Determining Your Water Quality and What to Do About It

Contributed by a Chief Environmental Engineer at a Fortune 100 Company.

Have you ever wondered where your water came from, how it was treated, and whether it’s safe for drinking? The journey from source to tap involves several steps, all designed to ensure the water that reaches your home is clean and safe. However, it's important to stay informed and know what to do if you're concerned about the quality of your water.

The Journey of Your Water

The water you drink and use in your home is likely sourced from rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers. Municipal water systems collect this water, then treat it before distributing it to homes and businesses. The entire process—from sourcing to treatment to distribution—is closely monitored and regulated to meet safety standards set by government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

These regulations ensure that the water you drink is free from harmful contaminants and safe for everyday use. However, even though the water you receive is carefully treated and regulated, it’s still a good idea to know more about its quality and what actions you can take if you're concerned.

Accessing Your Water Quality Data

How do you know if your water is truly clean and safe? The good news is that you can access annual water quality reports to get the information you need. In the U.S., these reports are often called Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) and are required by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act for all community water systems serving more than 25 people.

These reports are typically published by municipal water companies and provide essential information about the quality of the water in your area. You can usually find these reports online through your water utility’s website or via EPA resources.

What Information Does a Water Quality Report Provide?

1. Source of Drinking Water: The report will tell you where your water comes from—whether it’s sourced from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater.

2. Contaminants and Their Levels: The report will list any contaminants found in the water and their concentrations. This can include things like bacteria, chlorine, lead, heavy metals, and more.

3. Compliance with Safety Standards: The report will confirm whether the water meets federal and state safety standards for drinking water.

4. Treatment Processes: The report will also detail the treatment methods used to ensure that the water is safe to drink, such as filtration, chlorination, or disinfection.

This information can help you understand the quality of your water and decide whether additional measures are necessary, such as using home water filters to remove specific contaminants.

Home Water Testing: A DIY Option

If you have concerns about your water quality, especially if you rely on a private well or just want to verify the municipal water data, home water testing can give you peace of mind. There are several ways to test your water at home:

• DIY Kits: You can buy simple test kits that allow you to check for common contaminants like chlorine, lead, or bacteria.
• Mail-in Laboratory Tests: These tests provide more comprehensive analysis by sending your sample to a professional lab for detailed results.
• Digital Meters: These devices can test for specific water quality factors like pH levels, total dissolved solids, and conductivity.

While these testing methods are relatively affordable and easy to use, they do have limitations. DIY kits are less accurate than professional lab tests, and they may not cover all potential contaminants. Regular testing is especially important for private well water, as it may not be treated by municipal systems and can be more prone to contamination from surrounding activities.

Next Steps: Point Source Water Treatment

If you find that your water quality isn’t up to par, or if you're looking to enhance the quality of your drinking and cooking water, you may want to consider point source water treatment. This refers to systems that treat water directly at the point of use—such as at the faucet or within your home.

These systems include technologies like:

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Units
• UV Filters
• Activated Carbon Filters

Benefits of Point Source Water Treatment

• Targeted Filtration: Point source systems are designed to address specific contaminants found in your water, such as heavy metals, chlorine, or bacteria.
• Compact and Cost-Effective: These systems are often compact, easy to install, and a cost-effective solution for households or small businesses that need localized water treatment.
• Improved Taste and Odor: Activated carbon filters, for example, can significantly improve the taste and odor of your water by removing chlorine or sulfur.
• Minimal Risk of Recontamination: Since the water is treated right before use, there is less chance for contaminants to re-enter the system.

Things to Keep in Mind

While point source water treatment systems are effective for treating specific water issues, they do have limitations. It’s important to maintain these systems properly—regular filter changes and system maintenance are key to ensuring they continue to work as intended. Additionally, it’s essential to understand the limitations of each system and choose the one best suited for your water’s unique needs.

The Bottom Line

Access to safe, clean water is something we often take for granted, but it's important to stay informed about where your water comes from and what’s in it. Water quality reports can provide transparency and give you the tools you need to make informed decisions about your water supply. Whether you're relying on municipal water or using a private well, knowing how to test your water and what steps to take if contamination is detected can help ensure the health and safety of your household.

Stay tuned for our next blog, where we’ll dive deeper into point source treatment systems and how they can help improve the quality of your drinking and cooking water.

If you’re looking for reliable water filtration options, be sure to check out Ella Co.'s top recommended water filtration systems—designed to meet your needs and improve the quality of your water.

Interested in learning about where your water comes from? Check our blog on the topic here.