How safe is your water?

Jahniah McGill, MPH StudentWalden University

PUBH-6165-7/PUBH-8165-7 Environmental Health

Professor Rebecca Heick

Goals

• What is a well?• What could be in my water?

• Why should I care?• How do I make sure my water is safe?

Freshwater Sources

• Only 3% of the Earth’s water is Freshwater• 2/3 of the 3% is frozen• ~1% of freshwater is available for

consumption• 2/3 of the ~1% is groundwater with the rest

being surface water sources

Where does the water come from?

• Most major water utilities use surface water to supply ~ 240 million people

• ~50% of Americans retrieve their water from a groundwater source

• 15% of Americans supply their own water supply via a private well

• 22-38% of all private wells are contaminated with coliform bacteria

Groundwater Wells

Water Quality

• Physical

• Chemical

• Biological

• Radiological

Physical Properties

• Turbidity – >5.0

• Color– Red or black tints

• Temperature• Taste• Odor– Algae and hydrogen sulfide

Chemical Properties

• Inorganic chemicals– Nitrate, fluoride, arsenic

• Organic chemicals– Pesticides, gasoline additives

• General minerals– Calcium, pH, iron

Biological factors

Coliform bacteria are commonly used as indicators for water quality.

Coliforms are abundant in the feces of warm-blooded animals, but can also be found in the aquatic environment, in soil and on vegetation (wiki).

Radiological Factors

Hazardous waste run-off

Uranium

Regulated systems vs. Individual systems

• Regulated Water Systems:– Total Coliform Rule

• Monitoring for coliform P/A – Groundwater Rule

• If water is contaminated disinfection may be required– MCL’s

• Maximum Contaminant Level’s

Individual systems - 18’ minimum casing

What should you do?

• Know your Water source!!!!!!!!!

• Test Regularly!!!!!!!

• Protect your Water source!!!!!!

Testing

Minimally test for Coliform Annually

What is the pH of your water?

Is there Nitrate/Nitrite in your water?

Protect your water source

• Is the well sealed from the surface?

• Is surface water able run-away from the wellhead?

• Are you doing all you can to protect your water source?

Need more information?

Need to know how to take a sample?www.Hubpages.com/hub/how-to-take-drinking-water-sample

Want to know more about water quality?www.water.usgs.gov/owq/916-445-5194 – EHS-Net Drinking Water ProgramCdph.ca.gov – (California Resource)

Need help NOW?... There’s always 911 http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html or contact your

local Environmental Health Department to assist you.

Fare “WELL”

I hope this presentation was helpful and informative.

Thank you for your time…

ReferencesSchneider, Mary-Jane (2006) Introduction to Public Health. Massachusetts: Jones and

Bartlett.CDPH & CSU Sacramento, Office of Water Programs. 2008. Basic small water system

operations. California Department of Public Health.Drinking water standards for regulated contaminants.28 Dec. 2006. U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA). http://epa.gov/safewater/therule.html#phaseVPrivate Drinking Water Wells. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retrieved April

11,2009 from http://epa.gov/privatewells/basic_dug.htmlHow do we use water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retrieved April 11, 2009

from http://epa.gov/watersense/water/save/use.htmlEHS-Net Drinking Water Program. Is my well water safe? Informational pamphlet retrieved

April 15, 2009 at 2009 AES conference. Available via Joyce.Tuttle@cdph.ca.gov