ESOP evaluates drinking water quality to ensure that radiological constituents have not affected community drinking water systems adjacent to and downstream of SRS.

ESOP collects monthly drinking water composite samples from drinking water systems that use both the upper and lower portion of the Savannah River as a resource (Drinking Water Quality Monitoring locations). Additional drinking water facilities that use other surface water sources in the vicinity of SRS are also sampled on a monthly basis. In total, approximately 254,000 customers are served from these drinking water facilities.

DHEC’s ARESD laboratory analyzes the samples for gross alpha-, non-volatile beta-, and gamma-emitting radionuclides; whereas, DHEC’s Midlands Aiken EA office tests samples for tritium.