Every year, Community Water Systems across the Commonwealth of Virginia are required to complete and distribute an Annual Water Quality Report, or Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which provides utility customers with information about their drinking water. The federally mandated reports contain information, including: 1) source of the utility’s water, and the type of treatment it receives, if any, 2) results of all required chemical analysis, including lead and copper results, and an explanation of them, including their probable sources and potential health effects, if any, 3) violations, if any, of state or federal waterworks regulations, and what has been done to address them, 4) reporting of any unregulated contaminant monitoring, 5) a cross-connection control survey, 6) information regarding source water protections and tips for conserving water, and 7) contact information for the system’s owner/operator.
Over the past several years, SERCAP’s Regional Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) have assisted multiple community systems throughout Virginia by preparing their Annual Water Quality Reports. Specifically, in 2020 the agency assisted over 60 small water systems with these reports. In 2021, SERCAP will assist at least as many (60+) systems throughout southeastern and southwestern Virginia with these reports, and will likely end up assisting many more as the agency is receiving multiple requests for assistance with these reports every week. Most of these smaller water systems do not have the capacity to prepare these reports, and must rely on engineering firms or technical assistance providers to prepare the reports for them. SERCAP’s assistance enables these utilities to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations, since the CCRs must be distributed to utility customers no later than July 1st of each year.
Without SERCAP’s Technical Assistance (TA) and other similar programs and services, many communities, low-income individuals, and families would be forced to go without such necessities as water and wastewater infrastructure solutions, community infrastructure needs, indoor plumbing, properly functioning wells and septic systems, safe and affordable housing, and more. It is important to remember that even in the United States in the 21st Century; there are those who do not have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, environmentally sound septic facilities, and affordable housing. In order to help SERCAP continue to provide assistance to both the individuals and communities in need, please consider making a donation to SERCAP’s Water Life! Fund!
Donate Today: https://sercap.networkforgood.com/projects/27202-sercap-s-water-is-life-fund (opens new window).
*Funding for SERCAP’s Regional Department is made possible by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Community Services’ (OCS) Grant, USDA RD’s Technitrain Program, the Drinking Water Compliance Grant through the EPA, and the EPA Private Well Grant. Additionally, all of SERCAP’s programs in Virginia, are leveraged by a Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD).