(May 17, 2010) - Memphis Light, Gas and Water has begun mailing its annual Water Quality Report to residential water customers this week following National Drinking Water Week that occurred May 2-8. The report culminates a year of laboratory tests revealing that Memphis water is free of contaminants and safe to drink.

All community water systems are required to prepare and distribute an annual water quality report, also referred to as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), according to a 1996 Congressional amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water including microbial, inorganic, and organic. Specialists in MLGW's Water Quality Assurance Laboratory perform numerous tests throughout the year to monitor such components of Memphis' water. The 2009 test results reveal our water to be well within the designated limits, and meeting or exceeding all water quality standards set by the EPA and TDEC.

The reports are being mailed to coincide with National Drinking Water Week, established more than 30 years ago by the American Water Works Association to foster public awareness of drinking water

To learn more about National Drinking Water Week, visit www.awwa.org. For an online copy of MLGW's Water Quality Report, visit www.mlgw.com.

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 429,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County. An April 2010 survey showed that MLGW has the second lowest combined (electric, natural gas, water and wastewater) residential rates out of 50 major U.S. cities.