CCWSA received the Best Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) in the Category of Small Surface Water System for our Salacoa Water System from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. Check out the Salacoa Water System and main water system CCR.
In Metro Atlanta for January, the average high temperature is 52°F, and the low is 34°F. Since 2010, the extreme low temperatures recorded have ranged from 6°F to 22°F. Here are a few tips to help protect your water pipes from freezing and bursting. One of the most important tips that will save on aggravation and money is to know where your water shut-off valves are located and how to turn the water off at your meter box in case of a line break. The longer water is sprayed into unwanted places on your property, the more money it will cost. Water cutoff valves are typically located behind sinks, toilets, hot water heaters, etc.
To turn the water off at your meter –
1) find your meter box, typically near the sidewalk/curb
2) remove the cover
3) directly in front of the meter is a valve
4) using a crescent wrench turn the valve perpendicular to the water line – which can be accomplished by a quarter turn clockwise.
Be aware that you may have two water meters, one for the home and the other for outside irrigation.
Inside the house:
• Set the thermostat to at least 55°F when you leave your house.
• Protect exposed pipes with insulation.
• Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures.
• If you have pipes vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run to
keep the pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost of repairing a broken pipe.
• Eliminate cold air sources near water lines – provide a heat source for unheated garages if water lines/water heater is located within.
Outside the house:
• Keep the lid to the water meter closed tightly – clear debris – if the meter box is
flush with the ground and the cover is on, it is less likely to freeze up.
• Disconnect garden hoses from outside water faucets.
• Protect freeze-prone faucets with insulating covers.
• Drain the lawn irrigation system of all water, including the backflow device.
• Remove, drain, or protect exterior pumps on pools, saunas, and fountains.
Unprotected pipes are susceptible to cold temperatures because water expands from a liquid to a solid. A gallon of water will expand to a volume 9% greater than the original gallon. Ice blockage becomes more likely when outside temperatures drop below freezing. A cold wind reaching unprotected pipes quickly removes heat and increases the chance of ice formation. Water pressure that builds between the ice blockage and a
closed faucet can burst a pipe. The three most common causes of frozen pipes are a quick drop in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low.
By following these simple steps inside and outside the home, you can avoid frozen pipes and water damage in your home. If a leak occurs, check with CCWSA about the leak adjustment policy in place for customers. We are available to answer any questions that you may have.
The CCWSA Education Program received the Excellence in Water Education award! Our Education Team is committed to providing tools on how to protect and use water wisely! Congratulations to the CCWSA team for all their effort!
The Rivers Alive clean-ups were a huge success with 170 volunteers spending 520 hours to pick up 1600 lbs of trash. The volunteers cleaned up a total of 12 miles from around Little River and Etowah River. Our community has benefited greatly from the Fall Rivers Alive Clean-ups. Thank You to Everyone who volunteered.
Millions of tons of trash are left along our nation’s rivers and streams every year. Roadside litter also makes its way into our waterways through storm drain systems. All this trash takes away from the beauty and safety of our waterways. That’s why CCWSA’s Annual River Clean-Ups are so important. Join us in giving back to the community by helping clean up in and around our rivers in Cherokee County. Fall is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty and wildlife as well as make a difference. Sign-up to participate with your family and friends and see how pristine we can make our rivers. We sure could use the help!
Dates are subject to change if conditions are considered unsafe for any reason.
State guidelines regarding Covid-19 precautions will be adhered to at the event.
Sign-up in advance by e-mail Lori Forrester lori.forrester@ccwsa.com or call 770-479-1813 Ext. 246.
September 12th– Little River Clean-up – (Click Here) We are meeting at Olde Rope Mill Park, Woodstock. There will be breakfast items and coffee provided in the morning. Individually wrapped snacks and water will be available during the clean-up. In lieu of lunch being provided at the park an alternate option will be provided as a “Thank You” for participating. Full neck buffs will be provided instead of T-shirts this year. Suggested items to have or bring: Old shoes, clothes (things you don’t mind getting wet or dirty) and heavy work gloves (optional) –gloves will be provided – but heavier gloves are useful for pulling and carrying larger items (such as tires).
October 24th – Etowah River Clean-up – (Click Here) We are meeting at the Upper Etowah River Alliance Office – 180 McClure St., Canton. Breakfast snacks will be provided. Please bring your own water and drinks. Full neck buffs will be provided instead of T-shirts this year. Suggested items are old shoes, clothes and heavy work gloves – plastic protective gloves will be provided – but heavier gloves are useful for pulling and carrying larger items.
CCWSA kicked off Drinking Water Week by encouraging consumers to recognize their tap water is “There When You Need It”. Drinking Water Week is May 3-9 this year. CCWSA and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will observe Drinking Water Week by recognizing the vital role tap water plays in daily life, the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, and the important work of water professionals “behind the scenes”. “With so much changing around us nowadays, it is comforting to know that our tap water is readily available for hygienic and drinking purposes,” said AWWA CEO David LaFrance. “Even during the coronavirus pandemic, water professionals across North America continue to report to work to collect, treat and distribute water to ensure the health and safety of their communities.” To commemorate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools and other stakeholders throughout North America and beyond will encourage consumers to understand and appreciate their drinking water.
CCWSA recognizes the importance of water infrastructure during Drinking Water Week
CCWSA recognizes the infrastructure that helps to transport water from collection to treatment to consumption is “There When You Need It” during Drinking Water Week. Drinking Water Week is May 3-9 this year. [Insert organization’s name] and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will observe Drinking Water Week by recognizing the vital role tap water plays in daily life, the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, and the important work of water professionals “behind the scenes”. “Our tap water plays a vital role in keeping each of us healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic,” said AWWA CEO David LaFrance. “It is important to recognize the critical role water infrastructure plays, every day, in ensuring our tap water is there when you need it for drinking, cooking, or hygiene.”
High-quality water is “There When You Need It”
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assured consumers that drinking water was safe to use as normal. The consistent and reliable quality of drinking water is at the heart of the theme for this year’s Drinking Water Week, “There When You Need It” which will be held May 3-9 this year. Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will observe Drinking Water Week by recognizing the vital role tap water plays in daily life, the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, and the important work of water professionals “behind the scenes”. Many communities are fortunate to have reliable access to safe water when they turn on the tap. In large part, this stems from the regular testing CCWSA is subject to ensure that regulatory standards for water quality are met. In fact, every water system must publish a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which details its water quality. You can find CCWSA’s CCR’s that go back to 2005 at ccwsa.com under the Our Water tab. “Shortly after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, the EPA and CDC each reminded us that we should trust our tap water as we normally would for hygiene and hydration,” said AWWA CEO David LaFrance. “This proved to be extremely important because handwashing is an important way to stop the spread of the virus. We couldn’t do that without high-quality drinking water.”
CCWSA commends water professionals during Drinking Water Week
CCWSA commends the hardworking men and women ensuring tap water is “There When You Need It” during Drinking Water Week which will be held May 3-9 this year. CCWSA and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will observe Drinking Water Week by recognizing the vital role tap water plays in daily life, the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, and the important work of water professionals “behind the scenes”. Reliable water service used for hygiene, hydration, and cooking is critical to our health and safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, several health organizations recommended normal hygienic practices, including handwashing for 20 seconds, which would play an important role in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. “During these difficult times, we reflect on the heroic work of health professionals and first responders who place themselves in harm’s way to keep us all healthy and safe,” said AWWA President Jim Williams. “I’ve referred to the water profession as a “vocation of distinction” before. In these difficult times, it is also a vocation of heroism.”
Drinking Water Week activities include:
*How do Water Towers work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZwfcMSDBHs&t=80s
*How do Water Treatment Plants Work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ZcCqqpS2o
Join us for the first of a three-part series that covers Georgia Adopt-A-Stream chemical, bacteria, visual, and macroinvertebrate workshops Learn how to monitor your local waterways. Please email lori.forrester@ccwsa.com to RSVP by 3/9/20 AAS training flyer
important to replenish our water supply, but can also harm our watersheds if pollutants are collected along the way.
naturally occuring, but as development and the amount of impervious surface such as rooftops, roads and parking lots increase in a watershed, the natural capacity of the soil and vegetation to filter and take up rainfall decreases, and more rainfall becomes stormwater runoff.
Stormwater IS NOT …
Wastewater is NOT…
