Southern Trace S/d

Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, health-based: 9 violations, 1 still open, Jan 2024 to open. A sample exceeded the maximum contaminant level EPA allows in drinking water.

Monitoring and Reporting: 6 violations, Apr 2025 to Jun 2026. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

Contaminants on the record: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Combined Uranium.

Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, health effects: Alpha-emitting radionuclides accumulate in bone and soft tissue, delivering sustained internal radiation doses that increase lifetime cancer risk. There is no established safe threshold for ionizing radiation. Individual contributors such as radium-226 and polonium-210 have their own MCLs; gross alpha serves as a cost-effective screening tool that triggers more specific radionuclide analysis when exceeded. Limit: 15 pCi/L (excluding radon and uranium)

Combined Uranium, health effects: Uranium poses both radiological and chemical health risks. Chronic exposure is primarily associated with kidney damage due to its chemical toxicity as a heavy metal. The radiological risk — increased cancer probability — is also present but secondary to the nephrotoxic concern at drinking water concentrations. There is no safe threshold for radiation exposure. Limit: 0.030 mg/L (30 µg/L)

Monitoring and Reporting: 1 violation, open since Jan 2026. The system did not complete required monitoring, or did not report the results on time. This does not show that a contaminant was found.

What the rule requires: The 1991 LCR uses action levels rather than MCLs: if the 90th percentile of high-risk tap samples exceeds 15 ppb lead or 1.3 mg/L copper, the system must take escalating corrective actions. Violations typically indicate failure to maintain adequate corrosion control — the treatment that keeps lead from leaching out of pipes, solder, and fixtures.

Other Violation: 6 violations, 5 still open, May 2024 to open. A requirement other than monitoring, reporting, or a contaminant limit, such as public notice or the annual water quality report.

Contaminant on the record: Public Notification Rule.

Other Violation: 2 violations, open since Jul 2024. A requirement other than monitoring, reporting, or a contaminant limit, such as public notice or the annual water quality report.

What the rule requires: Community water systems must deliver an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) to all customers by July 1, covering the previous year. It must list all detected contaminants, compare them to MCLs, identify source water, and include educational language about lead. A violation means the report was not delivered on time or was incomplete.