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If you rely on public drinking water, your water comes from a public system where it is monitored and tested. There is a National Primary Drinking Water Standard that public systems must follow.
The water company you rely on is required to notify you when contaminants are in the water provided that can cause illness or other problems to your health. Regardless of what state you’re in, you can always access an annual report of your state and county’s water. You can also contact your local health departments for water quality reports.
The rules are completely different if you rely on a private water supply. If you do not receive your water from a public water system or receive your drinking water from a household well, your water is not tested or protected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You are solely responsible for your water’s quality and any contaminants that it may contain.
Suburban Water Technology collects water samples and sends them to a state certified lab for testing. From here we’re able to determine what contaminants may be present in your water, and determine a proper treatment method to quickly resolve these issues.
If you’re in Pennsylvania like we are, it has been stated that surveys indicate about half of private water supplies have never been tested. Considering there are one million home’s relying on private water supplies, there is a high chance your water has never been tested.
For public and private water systems, there are a variety of issues that can be present. In public drinking water there can be chloramine, arsenic, lead, PFAS, and more within your drinking water. While public drinking water is treated, there can still be high levels of contaminants.
For example you may recall the Flint, Michigan public water crisis. Their public drinkwater was contaminated with lead.
Besides there being potential chemicals in your drinking water, you may also be generally dissatisfied due to the taste, color, or odor of your water.
If you have a private well, your water is not protected or regulated like public drinking water is. Public drinking water systems have to follow rules created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure the water is protected. With a privately owned well, it is up to you to ensure your water is safe to drink.
As a private well owner, it is recommended you test your drinking water once a year. If you have any sudden changes (taste, color, odor) in your water quality, it is highly recommended you test your water more frequently until the issue is resolved. Your local health department may have different suggestions depending on where you live.
To ensure you’re not consuming contaminants that can make you ill, routine testing is recommended for the top few most common contaminants. This includes coliform bacteria, nitrates, and total dissolved solids.
More frequent testing is recommended if you have a baby and/or small children, if someone is pregnant or nursing that resides with you, or if elderly adults live in your home.
You should always have someone test your water that uses a state certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests.
Tips to Prevent Well Water Pollution
Keep contaminants away from your water supply by managing the area around your well. Here are a few tips you can easily maintain to avoid polluting the water:
There are many more tips you can find online, but these few will help ensure that you prevent unwanted contaminants from entering your well, protecting you and your family.
If the water you rely on has been found to exceed health standards, you should contact a water treatment company near you. A water treatment company can recommend specific treatment plans, add controlled amounts of disinfection chemicals to your water such as chlorine, and create a custom treatment plan.
There are various treatment options that can be installed such as a reverse osmosis unit, ultraviolet disinfection unit, a water softener, and more. All of these options can quickly and effectively remove bacteria, chemicals, and contaminants from your drinking water.
If you’re in Pennsylvania or New Jersey we’d love to help you get the water quality you need and deserve. With our 60+ years of experience and knowledge, we can quickly come up with a treatment plan to resolve your issues. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our team of water treatment professionals.
Gilbertsville Office
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