|
Do I need a water test if the water supply
is "town water", "city water" or "public"?
Generally, you do not need to test the water in your
potential home if it is a "public water supply", supplied by the town
or city. Towns and cities are required to supply water that has met EPA
standards for safe drinking.
However, there are a couple of instances that come to mind
where you might want to perform some testing:
- A "lead in water" test can disclose if lead is leaching
into your drinking water either from the pipes leading into the home, or from the
pipes (and pipe solder) in the home.
- Very occasionally, towns and cities do experience
problems with their water supplies. We suggest that you contact
the town where the home is located and ask
- (1) if their water supply
currently meets ALL EPA requirements for safe drinking
- (2) do they ever experience any
problems with such things as supply, bacteria, etc.
- Occasionally, in-home water filtration systems,
water filters and water fixtures can harbor bacteria or contaminants.
Can You Help Me Interpret My Water Test
Results?
Yes, we do provide some information in our
website under "Water
Quality Testing"
My water looks, smells and tastes great,
why do I need a water test?
Because it's quite possible to be drinking contaminated water
for years without knowing it. Often the most harmful contaminants have no
obvious odors, colors or tastes.
The government tests the water and gave me a
clean report. Why should I test it?
Because there are many ways that water can become contaminated
between the treatment plant and your faucet. Water should be tested at the point
of use.
What should I test for? If there are so many
risks, doesn't it just make sense to get my water tested for EVERYTHING?
While it is certainly possible to test for everything,
this approach is very impractical because it is an expensive and time-consuming
process. (Imagine going to the doctor and having him test you for EVERYTHING
imaginable rather than assessing your symptoms, history and lifestyle.)
The EPA recommends that everyone test for coliform bacteria, arsenic, nitrate
and lead. We provide packages that include these vital contaminants as well as
other common indicators of contamination.
I have a private well, that was tested
when it was installed, why should I test?
Because contaminants seep into groundwater and can affect your
drinking supply and this can change without your awareness. Well water must be
tested on a regular basis.
Doesn't Mother Nature purify water on her own?
Yes. As rain trickles through the ground, it does become
cleaner. Wetlands also help remove impurities. Unfortunately, wetlands are being
diminished. Gas stations, shopping malls, grazing, mining, oil exploration,
forestry; all impair nature's ability to purify water. Some large sources of
water have become reservoirs for pollution. This occurs as sediments in rivers
and lakes retain toxic chemicals from years gone by, and as they absorb new
chemicals being dumped. Large bodies of water can absorb pollution from the air
when particulate matter in rain and snow is deposited in them.
Why can't I just buy a water filter?
Because there is NO ONE filter that will correct
EVERY water problem. For example, you can filter out minerals and still have
bacteria. In fact, a cheap filter can become so loaded with bacteria in a few
weeks that what comes out of it may be worse than what came in. If your water
needs treatment, it must be treated for your specific problem.
I have a filter. How do I know if it's
working?
You don't. It is almost impossible to say before
installing the system and sending the filtered water to a testing company for
verification. Variations of water condition can affect the performance of a
filter. Maintenance issues within your filter can also change its effectiveness.
The only way to know if your filter is working is to have your water tested on
an ongoing basis.
I can get a FREE water test from any company
that sells filters, why should I PAY for a water test?
Because those companies are not in the water testing business,
they are in the business of selling water filters. This creates a conflict of
interests, and you may wind up spending money to treat a problem that doesn't
exist. It is best to use an independent company, such as Maida Services.
Our water tests are performed by a certified water testing laboratory.
I don't live in a heavily polluted area, what
could possibly contaminate my drinking water?
There are many potential causes of water contamination. Here
are just a few things that could be near you:
• Mines
• Gas Stations
• Industrial Facilities
• Old Cemeteries
• Farm fields
• Dumps
• Improper disposal of paints, motor oils, etc. on private land.•
• Recreational use of the public water supply.
• Lead pipes in the home.
• Septic Systems
• Acid Rain
• Decaying Matter or other natural contamination
• Etc.
Water can travel hundreds of miles in underground rivers or aquifers.
How many types of contamination are there?
While there are many specific types of contamination, it can be sorted out into
four broad categories: Different types of contamination require different
solutions.
• Microbial Pollutants (Such as bacteria and e-coli.)
• Inorganic Chemical Pollutants (IOCs) (Usually of mineral origin.)
• Organic Chemical Pollutants (Man made chemicals such as VOC's and
Pesticides.)
• Radiological Pollutants (Radioactivity.)
Why do environmentalists worry about finding a
few parts per billion of some rare chemical?
They worry because tiny amounts of certain contaminants may
slowly cause cancer or other diseases over a lifetime. Often water with a low
level of contamination may have no adverse affect on healthy adults, but it can
cause SEVERE symptoms in babies, children, the elderly, or people with
compromised immune systems. Why risk irreversible damage when it is so easy to
test your water?
I don't understand what a part per billion is.
Can you clarify this?
Most of the chemical data that is reported for water is
expressed as a concentration: a mass of chemical per unit volume of water.
In VERY basic conceptual terms:
One-Part-Per-Million can be thought of as -- one inch in 16 miles or one cent in
$10,000.
One-Part-Per-Billion can be thought of as -- one silver dollar in a roll of
silver dollars stretching from Detroit to Salt Lake City, or one second of time
in 32 years.
It is EXTREMELY MISLEADING to interpret these analogies to minimize the
magnitude of the risks. Miniscule amounts of certain contaminants can poison
water.
My water doesn't taste good, yet it tested out
O.K. What does this mean?
There are two types of water problems: Primary problems -- the
dangerous sort of problem and Aesthetic problems -- things that affect the
taste, look or smell of the water. Strange as it may seem, you could have an
aesthetic problem (such as detectable chlorine) which may not pose an actual
health risk.
What do I do if I find out my water is unsafe?
If there are multiple problems, each problem should be
addressed separately. The general procedure you should follow is:
1. Switch to bottled water for consumption until you have the problem solved.
(Consumption isn't just drinking, it's cooking, washing produce, making ice
cubes, water for pets, etc.)
2. Call your County or State Health Department for specific information and
instructions on how to treat the problem.
3. Track down the SOURCE of the contamination.
4. Once you have addressed the problem, have follow up testing done on a regular
basis.
I'm afraid that if I find a problem with my
water from a company that isn't in the filter business, I won't be able to solve
the problem.
We will make sure that you not only understand any problems,
but we are happy to discuss available water treatment solutions or technologies
available without endorsing any particular brands. This gives you the best of
both worlds - solid information and freedom of choice.
BACK
TO: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
| 
