The average family of four uses 300 to 400 gallons of water each and every day. Up to two percent of that water comes from drinking water, the remaining amount is classified as working water, that used in toilets or for bathing, watering the lawn and other non-drinking purposes. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with WQA and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by WQA.]
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With that amount of water being used for daily living, it is critical that consumers know exactly what’s running through their taps. Taste, color, odor and staining of clothes and fixtures are all signs of possible water quality problems.
Consumers first need to know where their water is coming from. If the water entering the home comes from a municipal water supply, homeowners can check their municipality’s annual water quality report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report. Generally, these documents come with consumer water bills once a year in July and contain information on the contaminants found in the water supply, the possible health effects caused by consuming these contaminants, and the water’s source.
Private water supplies are another matter. If consumers receive their water from a well, it is their responsibility to monitor the water quality and take proper precautions to ensure it’s safe for home use. The EPA recommends testing this water annually for common contaminants to establish a record of water quality, which can be helpful in solving future problems and obtaining compensation if someone damages the home’s water supply.
Whatever the water source, it’s important that all homeowners regularly monitor their water quality and take appropriate actions to keep water quality high. While municipalities control the quality of the water as it leaves the water system, they do not regularly monitor the water pipes that take water to the home, and do not inspect water pipes in the home.
There are visual indicators and laboratory tests that can give homeowners insight into the quality of their water. A helpful guide to water quality exists on the Water Quality Association’s Web site at www.wqa.org.
The WQA Water Quality Symptom Search Engine enables consumers to gather information about their water based on color, deposits, smell, spots, stains and taste. This search engine helps pinpoint the contaminants that may be present in a home’s water. For instance, blue/green colored water may indicate the presence of copper, while a salty taste may signify the presence of chloride.
Evidence of possible contaminants warrants a closer look. A state-certified laboratory can test water samples. The WQA Web site can help homeowners find a testing laboratory. A list of labs is also found on the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.
Conducting a comprehensive water analysis that determines the presence of harmful contaminants in the water, such as lead, arsenic or volatile organic compounds, and then taking steps to remove these contaminants is the only way to be certain of water quality. Here the WQA can also help. WQA provides a list of qualified water professionals by locality who can help remediate poor water quality conditions. This list is available at www.wqa.org.
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