PUBLIC NOTICE
The ELKINS WATERWORKS is a public water system subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Those regulations require the notification of customers whenever a violation occurs and is the basis for this notice.
A JANUARY 2025 sanitary survey inspection of your water system by the Engineering Section found the following Significant Deficiency: INADEQUATLY LICENCED OPERATOR. The water system failed to meet certain milestones outlined in the state approved corrective action plan during the month of January 2025.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets national drinking water standards and has determined that the presence of microbiological contaminants is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Water supplied by this system is from a surface source or groundwater which is directly influenced by surface water. The water system must correct any significant deficiencies identified by the state. Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
These symptoms, however, are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water but also may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking water. EPA has set enforceable requirements for treating drinking water to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Treatment such as proper filtering and disinfecting of the water removes or destroys microbiological contaminants. Drinking water which is treated to meet EPA requirements is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe. Failure to meet this requirement does not necessarily mean that the water is unsafe or that alternate sources of water should be used.
The water system has since scheduled an employee to take the D2 License exam in April 2025.
Should you have any questions concerning this notice, contact the water system at 479-643-3121 or the Engineering Section of the Department of Health at 501-661-2623.
