bottled water, may 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 lead and other contaminants as well as their potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800-426-4791).

In future years SC DHEC and the City will prepare a source water assessment report. This report will address the quality, reliability and security of the City's water sources. When the report is complete customers will be advised of the way to obtain information from the report or a copy of this report.

In 2001, the City of Florence detected only a very small number of nearly 100 substances and elements regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act in its drinking water supplies.

FLUORIDE

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element produced by geologic deposits in groundwater supplies that helps prevent tooth decay. Because naturally occurring levels of fluoride are low in the city's ground water, a small amount is added during the treatment as recommended by the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association.

HOW TO READ THIS TABLE
The following definitions are designed to help you understand the data and information presented in the accompanying table.

MCLG

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs provide a margin of safety.

MCL

Maximum Contaminant Level. The 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.

Non-Detected. No measurable level of a substance or contaminant detected.

AVG

Average Level Detected. The average level of a substance or contaminant detected.

PPM

Parts per Million. The equivalent of one penny n $10,000 or one minute in two years.

PPB

Parts per Billion. The equivalent of on penny in $10,000,000 or one minute in 2,000 years.

90th Percentile

Of all samplings analyzed, 90 percent were at or below the detected level.

Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements, which a water system must follow.

2001 Water Quality Sampling Results
The following table shows actual sampling results for substances detected in the City of Florence's groundwater systems for the period January 1 to December 31, 2001, compared with state and federal health and safety standards for those substances.

CONTAMINANT	VIOLATION	LEVEL DETECTED	UNIT MEASURED	MCLG	MCL	LIKELY SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION
Total Trihalomethanes (THMs)	None	AVG 4	PPB	0	100	By-product of drinking water chlorination
*Trichlorofluoro-methane	None	0.96 (Range ND-0.96)	PPB	Not Regulated	Not Regulated	By-product of common household and industrial uses, such as leaking refrigerator units and air conditioners and by spray paint, spray varnish, spray cosmetics and other aerosol sprays.
Fluoride	None	0.93 (Range 0.72-0.93	PPM	4	2	Erosion of natural deposits; water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Lead	None	90th Percentile 4	PPB	0	AL=15	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits
Copper	None	90th Percentile 0.1450	PPM	1.3	AL=1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservations.
*(EPA regulations require us to monitor this constituent while EPA considers setting a limit on it.)

City-County Complex AA
180 North Irby Street
Florence, SC 29501-3456
Phone: 843-665-3113
Fax: 843-665-3110