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How safe is your water?

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.

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How safe is your water?

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  1. How safe is your water? Jahniah McGill, MPH Student Walden University PUBH-6165-7/PUBH-8165-7 Environmental Health Professor Rebecca Heick

  2. Goals • What is a well? • What could be in my water? • Why should I care? • How do I make sure my water is safe?

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Groundwater Wells

  6. Water Quality • Physical • Chemical • Biological • Radiological

  7. Physical Properties • Turbidity • >5.0 • Color • Red or black tints • Temperature • Taste • Odor • Algae and hydrogen sulfide

  8. Chemical Properties • Inorganic chemicals • Nitrate, fluoride, arsenic • Organic chemicals • Pesticides, gasoline additives • General minerals • Calcium, pH, iron

  9. Biological factors Coliformbacteria 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).

  10. Radiological Factors Hazardous waste run-off Uranium

  11. 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

  12. What should you do? • Know your Water source!!!!!!!!! • Test Regularly!!!!!!! • Protect your Water source!!!!!!

  13. Testing Minimally test for Coliform Annually What is the pH of your water? Is there Nitrate/Nitrite in your water?

  14. 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?

  15. 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 Program Cdph.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.

  16. Fare “WELL” I hope this presentation was helpful and informative. Thank you for your time…

  17. References Schneider, 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#phaseV Private Drinking Water Wells. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retrieved April 11,2009 from http://epa.gov/privatewells/basic_dug.html How do we use water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retrieved April 11, 2009 from http://epa.gov/watersense/water/save/use.html EHS-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

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