Identifying a Water Quality Problem

Water is never 100 percent pure. It generally contains contaminants from natural and man-made sources, such as minerals, gases, bacteria, metals and chemicals. Many of these contaminants are harmless but have some impurities that can adversely affect your health. Others damage equipment, stain laundry and fixtures and emit odors.

To eliminate exposure to water-borne contaminants one must first assess their water.  If the water comes from a public/municipal system, one can know that their water is regularly tested  for contaminants regulated by federal and state standards, such as microbial pathogens, radioactive elements and certain toxic chemicals.  These are the kind of contaminants that can affect the safety of water.  Other factors such as hardness, corrosivity, foaming, staining or bad tastes, smell or color do not necessarily make water unhealthful but are reasons to consider a water treatment system.

If your water supply is a private well, you are personally responsible for testing and treating the water to avoid health risks. One of your major concerns should be microbial pathogens (bacteria, virus and parasites) in the water supply. This is especially important if your well is near a septic tank, or an area subject to animal wastes or nitrates. For further information, request a copy of "Water Quality Problems - Health and Household and Testing for Water Quality from your Cooperative Extension Service agent."

If you are concerned about or dissatisfied with the quality of your water, have it tested by a state-certified laboratory. The analysis will identify the contaminants that are present and the extent of the problem. Determining which contaminants are present is essential in selecting a treatment system. Many types of water treatment systems are available. Each type of system is designed to treat specific water quality problems. No single water treatment system will treat all problems and all systems have limits.

Source: University of Georgia
Prepared by: Dale Dorman, Extension Housing Specialist
http://www.engr.uga.edu/service/extension/publications/c819-10c.html