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How safe is your water?. Jahniah McGill, MPH Student Walden 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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 [email protected]