Water contamiants?

Question

Can someone explain what these water contaminants are and what we should do about it? What will they do long term? I have a filtered water frig would that filter the contaminants?
The issues are as reported by the local water company.
Turbidity, Level dectected 0.660
Fluoride, Level detected 0.95
Lead, 90th percentile results 0.003
Copper, 90th percentile results 0.2
Chlorine, level detected 1.5
HAA5 haloaceptic acids, In violation as of now. Level dectected range is 7.8-146
total trihalomethanes, Range 18.4-79.0
Cloroform, Level detected 20.5
bromodichloromethane, level detected 5.10
dibromochloromethane, level detected 0.73

someone please tell me what this means.

Answer 1

The best place to answer this question are the people who set the standards for drinking water....the EPA.

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html

This will answer your long term exposure questions to the tested chemicals.

What you provided looks like an annual summary of drinking water quality that water systems are required to send to all Customers. On the letter you received, each of the test will have a concentration associated with them.....mg/L, ppm, ppb. Hopefully this is not an annual report.

This report should not cause you too much worry unless the water provider is providing the report due to violations as defined by the EPA. That looks to be the case.....but do not be alarmed.

Looking at your numbers:

Turbidity- If you have surface water that is filtered at a water plant, that number is too high and is an indication of particulate matter in your water. Bacteria in high counts can be found in turbid water. Find out the type of treatment used in your area. Judging by the HAA5 and Trihalomethanes, your provider is using lake water and is having treatment problems associated with chlorination and filtration. If bacteria levels are high, then it should also be on the report.

Fluoride: This can occur naturally, but is likely added. No issue with this.

Lead: Should be zero. Is less than the action level, no issue.

Copper: No issue.

Chlorine: No issue. Your provider is required to add chlorine.

HAA5: The number reported is a violation. See the link below.

THM: The range looks high, but could be due to the unit used to report the results.

Chloroform is under contention, but was zero.

Bromodichloromethane: Should be zero

Dibromochloromethane: Should be less than 0.06

This link covers regulated chemicals that result from chlorine disinfection of water:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mdbp/dbp1.html

Bottom line: Check with your provider and see if there is some kind of issue with the disinfection process at your treatment plant. The results given sure indicate this to be the case. If you have had quite a bit of rain for an extended period of time, that could cause this issue.

Should you be alarmed? If this a temporary problem, then NO. Check and see if there is some type of construction occurring on the water plant itself.

Is your refrigerator filter adequate if the problem at the water plant is long term? Likely not. The filter is likely just carbon and is for absorbing odors and is too small to work effectively for high volume use.

Do you need to get a filtration system? A salesperson will tell you YES and try to scare you. If the problem is temporary, don't go to the expense of some filtration system. Drink bottled water (can also have problems, but that's another story).

Are you in a larger city? If so, likely this is temporary.

Are you receiving this report monthly? If so, start calling the water provider and request information on their plans and timeline to address the problem.

I know this is a lot of information, treating drinking water is heavily regulated...thus the complexity.

Good luck.

PS- Add your city to this post and I may be able to provide more info.

Answer 2

They would only be considered a health contaminant if they occurred at levels considered to be a health hazard. It seems only one tested contaminant exceeds either your state or federal standards that are accepted as safe. Almost all are naturally occurring in all water and do not present a health hazard. You can also get these contaminants from food so filtering will only remove them from one source. I would not worry about it.

Answer 3

Some think haloacetics are carcinogens, but none of this looks like a cause for serious concern.

A good carbon filter will remove the HAA's.