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Starting September 1, 2023, the CCWSA began offering the latest water conservation program to our customers, the Smart Leak Detection Device program (SLDD). This program is intended to provide assistance to our customers who desire to monitor their water usage in their homes to respond to leaks quickly and avoid costly water bills and/or property damage. An SLDD is a piece of technology that monitors your water usage, learns your “normal” behaviors, and alerts you to abnormal water consumption. Some SLDDs monitor internally and must be professionally installed, while others are externally mounted and can be done by a homeowner. We are offering this voluntary program to customers who would like to take an active role in their water usage.

What you need to know about the Smart Leak Detection Device program:
1. The approved list of devices that are available for a one-time account credit are StreamLabs Water Monitor, Phyn Smart Water Assistant, Phyn Smart Water Plus (Gen 1&2), and Flo by Moen. These devices are available through Amazon, Lowes, and Home Depot and range in cost from $298-$944 depending on which one you get.
2. Some insurance companies offer a homeowner’s insurance discount to devices that automatically shut off when a leak is detected. Phyn and Moen offer models that have this feature. The homeowner’s discount varies depending on the company and can range from 5%-18%. Each company has its own requirements for proof of installation, we recommend you contact your agent for more information.
3. You must complete the downloadable application located at https://ccwsa.com/our-water/, and attach the original receipt, and installation certificate (if applicable). This information must be submitted to the billing department within 45 days of purchase. Your address and account will be reviewed and confirmed before the $100 account credit is issued.
4. Participation is voluntary and the CCWSA does not assume any liability for the device, or its installation, or guarantee any reduction in your water bill. These devices require Wi-Fi to operate, which is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to provide and maintain.
5. This device must be installed inside the home. It CANNOT be installed in the meter box. Foreign devices inside the meter box will be confiscated and a fine will be issued.
6. This program is available from September 1, 2023, through Dec 31, 2025. We are offering 50 rebates on a first come first serve basis through August 2024. Additional rebates will be offered throughout the life of the program, but the number of rebates is yet to be determined. We recommend you contact customer service for more information.
7. Rebates are tracked by homeowner name, not property address, so each person will only be allowed one rebated device.
8. It is important to check the size of your supply line coming into your house. Most homes have ¾” lines but some have 1” due to fire protection requirements at the time of construction.
9. For the device to work correctly, it must be installed downstream of the meter, backflow, and pressure-reducing valve (PRV) and upstream of any branches off the main including irrigation.
10. This program is for single-family and multi-family residential units. Commercial SLDDs are not approved for rebate.

Do you have any questions? Please contact Lori Forrester

Our Water | CCWSA Consumer Confidence Report

Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority is proud of the fine drinking water it provides.  Our annual consumer confidence report shows the sources of our water and lists the results of standard testing.

We are proud to report that the water provided by Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority meets or exceeds established water quality standards.

Click on the links below to view a copy of CCWSA’s Consumer Confidence Report.

20232022 202120202019

If you need Consumer Confidence Reports prior to these years shown, please contact CCWSA.

Our Water | Salacoa Water System Consumer Confidence Report

Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority is proud of the fine drinking water it provides.  This annual water quality report for the Salacoa Area Water System shows the sources of our water and lists the results of standard testing.

We are proud to report that the water provided by Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority meets or exceeds established water quality standards.

Click on the link below to view a copy of the Salacoa Water System Confidence Consumer Report.

2022 2021202020192018

Our Water | Source Water Assessment

Freese and Nichols, Inc. was contracted by Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority in 2017 to update the Source Water Assessment Plan that was created by Atlanta Regional Commission in 2001. The plan itemized potential sources of surface water pollution to your drinking water supply.  Your drinking water is supplied from the Etowah River.  A Source Water Assessment is a study and report that provides the following information:

  • Identifies the area of land that contributes to the raw water used for drinking water.
  • Identifies potential sources of contamination to the drinking water supply.
  • Provides an understanding of the drinking water supply’s susceptibility to contamination.

The source data identifies the rankings selected for each source based on risk and release potential. Using this data, the individual sources were plotted in the susceptibility matrix provided.

The susceptibility matrix was color coordinated to better indicate the categories shown within the matrix.

The colors correspond with the potential of pollution where:

  • Green boxes (1-3) represent low pollution potential
  • Yellow boxes (4-6) represent medium pollution potential
  • Red boxes (7-9) represent high pollution potential

With the individual sources plotted on the prioritization matrix, the watershed’s overall susceptibility to pollution was evaluated based on the Georgia EPD criteria shown in the table to the right.

For the CCWSA’s Etowah River Intakes, the following results were obtained for the 342 individual sources identified:

  • 2% have high susceptibility to pollution
  • 60% have medium susceptibility to pollution
  • 38% have low susceptibility to pollution

Based on these results, individual sources were determined to have an overall medium susceptibility to pollution of the watershed (less than 20% with high susceptibility and more than 40% medium susceptibility). A field review of select individual sources from the inventory was conducted to assess the reliability of the data. Based on the field review, some differences in the inventory were observed. However, the overall susceptibility rating remained at medium.

Summary
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division Source Water Assessment Implementation Plan provides a methodology to determine a source watershed’s susceptibility to pollution by individual and non-point sources. Based on this methodology, the following results were obtained:

  • Individual sources were determined to have an overall medium susceptibility to pollution of the watershed (less than 20% with high susceptibility and more than 40% medium susceptibility), with 60% of the sources identified as being medium susceptibility.
  • The susceptibility of the watershed to pollution by non-point sources is low, since the total impervious area was determined to be less than 10%. In addition, more than 69% of the watershed was determined to be agricultural or open/forested land use, which has the lowest impervious area of all categories considered.
  • Additional sources were determined to have a low susceptibility to pollution of the watershed, with no reported spills in the last 10 years, no railroads immediately within the assessment area, and only three major road crossings within the inner management zone.

Considering the ranking of each potential source, an overall susceptibility rating of the CCWSA’s Etowah River Intakes has been determined to be medium.

For comparison, the source water assessment plan (SWAP) completed by the Atlanta Regional Commission in 2000 also rated the watershed with a medium susceptibility ranking. The 2000 assessment included a total of 210 individual sources compared to 342 with this SWAP. The increase in individual sources may be linked to general population growth and development in the watershed since 2000, with the largest increases in individual sources being fuel facilities (17 in 2000 to 63 in 2017), large industries (increasing from 4 to 36), and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holders (increasing from 9 to 105). In contrast, the number of agricultural facilities has decreased from 85 to 8 since 2000. The total impervious area has also increased since 2000 from 3.2% to 9.7% in 2017. Though the overall analysis of the watershed provides a susceptibility ranking of medium potential to pollution, CCWSA’s treatment efforts for drinking water are sufficient given that there are no violations per the 2020 Water Quality Report. A copy of the current report is available at this link.

Our Water | Flouride/Hardness

Hard Water is a term used to describe water having a high concentration of calcium and magnesium ions. Hard water is undesirable due to the fact that it takes more soap to create lather. Water with hardness greater than 100 mg/l as calcium carbonate is defined as “hard water”.  Cherokee County’s water is very soft, 16 mg/l as calcium carbonate.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in all water supplies and when adjusted to optimal levels, is effective in reducing tooth decay.  In most of Georgia, including Cherokee County, the State Environmental Protection Division mandates fluoride levels of 0.8 milligrams per liter in drinking water.

Multiple studies over the years done in several countries and the United States show that fluoridation can reduce tooth decay by 60% in baby teeth and up to 35% in adult teeth.  When fluoride was discontinued, there were large increases in the incidence of tooth decay, especially in children.

Fluoridation of community drinking water is a major factor responsible for the decline in dental caries (tooth decay) during the second half of the 20th century.  By preventing cavities, community water fluoridation has been shown to save money both for families and the US Health Care System.

The history of water fluoridation is a classic example of clinical observation leading to epidemiologic investigation and community-based public health intervention. Although other fluoride-containing products are available, water fluoridation remains the most equitable and cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all members of most communities, regardless of age, educational attainment, or income level.  For additional information visit the CDC.gov website.

Our Water | Drought – Watering Guidelines

Current Watering Guidelines For Cherokee County

CCWSA customers are required to abide by Georgia state law O.C.G.A 12-5-7 non-drought outdoor water use schedule which allows outdoor watering for the purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4 P.M. and 10:00 A.M.; provided, however, that this limitation shall not create any limitation upon the following outdoor activities:

(A) Commercial raising, harvesting or storing of crops; feeding, breeding, or managing livestock or poultry; the commercial production or storing of feed for use in the production of livestock, including, but not limited to, cattle, calves, swine, hogs, goats, sheep, and rabbits, or for use in the production of poultry, including, but not limited to, chickens, hens, ratites, and turkeys; producing plants, trees, fowl, or animals; or for commercial production of aquacultural, horticultural, dairy, livestock, poultry, eggs, and apiarian or as otherwise defined in O.C.G.A. 1-3-3;

(B) Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or stormwater in compliance with applicable local ordinances and state guidelines;

(C) Reuse of gray water in compliance with O.C.G.A. 31-3-5.2 and applicable local board of health regulations;

(D) Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to provide reclaimed wastewater;

(E) Watering personal food gardens;

(F) Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of installation;

(G) Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses;

(H) Hand watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container;

(I) Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water by an owner or operator of property if such well or surface water is on said property;

(J) Watering horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation;

(K) Watering athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas;

(L) Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems; or

(M) Hydroseeding

Georgia Rules And Regulations

Our Water | Treatment Plant

Cherokee County’s drinking water plant is located on the Etowah River in the Northeast corner of the county.  The plant is approximately 70 miles downstream from the headwaters of the Etowah River and about 22 miles upstream of Lake Allatoona.

In December 1986, Cherokee County’s Water plant went into service.  At that time, the plant was capable of treating 6 million gallons of water per day.

During the plant’s first month of operation, the average daily flow rate was less than one million gallons per day.  On August 11, 2007, the plant reached its highest production rate to date – 27.7 million gallons in a 24 hour period.

Plant Expansions

CCWSA’s Water Treatment Plant has undergone two major expansions since it was originally constructed.  The first expansion was completed in February 1996 and enabled the plant to produce as much as 18 million gallons per day.  The second and last expansion was completed in March 2007 and made the plant capable of producing 38 million gallons per day.

Cherokee County’s Water Plant supplies drinking water to the majority of the County’s citizens and also supplements neighboring water systems such as Bartow County, Pickens County, City of Canton, and City of Woodstock.

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) presented The Etowah River Water Treatment Plant with a Platinum Award in recognition of complete and consistent SDWA permit compliance during the calendar year of 2020.  The Platinum Award recognizes National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit 100% compliance. Congratulations to the Etowah River Water Treatment Plant Staff for achieving this award.

The Georgia Section of American Water Works Association (GAWWA) presented The Etowah River Water Treatment Plant with a Best Operated Water Plant of the Year Award In the category of Surface Water  25 to 49.99 MGD. Congratulations to the Etowah River Water Treatment Plant Staff for achieving this award.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presented The Etowah River Water Treatment Plant with a Water Fluoridation Quality Award for the calendar year of 2022.  This Award commends CCWSA for providing high-quality water fluoridation for 12 consecutive months representing a high level of operator care and accomplishment. Fluoridation is safe and effective for promoting good oral health.  Thank you for helping keep our teeth strong and healthy!

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