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| Frequently
Asked Questions About Water Quality |
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| Below are the questions most frequently asked by callers to the
Dobbin Plantersville Water Supply Corporation's Customer Service
Line (936) 894-2506: |
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Does our water meet safe standards
set by the EPA and TCEQ?
What substances do we test for?
Who analyzes these samples?
What if a contaminant is found in the water?
What is the difference between "regulated contaminants" and "unregulated
constituents?
What extra precautions can immunocompromised
people take?
What is the pH (acidity level) of my water?
How hard is my water?
What is TDS?
What about lead in my water?
Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?
Why is my water cloudy or milky looking?
Do I need to flush out my hot water heater?
Why am I having problems getting my laundry clean?
What is a Cross-Connection?
Should I test my private well, and how do I get it tested?
What about home water treatment devices?
Where can I find out more about water
quality, water quality terminology and
what the terms mean? |
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| Does our water meet safe standards set by the
EPA and TCEQ? |
We are pleased to report that the Dobbin Plantersville Water Service
Corporation has an unblemished record in supplying our customers
with clean, safe drinking water. Reference
our "Water Quality" page for more information.
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| What substances do we test for? |
Several State and Federal Regulatory Agencies govern water quality
and testing of public water supply systems. Your drinking water is
regularly sampled and tested for harmful bacteria, mineral and heavy
metal contaminants and other constituents. Reference
our "Water Quality" page for more detail.
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| Who analyzes these samples? |
All samples are analyzed by Nova
Biologicals Inc., a TCEQ approved
lab in Conroe TX.
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| What if a contaminant is found in the water? |
No sample has had concentrations of any contaminant that fail to
meet TCEQ and EPA drinking water quality standards. If a sample failed
to meet one of these standards, the Water Utility would take immediate
action
to correct the problem and would
issue an alert with guidance on how to protect yourself and your family until
the problem was corrected.
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| What is the difference between "regulated
contaminants" and "unregulated
constituents"? |
"Regulated Contaminants" are heavy metals,
arsenic and other potential water contaminants that have been shown
to cause or have potential
to cause illness in healthy individuals. These contaminants are those
that are regulated by regulatory agencies for all public water supply
systems in the US by state and federal agencies. "Unregulated
Constituents"
are other minerals, chemicals and biological agents that although
they may effect perceived water quality in various ways such as pH,
hardness,
taste and
smell,
have
not been shown to have an adverse effect on healthy individuals.
The Dobbin Plantersville Water Supply is regularly tested for unregulated
constituents. You should contact the DP Water office if you want
to review the latest reports.
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| What extra precautions can immunocompromised
people take? |
Giardia
and Cryptosporidium are microscopic parasites that can be found in
water. Giardia causes an intestinal illness called giardiasis
or "beaver fever." Cryptosporidium is responsible for a
similar illness called cryptosporidiosis.
Both parasites, but particularly Cryptosporidium, can pose a more
serious threat to immunocompromised people, such as those living
with AIDS or cancer, or transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive
drugs. For these people, the symptoms are more severe and can be
life threatening.
It is presently unknown whether immunocompromised individuals
are at greater risk of contracting giardiasis or cryptosporidiosis
than the general public. Nevertheless, immunocompromised individuals
should discuss these risks with their physicians. People who wish
to take extra precautions can boil their water for one minute to
kill any parasites that may be present. This practice will also
destroy any other microorganisms that might be of concern to these
individuals. As bottled water is not routinely monitored for Giardia
and Cryptosporidium, its suitability as an alternative to boiled
tap water is unknown.
For those households that are home for immunocompromised individuals
and are on a private well system (tending to be shallow) we
highly recommend visiting the EPA's
resources on private wells and private
well
water quality,
especially considering the high incedence of agriculture and livestock
in
the affected
areas. Owners of private wells in agricultural and livestock regions
need to be particulary attuned to issues of Nitrates and Coliform
contaminants
in shallow private wells.
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| What is the pH (acidity level) of my water? |
All wells in the system in both Grimes and Montgomery
Counties are tapped into the same aquifer and consequently have a
close pH
range of around 7.1 - 7.27. (Note: pH is measured on a scale of 0
to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral,
a pH level above 7 indicates alkalinity, and pH levels of less than 7 indicate
acidity.)
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| How hard is my water? |
"Hardness" refers to the calcium and magnesium content
of water. The water produced from the wells in the DP Water System
tend to be "moderately hard" ranging between 152 and 269 mg/L.
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| What is TDS? |
In contrast to water hardness, the total amount of
all dissolved matter in the water is known as Total Dissolved Solids
or TDS. When
water evaporates or is heated, dissolved minerals are left behind.
For example, these dissolved minerals are the residue that collects
in hot water heaters.
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| What about lead in my water? |
Lead along with other metals tend to be introduced
into household drinking water through older metal plumbing fittings
in the house. If a particular
faucet is not used for a period with standing water, it is a good
practice to flush for a couple minutes before use. Hot water tends
to dissolve metals at a faster rate. Refer to our TCEQ Water Quality
Reports on the Water
Quality Page for the last tested levels of lead
in your county water supply.
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| Why does my water smell like rotten eggs? |
Bacteria growing in sink drains can make hydrogen
sulfide gas. The gas causes rotten egg smells that appear to be coming
from the
water. The smell is really coming from the drain. When water runs
down the drain, the gas is forced out where you can smell it. A cup
of household bleach poured down the drain will help kill the bacteria
and take care of the smell. Hot water heaters can also harbor bacteria
that cause rotten egg smells. If your sink drain is not the source,
check your hot water for rotten egg smells. If you are on a private
septic system you may want to consult a septic system specialist
before using bleach in your laundry or to treat this issue.
In recent years hot water
manufacturers have started making sacrificial anodes of different
materials for hot water heaters and may even recommend certain temperature
settings
to kill
bacteria. You should refer to your manufacturers literature, contact
the hot water heater manufacturer or a qualified plumbing specialist
if the source is the hot water supply.
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| Why is my water cloudy or milky looking? |
Water in the distribution system is under pressure.
Air sometimes dissolves in the water in the pressurized lines. At
the faucet, the
air gives water a "cloudy" or "milky" appearance.
In fact many faucets have aeration features built in. The quality
of the water is not affected by the entrained air. Let the water
stand in an open container for
a few
minutes.
The air
in
the
water
will
disperse
to the atmosphere.
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| Do I need to flush out my hot water heater? |
Customers sometimes report white particles that clog plumbing fixtures.
They may be bits of calcium carbonate scale coming from your water
heater. The scaling may be worsened because water heater thermostat
is too high. If the particles are calcium carbonate, you probably
need to flush your water heater. Many manufacturers recommend periodic
flushing of water heaters to remove sediment that can build up. The
sediment can cause discoloration of the water and can make the water
heater less efficient. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's owners
guide for your hot water heater.
Hot water heater manufacturers also make interchangeable anodes
for differing water conditions. Check your manufacturer and model
literature
for a note such as the one below:
"Each water heater contains at least one anode rod, which will
slowly deplete while protecting the glass-lined tank from corrosion
and
prolonging the life of the water heater. Certain water conditions
will cause a reaction between this rod and the water. Once the
anode is depleted, the tank will start to corrode, eventually developing
a leak. The most common complaint associated with the anode rod
is a “rotten egg smell” produced from the presence
of hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water. Do not remove this
rod permanently as it will void any warranties, stated or implied.
The parts list includes a special anode that can be ordered if
water odor or discoloration occurs. This rod may reduce but not
eliminate water odor problems."
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| Why am I having problems getting my laundry clean? |
The University
of Idaho has done exhaustive research on the quality of laundry
in water with differing constituents. Below, we have placed their
findings that may be relevant to our geographical area and the water
produced from the common aquifer:
Laundry Symptoms:
Dinginess or graying or yellowing.
General soil build-up.
Stiff, harsh feel to fabric.
White or gray streaks on colored fabrics.
Calcium and magnesium are usually the minerals that make water hard.
The greater their concentration, the harder the water.
Hard water doesn't clean as well as soft water because much of the
detergent added to the washer goes to soften the water instead of
to clean the clothes. This means you must use more detergent than
in soft water. Softening water by using more detergent has two drawbacks:
It is expensive and if the detergent contains phosphate that can
add to water pollution.
Heavy-duty liquid detergents remove soil in hard water almost
as well as powdered phosphate detergents and do not contribute
to water pollution. Soap and powdered detergents without phosphates
do not perform satisfactorily in hard water.
Solution:
To prevent problems, take two actions. First, use adequate amounts
of a low-sudsing phosphate detergent or heavy-duty liquid detergent
and wash with water as hot as recommended for the fabric. All
detergents perform better at higher temperatures in any quality
of water.
Secondly; Soften the water. You can soften water in the washer
with precipitating or nonprecipitating water conditioners, commonly
sold in grocery stores simply as "water conditioners."
Water softener systems that exchange sodium for calcium and magnesium
may also be connected to the water supply lines for the washer,
kitchen or entire house. These softeners will increase the sodium
content of the water, so persons on sodium-restricted diets should
consult their physicians before adding them to lines that supply
water for drinking and cooking.
To remedy existing problems, fill the washer with the hottest
water appropriate for the fabric. Add four times the normal amount
of phosphate detergent or liquid laundry detergent and 1 cup of
precipitating or nonprecipitating water conditioner.
Agitate the clothes just long enough to wet them, then soak them
overnight or for about 12 hours. Drain the wash water and spin
the clothes without agitating them. Finally, launder using the
regular cycle, no detergent and 1 cup of water conditioner.
If needed, repeat the laundering using 1 cup of water conditioner
and no detergent until no suds appear during the rinses. If fabrics
continue to be dingy, launder them with 1 cup water conditioner
and a bleach that is safe for the fabric. Follow package instructions
for the bleach.
Problem: Rusty or Red Water
Laundry Symptoms:
Yellow, red or brown stains.
Yellowing, especially when chlorine bleach is used.
Rusty water is caused by iron. The iron may come from the water
supply, from a water heater or from rusty metal parts in a well.
Iron bacteria may also cause the problem. Iron can be dissolved
in the water or suspended as particles.
Chlorine reacts with dissolved iron to form particles of iron that
settle out of the water. If the particles form in the washer during
chlorine bleaching, they will deposit in the fabric and cannot
be removed.
Solution:
Replacing a rusty water heater may solve the problem. Dissolved
iron may also be removed by water softening equipment, special
iron-removing equipment or filters, chlorination and filtration
through sand and carbon, or aeration followed by filtration through
sand. Chlorination and filtration also remove iron bacteria.
To remove rust stains from white and colorfast washable fabrics,
use a rust remover such as Rover. Follow product directions and
be sure to rinse all traces of rust remover from the fabric. Do
not use commercial rust removers in the washing machine.
Another method is to sprinkle salt on the spot and dampen it with
lemon juice. Dry the fabric in the sun then rinse.
Test both procedures on a hidden portion of the article first.
They may cause color changes. Take noncolorfast fabrics to a commercial
laundry for professional treatment.
Individuals on our water system have reported good success with
"Oxi-Clean" laundry products, which are available from a number
of retailers. If interested in purchasing such items over the Internet,
one reputable source can be found here.
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| What is a Cross-Connection? |
Contaminants from cross-connected plumbing can backflow
into drinking water supplies. A backflow is just what it sounds like:
water is
flowing in the opposite direction from its normal flow. Without proper
protection, something as useful as a garden hose can contaminate
the water supply inside your home. When you use a sprayer on the
end of a hose, a change in water pressure could cause the water,
and the chemicals, to flow in the opposite direction into your home.
You can install simple, inexpensive devices on water taps to prevent
backflow. To protect the water system from contamination, businesses
and institutions that use hazardous materials are required to install
backflow prevention devices. All irrigation systems must have backflow
prevention devices in place.
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| Should I test my private well, and how do I get it tested? |
We recommend that since private wells tend to be shallow and are
in a region heavily weighted with agriculture and livestock, that
anyone with a private well used for drinking water should follow
the guidelines for "Private Well Drinking Water" posted on the EPA's website.
For those living in Montgomery County , you can visit the the Montgomery
County Health Department at; Montgomery
County Environmental Health Services. A listing for the equivalent
in Grimes County could not be found, or was nonexistent.
We also recommend the services of NOVA,
a TCEQ approved lab in Conroe Texas.
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| What do I need to know about
home water treatment devices? |
Most people do not need to treat their drinking
water at home to make it safe. A home water treatment unit can
improve water's
taste, or provide an extra margin of safety for people more vulnerable
to the effects of waterborne illness (people with severely compromised
immune systems and children may have special needs). Consumers
who choose to purchase a home water treatment unit should carefully
read its product information to understand what they are buying,
whether it is a better taste or a certain method of treatment.
Be certain to follow the manufacturer's instructions for operation
and maintenance, especially changing the filter on a regular basis.
The EPA neither endorses nor recommends specific home water treatment
units. The EPA does register units that make germ-killing claims
(contact the National Antimicrobial Information Network at 800/447-6349
for more information). No single unit takes out every kind of drinking
water contaminant; you must decide which type best meets your needs.
For help in picking a unit, contact one of the following independent
non-profit organizations:
NSF
International (877/8-NSF-HELP), the Underwriters
Laboratories Inc. (888-547-8851), and the Water
Quality Association (630-505-0160). Both NSF International
and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. test and certify home water
treatment units. The Water Quality Association classifies units
according to the contaminants they remove as well as listing units
that have earned their “Gold Seal” approval. Water
treatment units certified by these organizations will indicate
certification on their packaging or labels.
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| Where can I find out more about water quality, water
quality terminology and
what the terms mean? |
The Water Quality Association has very good on-line resources,
including an on-line water
quality term glossary.
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