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Drinking Water: |
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 Nebraska will receive approximately $19.5 million for drinking water projects through the American Response and Recovery Act. Funds will be combined with existing Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and will be administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Communities being considered for funding would replace and upgrade infrastructure, replace old wells or treatment facilities with new ones that will provide better water quality, or install water meters. Water is an essential nutrient. Without it human life cannot survive. Water serves as the body’s transportation system, it is a lubricant, it is vital to the body’s biochemical reactions, it helps defend the body against shock, and it regulates body temperature. Maintaining a healthy water balance is critical. If you rely on a private drinking water supply, proper drinking water well design and construction is essential. In addition, it is important to protect your drinking water source. All water from natural sources contains dissolved substances. But drinking water does not need to be pure to be safe. The only way to know if drinking water quality is acceptable is through water testing. Water from a public or municipal supply is tested regularly and must meet federal and state guidelines for quality. Private drinking water testing and quality are not regulated by federal or state guidelines, but local county or city requirements may exist. Drinking water treatment may be an option for some water quality problems. Using bottled water may be another option. Different regulations apply to bottled water and tap water. Situations in Nebraska such as tornadoes, floods, and winter storms can reduce or eliminate the availability of safe drinking water. It's a good idea to store an emergency drinking water supply. Water use and conservation in the home varies, but most people use 70 to 100 gallons per person per day. You can become a more efficient water user by changing some simple practices and selecting efficient appliances and equipment.
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Did You Know?
The World Health Organization reports that a child dies every 8 seconds from a water-related disease. Our public water supplies are safe from such diseases due to source water protection and disinfection as needed. Private water supplies can be disinfected if needed with one-time shock chlorination or continuous chlorination.
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