"Water Illustrated" is College Station's annual drinking water quality report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report. If you have ever wondered where your water comes from, or what is in your drinking water, you will find the answer to these and more questions in our annual report. Public water suppliers must provide these reports to their water customers each year by July 1st, as required by the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). These reports are full of some complex language and long words (trihalomethanes?!)
To help you understand the terms in Water Illustrated, here are some helpful links from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and NSF International:
EPA: Consumer Confidence Report Home (basic information, frequently asked questions, and links to online reports - including College Station!)
AWWA: Straight Talk on Water Quality Reports
NSF: Water Quality (CCR) Reports
Water quality is maintained in the distribution system through continuous monitoring of water pressure, temperature, disinfectant residual, and turbidity. Environmental Technicians also collect at least 91 water samples each month throughout College Station for analysis by the Brazos County Health Department. Samples are tested for Total Coliform bacteria, which are usually indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because they are often found in association with other disease-causing organisms (though hardier than most pathogens).
College Station Utilities also maintains a disinfectant residual throughout the water distribution system to prevent against bacteriological contamination after the water leaves the Dowling Road Pump Station.
Water Quality Reports from previous years are available by calling College Station Utilities at (979) 764-3660, or email jnations@cstx.gov.