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If you have fresh water, consider yourself privileged.  In the U.S.A., as regulated by federal and state standards, the municipal water supplies must be screened regularly for 71 major contaminants and treated for any problems such as microbial pathogens, radioactive elements, and certain toxic chemicals.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issues water quality standards; drinking water should be free of coliform bacteria.  The EPA drinking water standards indicate that water should contain less than one coliform organism in 100 millimeters.

 

If your water supply comes from a private well, you are personally responsible for testing and treating the water to avoid health risk.  You should be concerns about microbial pathogens (bacteria, virus, and parasites) in the water supply. The EPA recommends that you do annual analysis for bacteria and nitrate.  These contaminants can enter your well through cracked ground pipes or in runoff from snow and rain.  Depending on where you live, you may also periodically test for arsenic, radium and radon (radon is an issue in northeastern states), and several other dangerous substances.  These occur naturally in the soil and water in certain areas of the country.  Your health department can tell you what to check for and can direct you to certified testing laboratories.  A basic test for nitrates and bacteria costs less than $100.  Look in the local advertisement under “water analysis”.

 

Some contaminations such as radon, disinfection-by-products, and some organic chemicals easily turn into gases and may pose a risk when inhaled such as when showering.  A point of entry device water treatment can reduce concentrations of these contaminants and others that cause aesthetic problems such as scaling, staining, or odor.

 

Should a water test detect lead or pesticides, a simple filter-either a pitcher with a filtering device built in or a faucet mounted system (look for the one that is NSF-The National Sanitation Foundation-certified) is all a healthy adult needs.

 

If the coliform test was reported as contaminated, take these steps:

1        Disinfect your well.

2        Resample the well and have a second coliform test done.

3        If possible, find and correct the source of bacteria contamination.

 

People with health concerns, in particular, those with immune systems that are weakened by AIDS, chemotherapy or transplanted medications are more vulnerable to microbial contaminants in drinking water such as Cryptosporidium, or other cyst organisms.  If you want to take extra measures to avoid water borne microbes such as Cryptosporidium you can boil your drinking water.  Boiling water is the most effective way of killing bacteria.  Bring water to a boil for a full minute.  A little longer (3 minutes) if you are at altitude greater than one mile.  Over boiling can concentrate chemical impurities such as nitrates.

 

Emergency Disinfection Measures:

 

During an emergency and to disinfect small quantities of water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth, temporary measures are sometimes necessary.  These methods are not recommended for general or regular use.

1        Chlorine bleach.  Add 10 drops of household chlorine bleach (5% available chlorine) to one quart of water.  Mix the treated water thoroughly and let it stand for 30 minutes.  If the water does not have a slight chlorine odor, repeat the dosage and allow it to stand for another 15 minutes.  If the water tastes too strongly of chlorine expose it to the air for a few hours.

2        Granular calcium hypochlorite.  Add a heaping teaspoon of calcium hypochlorite (70% available chlorine) to 2 gallons of water.  Use one pint of this chlorine solution in 200 gallons of water.

3        Chlorine tablets.  Add one tablet per one quart of water.  Read the manufacture’s direction carefully.

4        Iodine tablets.  Add one tablet per one quart of water.  Check label for quantity to use.     

 

To check water quality on your own, you can start by examining your sinks and bathtubs.  If they appeared to be discolored or if the fixtures are pitted, your water may be leaching lead from the water pipes.  You can check the lead content of your water with a simple home test that is available in hardware stores for about $10. 

 

 To reduce lead in your water:  If you have tested your water and know that it has high levels of lead, if your home has lead pipes, or if the water has not been used for several hours, flush the cold water tap by running it until it becomes cold.  Lead accumulates after extended contact with lead pipes.  You may use this flushed water to water plants and do other household chores.  Another option to remove lead, nitrates, and most other contaminants-short of replacing your water pipes-is to install an under the sink reverse osmosis water filter.  This device forces water through a membrane that traps contaminants and sends purified water to a holding tank ready for use.

 

Water is a non renewable resource.  There is no more fresh water on the planet today than there was 2,000 years ago.  Yet, the world’s population has grown by more than six billion people.  Chronic fresh water shortages are in progress.  We all need to do more to protect Earth’s resources for future generations.