We are pleased to present our 2022 Annual Water Quality Report.

Here in Northeast Florida, we are fortunate to have access to some of the most pristine water in the world—just by turning on the tap. We attribute this to the Floridan Aquifer, our natural water source, which is rated by the U.S. Geological Survey as one of the highest-quality water sources in the country. Bringing this water to hundreds of thousands of homes each day is a responsibility we take seriously.

With this is mind, we are pleased to present the 2022 Water Quality Report. In this publication, you will be able to review detailed information about JEA’s water treatment systems, results from our water quality testing, and interesting facts about our water supply.

We know the water we deliver to your home or business plays an important role in your quality of life and that of our entire community. That’s why we work hard to manage and maintain these water resources, to meet your needs today and for future generations. 

As our community continues to grow, please join us at JEA in helping to conserve and protect this critical natural resource.

Sincerely,

Jay Stowe,
JEA Managing Director & CEO

FDEP Source Water Assessments

In 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection performed Source Water assessments to identify potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of JEA wells. Potential contamination sources include landfills, fuel storage tanks, dry cleaning facilities and wastewater disposal areas. Visit https://prodapps.dep.state.fl.us/swapp to view assessment results online.

Important Information

The Water Quality Report is provided to all customers of community water systems on an annual basis as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments.

JEA routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2022. Data obtained before January 1, 2022, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations. Out of more than 100 contaminants for which JEA routinely tests, only those that have been detected appear in the tables.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• (A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
• (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
• (D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
• (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Terms and Abbreviations

In the table above, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions:

• Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• Non-Detect (ND): means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.
• Not Required (NR): Secondary contaminants with sample results below the MCL are not required to be reported.
• Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (μg/l): One part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.
• Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l): One part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.
• Picocurie per liter (pCi/L): Measure of the radioactivity in water.
• Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL under certain conditions.

Note: MCLs are set at stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink two liters of water every day at the MCL for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described effect.

Additional Information

Lead: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. JEA is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at epa.gov/safewater/lead.

TTHM [Total Trihalomethanes]: The following samples during 2022 exceeded the TTHM MCL of 80 ppb. However, the system did not incur an MCL violation because all annual average results at all sites were below the MCL. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

• Major Grid:
  • 6506 Greenfern Lane: 90.69 ppb (Jan)
• Ponce de Leon Grid:
  • 2371 S. Ponte Vedra Blvd.: 81.88 & 85.61 ppb (Jan)
  • 125 Tides Edge Place: 92.81 (Jul)

E. coli: On August 25, 2022, coliform bacteria samples were taken from five of our 38 water treatment plants. The analysis results the next day showed the sample from Oakridge was positive for the fecal indicator, E. coli. On August 26th, we took the water plant offline, sampled each well five times, issued a Boil Water Advisory (BWA) for the area, and sampled the distribution system for two days. All samples were Absent for coliforms and the BWA was lifted August 28. E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. 

Immune-compromised Persons

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.

Printed Versions of the Report

• Download a printed copy (PDF) of the 2022 Water Quality Report.
• Request a copy of the report by calling our Customer service Center at (904) 665-6000.
• Pick up a copy at any branch of the Jacksonville Public Library.

 For more information on JEA's water quality tests or to request a report, please contact us.