Newport Utility water distribution

What Is Water Quality?

Water quality describes the condition of the water including chemical, physical, and biological characteristics, usually with respect to its suitability for a particular purpose such as drinking or swimming.

Water quality is measured by several factors, such as:

• The concentration of dissolved oxygen

• Bacteria levels

• The amount of salt (or salinity)

• The amount of material suspended in the water (turbidity)

Nearly half the surface water in Cocke County is considered “impaired” from the 2012 TDEC-AWQ data.

Water Quality Concerns

Pesticides and Fertilizers

Pesticides and fertilizers are two of the biggest threats to the water quality in Cocke County. Too much fertilizer in the water is bad for aquatic life. It causes overgrowth of aquatic plants, which leads to depletion of oxygen in the water.

Sewage and Wastewater Treatment

Nitrogen and Phosphorous are abundant nutrients in sewage and treated wastewater. Too much of either nutrient in the water is bad for aquatic life. It causes overgrowth of aquatic plants, which leads to a depletion of oxygen in the water.

Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping is the disposal of waste in an unpermitted area. Some hazards that illegal dumping can create are:

• Diseases carried by mosquitos and rodents

• Water runoff from these sites that can carry hazardous chemicals and pollutants into nearby streams. This is dangerous for aquatic life and the safety of drinking water!

• Physical hazards to children and animals