Frequently Asked Questions about Drinking Water Systems
- How can I tell if my drinking water is safe?
- How can I reduce the nitrate-nitrogen concentration in my private drinking water?
- Is water with high concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen safe for use in laundry, showers and cleaning?
- What causes slime in the toilet tank?
- What is shock chlorination?
- Does it make sense to have our private drinking water checked for fluoride?
Q 1. How can I tell if my drinking water is safe?
A: The quality of water delivered by a public water supply is regulated by the U.S. Safe Drinking Water act and Nebraska law. If your water comes from a public water supply, contact the water supplier for information on the quality of your water. To determine the quality of water supplied by a private water supply, the owner or user voluntarily can have the water tested by a certified laboratory.
There is no single test to determine the safety of drinking water. Tests for nitrate and bacteria are often used as general indicators of the safety of private drinking water. However, testing for bacteria and nitrate does not guarantee water is safe, as other contaminants could be present. Tests for additional substances should be done if a specific contaminant is suspected. This could happen as a result of a spill, backflow, use of product in close proximity to well or other such event. If any contaminant is detected in a nearby private or public well, private water users in close proximity should consider testing their water supply for the contaminant.
Q 2. The nitrate-nitrogen concentration of my private drinking water is over 10 parts per million. How can I reduce the concentration?
A: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted 10 parts per million (ppm) as the maximum contaminant level for nitrate-nitrogen in public water systems. Users of private water supplies might voluntarily try to meet the EPA standard of 10 ppm. For more information on EPA standards, follow this link to their website. Nitrate can be reduced in drinking water by three methods:
- Distillation, which involves heating the water to boiling and collecting and condensing the steam. Merely boiling water will increase rather than decrease the nitrate concentration.
- Reverse osmosis, which applies pressure to force the water through a semi permeable membrane that filters the water.
- Ion exchange operates on the same principle as a household water softener, however, special anion exchange resins are used.
Q 3. The nitrate-nitrogen concentration of my drinking water is over 20 ppm. Is the water safe to use for laundry, showers and cleaning?
A: Yes. The health hazard from water with nitrate-nitrogen is from ingestion and not from using water for non-consumption purposes.
Q 4. I noticed slime in the toilet tank. What is causing this?
A: Slime in the tank could be caused by iron or manganese bacteria. These bacteria are nonpathogenic (not health threatening). They occur naturally and feed on iron or manganese in the water. One result is slime production: red-brown from iron, or black-brown from manganese. The most common approach to control iron and manganese bacteria is shock chlorination of the system.
Q 5. What is shock chlorination?
A: Shock chlorination is the introduction of a strong chlorine solution into the entire water distribution system (well, pump, distribution pipeline, hot water heater). Shock chlorination is an effective treatment method to eliminate pathogenic bacteria in drinking water supplies. It can also be effective in managing iron, manganese and/or sulfur bacteria.
Q 6. We have a private well. Our dentist asked us to have the water checked for fluoride. Does this make sense?
A: Yes. Your dentist wants to know the fluoride concentration in your drinking water in order to develop an appropriate dental care plan. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element and virtually all water sources will contain some fluoride. A study of fluoride in Nebraska's groundwater reported a range of concentrations from less than 0.1 ppm to 2.6 ppm.
