Frequently Asked Questions

Call the Water Department, at 912-472-5051, if you discover this problem during normal business hours. If the problem occurs outside working hours, call the City of Tybee Island's Police Department Dispatch Desk on their non-emergency number at 912-786-5600. They will contact the Water Department's on-call staff to begin repairs.

Water quality standards for safe drinking water are set by the USEPA, GEPD, and GDNR. The water we serve you meets or exceeds all of these requirements. See our Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that provides the results of our water testing for the past year.

If you have questions about your water quality, please call our Department at 912-472-5051 or 912-472-5053. Billing questions must be directed to 912.472.5025.

City of Tybee Island adds chlorine to the water to ensure the water is free from harmful bacteria. The department has installed several chlorine pump stations throughout our service area. On average there are about 0.6 parts per million of chlorine in our water.

- Fill a clean container.
- Leaving it slightly uncovered, allow it to stand overnight.
- The chlorine will evaporate.
- To speed up the process, warm the water.
- Be sure to store the dechlorinated water in the refrigerator.

City of Tybee Island follows EPA regulations and guidelines for water system lead testing. Our tests indicate that, system-wide, the lead levels in City of Tybee Island water are below the EPA limits.

However, lead and/or copper from your home's plumbing can leach into your water. Lead /copper pipes are easily scratched with a house key, leaving a shiny streak. A private laboratory can test a sample of your water to test for lead and/ or copper.

For more information, see the

City of Tybee Island follows EPA regulations and guidelines for water system mercury testing. Our tests indicate that, system-wide the mercury levels in City of Tybee Island water are nondetectable at parts per billion range of detection.

Fluoride prevents tooth decay and is essential for proper development of bones and teeth. On average there is 0.83 parts per million of fluoride in our drinking water. City of Tybee Island does not add fluoride to its water, what exists is naturally occurring and well within EPA regulation and guidelines.

The pH of our water remains in the neutral range averaging 7.23.

Often odors that appear to be coming from running water are coming from the drain. If it seems that your water has a “rotten egg” odor, fill a glass with water and take it to another room. If the water has no odor in the other room, then the odor is probably coming from the drain. Cleaning the drain will usually correct the problem.

Chlorine odors occur when the residual chlorine disinfectant gases (CL2) combine with gases given off by common household items. New carpets, paint, flowers, pine wreaths, upholstery, scented soaps and other household products produce gases called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). When the chlorine gas and VOCs combine, you may get a smell that does not smell like either chlorine or the source of the VOC. Some of the most common descriptions of the odors are cat urine, fuel oil or chemicals.

To reduce these odors, try putting a fan in your window to air out your home to reduce the level of VOCs or use a carbon filter to reduce the level of CL2.

One interesting contributing factor is that your hot water heater builds up contaminants that cause odors when the hot water is used. Hot water heaters need to be flushed periodically to prevent these build ups. Flushing once a year is usually sufficient and amazingly effective.

Rusty, yellow water comes from mineral deposits stirred up during hydrant flushing, fire-fighting, line breaks or maintenance. The local fire department lists scheduled hydrant flushing in the newspaper. Try not to use water during these times to avoid pulling deposits into your home's plumbing.

Rusty water will generally clear up within 2-3 hours after the line is repaired or hydrant closed. You will need to run your cold water for several minutes to flush the rusty water from the lines in your house. Try not to run the hot water because that can deposit rust in your hot water tank.

If your laundry gets stained by rusty water, keep it moist. Buy a rust remover and follow the directions on the package.

Cloudy or milky-looking water is usually caused by dissolved air bubbles in the water. Air bubbles are harmless and are caused by pressure changes, temperature changes, water that is too hot (above 140° F) and faucet aerators. To check for air bubbles, fill a glass container with water: if the cloudiness is caused by air bubbles, it will clear from the bottom of the container toward the top.

Black, brown or rusty particles can be caused by minerals breaking loose during hydrant flushing, line breaks or line maintenance. Flush your lines by running the cold water for several minutes. If the water does not clear, the particles could be coming from breakthroughs in your hot water heater or filter system. Call a licensed plumber to investigate the problem.

If white or tan particles are floating on the surface of the water, the problem may be coming from your hot water heater. The plastic dip tubes in water heaters often disintegrate with pieces going through the plumbing or being trapped in faucet aerators. Call a licensed plumber to investigate the problem.

Bacteria, fungus and mold spores normally found in the air can cause rings in your toilet bowl. Wet surfaces provide ideal conditions, and the organisms reproduce rapidly, growing together to form a ring. The color of the ring depends on the species of bacteria, mold or fungus.

You can easily remove the rings with a toilet bowl brush and household cleaners. Close the toilet lid to reduce the number of spores and reduce the light needed for growth.

Scientists have not yet discovered why pinhole leaks occur. National experts currently think that pitting in pipes can start from many factors, including:
- Substandard pipe manufacturing
- Improper installation
- Improper electrical grounding
- Excess plumbing flux

Not necessarily. Check the bottled water label or contact the bottled water supplier for test results on their product. Under special circumstances, such as an emergency, bottled water is a good choice.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates public water systems. As shown in our Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), City of Tybee Island’s water supply meets all federal and state EPA drinking water standards. Bottled water must comply with Food and Drug Administration regulations, which must be equal to EPA standards for drinking water. Most required monitoring under the FDA regulations is not as frequent as the monitoring done on City of Tybee Island’s water.

Depending on the source of the water and the treatment process, some bottled waters may contain more or less amounts of substances than tap water. Some studies have shown that microbial growth may occur in bottled water during storage due to the lack of residual disinfectant. City of Tybee Island adds chlorine to its system to control microbial growth.

People with compromised immune systems should check the water quality test results for City of Tybee Island and the bottled water supplier, and consult their doctor before deciding which source is best for them.

EPA publications contain more information about drinking water and your health. Read them on the