The Importance of Water Quality Testing

It is important to find out if the water you drink is safe and if public waterways have been adversely affected by environmental conditions and public waste.  Identifying the water's physical, chemical and biological characteristics permits experts to determine whether it is suitable for drinking, agricultural irrigation, protection of aquatic life or any other use.

Testing

• Routine testing of public drinking water resources assists in ensuring that our water supply meets public health and environmental standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies.  According to the Clean Water Action group, close to 40 percent of our rivers fail to meet clean water standards and an estimated seven million Americans become sick each year from contaminated tap water.  Agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater secretions contribute to the contamination of our water resources. 

Public Water Systems

• The water from public water systems is generally of good quality because cities have the resources to comply with testing requirements.  Water from a public water system doesn’t usually need to be tested unless you experience gastrointestinal illness, suspect the presence of lead in pipes or otherwise suspect contamination.   Consumers concerned about water quality can request that their supplier provide copies of recent water treatment reports.

Private Water Systems

• Property owners are responsible for maintaining the quality of their private water supply by conducting their own testing.  They are also responsible for reducing potential pollution causes, ranging from household chemicals that contaminate groundwater after incorrect disposal to private septic systems that have not been moved away from private wells. 

Well Water Tests

• Neighboring land uses should be considered when deciding whether additional tests are needed when using well water.  You can have your water supply tested for specific contaminants if you see rust, smell foul odors or suspect that your water supply has been contaminated.   

Involvement

• Examining public waterways helps to identify variations in water quality, provide data for pollution prevention or remediation program and responding to chemical spills and other emergencies.  Agencies rely on help from volunteer inspectors to help collect water and to promote watershed protection.