The Babson Park Public Water System (PWS) serves a portion of the Southeast Regional Power Service Area of Polk County. Last year, customers connected to the Babson Park PWS consumed approximately 66.09 million gallons of water.

The water supply comes from two wells tapping into the Floridan Aquifer, one of the purest underground reservoirs in the nation. This natural resource is primarily replenished by rainfall that undergoes natural filtration through layers of rock and sand.

Water treatment occurs at two facilities where processes include:

• Cascade aeration to remove dissolved gases
• Chlorine disinfection for safety
• Granular activated carbon filtration to minimize disinfection byproducts

Source Water Assessment: In 2017, Florida's Department of Environmental Protection evaluated our system and identified 4 potential contamination sources with moderate susceptibility levels. Assessment results are available at www.dep.state.fl.us/swap or through Polk County Utilities.

Water Quality Characteristics:

• Hardness: Approximately 37.5 ppm (2 grains per gallon) - considered soft water
• Alkalinity: Typically around 72 ppm - within moderate range
• pH: Averages 8.1

Regulatory Compliance: Our water meets standards established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which authorizes the EPA to create comprehensive national protections against both natural and human-made contaminants. These standards are enforced by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Polk County Utilities works closely with regulatory agencies to ensure water quality compliance, regularly testing for contaminants and reporting results as required by law. Any issues detected trigger immediate retesting and customer notification.

Lead Awareness: If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from plumbing materials rather than the water source itself. To minimize potential exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For information about lead in water, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Potential Contaminant Sources: Water supplies may contain substances from various sources including:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage systems, livestock operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as naturally-occurring minerals or urban runoff
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture and residential usage
• Organic chemicals from industrial processes and petroleum production
• Radioactive materials that occur naturally or result from resource extraction

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What area does S.B.C.U.D serve?
   S.B.C.U.D. covers 150 square miles with 500 miles of water lines and operates five decentralized wastewater facilities. Our service map is available on our website. We source our water from Upper Tellico Lake, which provides exceptionally pure water to our 15,100 customers. Daily production ranges from 2.5-5 million gallons through advanced microfiltration processes.
2. How do I establish service?
   To establish new service, please visit our office at 808 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN with identification and proof of ownership if you've recently purchased property.
3. What are the service connection fees?
   Homeowners pay a non-refundable $30.00 connection fee when opening an account. Rental customers must pay a non-refundable $100.00 connection fee. Additional charges like tap fees or service area fees may apply depending on your situation.
4. What are the current tap fees?
   ¾" tap = $1,500
   1" tap = $2,500
   2" tap = $5,000
   Wastewater tap = $1,500
5. What about sprinkler system fees?
   Fire Line Tap Fee is $1,500.00 and must be paid before construction begins. Buildings under 10,000 square feet are charged the current minimum monthly rate, while buildings over 10,000 square feet are charged $30.00 per month.
6. If I'm moving within the district, do I need to reapply?
   Yes, even when relocating within our service area, you must complete a new application form and pay applicable fees to establish service at your new residence.
7. What are the current water rates?
   Both residential and commercial customers follow the same rate schedule. As of July 1, 2013, the base rate is $17.92 per month with water usage billed at $5.96 per thousand gallons.
8. How do I terminate service when moving?
   Simply call our office to schedule service disconnection. Your final bill will show a pro-rated charge for the portion of the month you used our services.
9. What happens if my payment is late?
   Effective August 1, 2007, any past-due balance must be paid in full by the due date on your current statement or a $60.00 late fee will be added and service disconnected. No separate late notice will be sent.
10. What if my water meter is damaged?
    Customers are responsible for repair or replacement costs for damaged meters. Report broken meters promptly to our office and review our Meter Damage Policy for details.
11. Is lead a concern in my municipal water?
    The District monitors for lead and copper annually. Lead is not naturally present in our water supply nor introduced during treatment. In our area, lead exposure typically comes from lead-based solder in older home plumbing systems (pre-1988). As a precaution, run water for a couple of minutes before consumption if it has been sitting in pipes for several hours.