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Health Department Drinking Water Quality |
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Drinking Water Quality Analysis Drinking water quality can be a complex issue that may have significant health effects. The information on this web page is a summary of “Interpreting Drinking: Water Quality Analysis - What Do the Numbers Mean?” The complete document includes specific information related to tests conducted by water testing laboratories in accordance with The Safe Drinking Water Act. Drinking Water tests also are part of the requirements of New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) - a law aimed at disclosing important information about private drinking water wells. Under the PWTA, certain wells must be tested before a house can be sold. Landlords of certain properties must also test for certain drinking water parameters and provide a written copy of the result to their tenants. If you have additional questions regarding drinking water test results, please contact What are the Health Effects of Drinking Water Contaminants? What Tests Do I Need for Public Water? What Tests Do I Need for New Wells? What Tests Do I Need for Existing Wells? Where Should I Get My Water Tested? What Should I Do If My Water Exceeds Standards? How Do I Schedule a Water Test? What Tests Are Available? Pure water means different things to different people. Homeowners are primarily concerned with domestic water problems related to color, odor, taste, and safety to family health, as well as the cost of soap, detergents, “softening,” or other treatments required for improving the water quality. Chemists and engineers working for industry are concerned with the purity of water as it relates to scale deposition and pipe corrosion. Regulatory agencies are concerned with setting standards to protect public health. Farmers are interested in the effects of irrigation waters on the chemical, physical, and osmotic properties of soils, particularly as they influence crop production; hence, they are concerned with the water’s total mineral content, proportion of sodium, or content of ions “toxic” to plant growth. One means of establishing and assuring the purity and safety of water is to set a standard for various contaminants. A standard is a definite rule, principle, or measurement which is established by governmental authority. The fact that it has been established by authority makes a standard rigid, official, and legal; but this fact does not necessarily mean that the standard is fair or based on sound scientific knowledge. Where human health data or other scientific data are sparse, standards have sometimes been established on an interim basis until better information becomes available. The Safe Drinking Water Act sets minimum standards to be met by all public water systems. Health Effects Of Drinking Water Contaminants Chemicals in drinking water which are toxic may cause either acute or chronic health effects. An acute effect usually follows a large dose of a chemical and occurs almost immediately. Examples of acute health effects are nausea, lung irritation, skin rash, vomiting, dizziness, and, in the extreme, death. The levels of chemicals in drinking water, however, are seldom high enough to cause acute health effects. They are more likely to cause chronic health effects, effects that occur after exposure to small amounts of a chemical over a long period. Examples of chronic health effects include cancer, birth defects, organ damage, disorders of the nervous system, and damage to the immune system. Evidence relating chronic human health effects to specific drinking water contaminants is very limited. In the absence of exact scientific information, scientists predict the likely adverse effects of chemicals in drinking water using laboratory animal studies and, when available, human data from clinical reports and epidemiological studies. The possible health effects of a contaminant in drinking water differ widely, depending on whether a person consumes the water over a long period, briefly, or intermittently. Thus, Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) and monitoring requirements for systems serving permanent populations (Public Community Water Systems and Nontransient Noncommunity Water Systems) may be more stringent than those regulations for systems serving transient or intermittent users (Public Noncommunity Water Systems). Maximum contaminant levels are based, directly or indirectly, on an assumed drinking water rate of two liters per person per day. MCLs for organic and inorganic contaminants (except nitrate) are based on the potential health effects of long-term exposure, and they provide substantial protection to virtually all consumers. The uncertainty in this process is due in part to the variations in the knowledge of and the nature of the health risks of the various contaminants. What Tests Do I Need? Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), all public water systems are required to sample and test their water supplies according to a fixed schedule for all contaminants for which MCLs have been set. New Wells (Nonpublic Water Systems) Under Tests Required For New Wells (N.J.A.C.
Additional testing may be required by the local board of health having jurisdiction. When buying an existing home with a well, it is advisable and sometimes required that the seller conduct water testing before closing on the house. Many buyers have discovered water-quality problems too late and are burdened with the expense of having to treat their well water or drilling a completely new well. The Farmers Home Administration, Veterans Administration, and Federal Housing Administration all require water testing on home wells before mortgages are issued. Some realtors are also requiring the seller to provide a certificate of water potability for their listings. Recommended tests include bacteria and nitrates. Water Testing - Where Should I Get My Water Analyzed? General Information On Water Testing Amateurs should take water samples only under the direction of a certified state water quality laboratory. There are two types of sampling locations depending on the contaminant of interest. For private homeowners and small water systems, these locations may be the same. The sampling locations are point-of-entry (POE) after treatment or in the water distribution system (consumers tap). The purpose of these two types of sampling locations is to differentiate between contamination derived from the source water or contamination derived from the distribution pipes. The goal of drinking water sampling should be to collect a sample under the worst conditions; therefore, checking water a day after a heavy rainfall is a good idea. If corrosive water is suspected, a sample for lead or copper should be taken first thing in the morning, without letting the water run. For other tests wait until mid-morning after a good quantity of water has been used. Samples for bacteria (Total Coliforms) must be collected using sterile containers and under sterile conditions. In addition, keep a record of all your water test results; by observing any changes over time you may be able to discover any problems. Services Free Of Charge Tests for total hardness, tastes, odors, and certain chemical impurities may be obtained from companies selling or renting water conditioning equipment. They will also make recommendations for equipment to correct the problems. However, as a precaution, any recommendations should be rechecked with an independent laboratory to ensure impartial analysis. Look in the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory under “Water Softening” or “Water Conditioning” for the names of local dealers. State-Certified Private Labs And Consulting Firms Water testing should be done only at state-certified laboratories. Laboratories will collect samples and make tests for fees ranging from $15 and up, depending on the type of test. Some local, county, and state health departments in A laboratory near one’s home is most likely to be familiar with problems in that area and can best advise as to which pollutants should be tested. What To Do If Your Drinking Water Exceeds An MCL Or Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) If an MCL Is Exceeded, Consult Your Health Department. MCLs are health-based standards and you may be assuming additional risk if you continue to drink the water. Young children and infants are particularly susceptible. SMCLs are aesthetic standards. Always Retest To Ensure You Have A Problem. It is always good practice to have your water retested to ensure accuracy in sampling and in the laboratory. The second test should be done by a different laboratory to confirm results. Consult With A Water-Quality Expert And/Or Your Local Health Department. When you are certain you have a particular contamination problem, consult with a water-quality expert. These individuals may be familiar with the preferred treatment methods in your area. Recent and historical water data should be reviewed by an expert to determine which processes are appropriate. The local health official or DEP may also be consulted if uncertainties arise. Excerpted from: Schedule Water Sampling CAPE MAY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Certified Laboratory ID # 05115 DRINKING WATER PARAMETERS AND PRICING
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