OWASA tested its water about 46,000 times for more than 150 contaminants but only 13 were present at detectable levels, and all were below the limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

OWASA’s laboratory testing results in 2011 and related information on the community’s water sources and the drinking water treatment process are reported in the utility’s annual Water Quality Report Card, which OWASA has mailed to OWASA customers and posted on OWASA’s website, owasa.org.

The report includes information about:

• Laboratory testing of OWASA’s water

• OWASA’s award in May, 2011 from the national Partnership for Safe Water for excellence in water treatment

• The value and cost of water

• OWASA’S water sources

• OWASA’S water supply plans including Jordan Lake access in severe droughts

• Testing for lead

• Characteristics of OWASA’s water including its very low mineral content and disinfection with chlorine and ammonia

OWASA serves about 80,000 people in Chapel Hill-Carrboro community including UNC and UNC Hospitals.

OWASA will test any customer’s drinking water with no charge. For more information, customers are invited to contact Rachel Monschein, Laboratory Supervisor at the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant, at 919-537-4227 or rmonschein@owasa.org.