What’s In Your Water?
Water Quality Considerations for Your Campus, Community or Organization
| CONSIDERATION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Cloudy or Murky Water – may indicate elevated mineral concentrations, which could pose consumption and/or functional concerns. While the presence of organic minerals in water is expected, their levels should be carefully monitored. |
| Odor | Odorous Water – Chlorine is widely used to eradicate bacteria and ensure water sanitation. It typically dissipates swiftly within the water supply, and its odor should not be noticeable. If the smell of chlorine is detectable, it indicates a potential hazard to potability. Similarly, a rotten-egg odor suggests the presence of sulfur. A detergent-like odor is indicative of disease-causing microorganisms often attributed to septic discharge. Any of these odors in the water supply nay indicate that it is unsafe for consumption. |
| Taste | ‘Funny-Tasting’ Water – If water tastes like chlorine, petroleum, or gasoline, there may be a potential health hazard. A taste resembling iron or copper may actually contain traces of these metals originating from water pipes. While the presence of iron in water is not generally cause for concern, excessive copper consumption can lead to copper toxicity, and symptoms such as severe headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin). |
| Source Water | The Water You Start With – Source water contaminants vary in concentration and generally fall under the following classifications: Heavy metals, organic and inorganic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, pathogens, and radionuclides. |
| Delivery System | Physical Infrastructure – Whether they originate from the source or local water utility, or the delivery system on your campus, community, or at your facility, the pipes, storage facilities, valves, and pumps that provide potable water or water for fire protection, agricultural, or other uses, can degrade or be compromised. |
| Environment | Environmental Impacts – Water quality varies naturally with location and time, and can be influenced by many factors, including precipitation, climate, soil type, vegetation, geology, flow conditions, ground water, and human activities. Effluent from a factory or the long-term impacts of industries such as mining represent a significant threat to to water quality. Each will have a localized, signature impact on source water quality. |
| Population Served | Who You Are Serving – The size and nature of the population for which you are responsible at your facility, campus, or community will also be a factor in your decision-making. Although a healthy environment is critical for all, younger populations tend to be impacted more when there are water issues, as are pregnant women, and those with health disparities. Special consideration may also need to be made for those populations that lack in social capital, or where language barriers may typically provide obstacles to positive outcomes. |
| Liability | Legal Ramifications – We live in a litigious society, so managing your risk is more than prudent, it is a necessity. Yes, you want to do the right thing anyway, but there is also great value in protecting your organization from litigation. |
How Do You Find Out More?
Before You Test, Tap Into Existing Publicly-Available Water Quality Data.
Environmental Working Group
The EWG touts this platform as the “largest resource of free and openly accessible data on U.S. drinking water.” It should provide you with a good starting point before you localize.
US Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA notes that this platform’s data comes from “over 900 federal, state, and tribal agencies, watershed organizations, and other groups.” It is another excellent source of preliminary information.
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