There are many signs you may notice around your home or business that are
indicators of bad water, including:
- Spots on Glassware
- Bad Taste and Odor from Faucet
- Cloudy Water from Tap
- Chlorine Smell
- Staining on Bath Tub and Sink
- Sediment Around Faucets and in Pipes
- Dingy White Linens and Clothes
- Yellowish Teeth
- Dry Skin
- Irritated Eyes when Wearing Contacts
- Tangled, Coarse Hair
- High Energy Bills
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates drinking water quality in public water systems and sets limits for germs and chemicals in water. However, sometimes unsafe levels of harmful germs and chemicals contaminate public drinking water. The germs and chemicals can get in the water at its source (for example, ground water or water from lakes or rivers) or while water is traveling through the distribution system, after the water treatment plant has already removed germs and chemicals from source water.
How water gets contaminated
Germs and chemicals can get in drinking water at the water’s source or in the distribution system after the water has already been treated. Harmful germs and chemicals can get in the water from many sources, including:
- Fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals that have been applied to land near the water
- Concentrated feeding operations (large industrial animal farms)
- Manufacturing operations
- Sewer overflows
- Storm water
- Wildlife
- Rocks and soil that naturally have chemicals and minerals such as arsenic, radon, and uranium
- Cracks in water pipes or other problems in the distribution system
Germs that can contaminate tap water:
Cryptosporidium
Legionella
Campylobacter
Norovirus
E. coli O157
Rotavirus
Enterovirus
Salmonella
Giardia
Shigella
Hepatitis A virus
Chemicals that can contaminate tap water:
Arsenic
Nitrate
Copper
Radon
Lead