Water Filtration

EPA has established pollutant-specific minimum testing schedules for public water systems. To find out how frequently your drinking water is tested, contact your water system or the agency in your state in charge of drinking water. ( Check your city’s water )

If a problem is detected, immediate retesting requirements go into effect along with strict instructions about how the system informs the public. Until the system can reliably demonstrate that it is free of problems, the retesting is continued.

As recent as 2001, one out of every four community water filtration systems did not conduct testing or report the results for all of the monitoring required to verify the safety of their drinking water. Although failure to monitor does not necessarily suggest safety problems, conducting the required reporting is crucial to ensure problems will be detected. Consumers can help make certain monitoring and reporting requirements are met by first contacting their state drinking water agency to determine if their water supplier is in compliance. If the water system is not meeting the requirements, consumers can work with local and state officials and the water supplier to make sure the required monitoring and reporting occurs.

A network of government agencies monitor tap water suppliers and enforce drinking water standards to ensure the safety of public water supplies. These agencies include EPA, state departments of health and environment, and local public health departments. There are many systems in place

Excerpt from EPA publication: “Water On Tap”

Since 1999, water suppliers have been required to provide annual Consumer Confidence Reports to their customers. These reports are due by July 1 each year, and contain information on contaminants found in the drinking water, possible health effects, and the water’s source. Some Consumer Confidence Reports are available at: www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm

Water suppliers must promptly inform you if your water has become contaminated by something that can cause immediate illness. Water suppliers have 24 hours to inform their customers of violations of EPA standards “that have the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure”. If such a violation occurs, the water system will announce it through the media, and must provide information about the potential adverse effects on human health, steps the system is taking to correct the violation, and the need to use alternative water supplies ( such as boiled / bottled water or water filtration ) until the problem is corrected.

Systems will inform customers about violations of less immediate concern in the first water bill sent after the violation, in a Consumer Confidence Report, or by mail within a year. In 1998, states began compiling information on individual systems, so you can evaluate the overall quality of drinking water in your state. Additionally, EPA must compile and summarized the state reports into an annual report on the condition of the nation’s drinking water. To view the most recent annual report, see www.epa.gov/safewater/annual. (Check your city’s water supply here)

Excerpted from EPA publication “Water on Tap”

With so much terminology to deal with, I found this quick and easy glossary very helpful, and I thought you might too.

These definitions are not intended to be complete or to have legal force, but rather to help consumers understand drinking water-related terms in the context of their daily lives.

Action Level: The level of lead or copper which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Acute Health Effect: An immediate (i.e. within hours or days) effect that may result from exposure to certain drinking water contaminants (e.g., pathogens).

Aquifer: A natural underground layer, often of More…sand or gravel, that contains water.

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I like the idea that water filtration system can be easily installed at my own home. Since I cannot totally rely on consuming the water that comes out straight from our faucet, I think this is the solution that seems to have so many advantages that I could think of.

I got from this online store the reverse osmosis water filtration system that was easy to install and functions just right. No more worries for me running out of bottled water. I also noticed that they are selling affordable refrigerator water filters which reminded me that I needed to replace mine soon. This web store is a one stop shop for all my water filtration needs, from products to customer service, everything is of great value.

I think water filtering doesn’t just have to be for drinking water alone. We have to consider that the water that we use for bathing contains chlorine, when our skin is exposed to chlorine it produces negative effects in our body like brittle hair and dry skin.

Great thing that there’s already shower water filters available at this online store. These shower filters are very easy to install and guaranteed to filter out harmful chlorine, the benefits of using this can be noticed in no time; that is better skin and softer hair.

What Is a Public Water System?

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) defines a public water system as one that serves piped water to at least 25 persons or 15 service connections for at least 60 days each year. There are approximately 161,000 public water systems in the United States.* Such systems may be publicly or privately owned. Community water systems (CWSs) are public water systems that serve people year-round in their homes. Most people in the U.S. (268 million ) get their water from a community water system. EPA also regulates other kinds of public water systems, such as those at schools, campgrounds, factories and restaurants. Private water supplies, such as household wells that serve one or a few homes, are not regulated by EPA, however, the EPA does compile reports on the vast majority of water systems in the U.S. regardless of location or type. You can check your local water supply and consider your options for water filtration systems and the benefit they can have for your families safety and health.

* Public Water Systems

Community Water System (54,000 systems) - A public water system that serves the same people year-round. Most residences are served Community Water Systems.

Non-Community Water Systems (approx. 108,000 systems) - A public water system that does not serve the same people year-round. There are two types of non-community systems:

• Non-Transient Non-Community Water System (almost 19,000 systems ) - A non-community water system that serves the same people more than six months of the year, but not year round. For example, a school with its own water supply is considered a non-transient system.
• Transient Non-Community Water System ( more than 89,000 systems) - A non-community water system that serves the public but not the same individuals for more than six months. For example, a rest area or a campground may be considered a transient system.

Excerpt from EPA “Water On Tap”

What Law Keeps My Drinking Water Safe?

Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation’s drinking water supply and protecting sources of drinking water. SDWA is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its state partners.

Highlights of the Safe Drinking Water Act

• Authorizes EPA to set enforceable health standards for contaminants in drinking water
• Requires public notification of water systems violations and annual reports (Consumer Confidence Reports) to customers on contaminants found in their drinking water- www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr
• Establishes a federal-state partnership for regulation enforecment
• Includes provisions specifically designed to protect underground sources of drinking water - www.epa.gov/safewater/uic
• Requires disinfection of surface water supplies, except those with pristine, protected sources
• Establishes a multi-billion dollar state revolving loan fund for water system upgrades - www.epa.com/safewater/dwsrf
• Requires an assessment of the vulnerability of all drinking water sources to contamination - www.epa.com/safewater/protect

It is important to note that the SWDA applies to every public water system in the United States but does not apply to bottled water. Bottled water is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A good alternative to public and bottled water is a water filtration system that can be purchased from a variety of local and online suppliers at a reasonable cost.— Drinking Water: Past, Present and Future EPA-816-F-00-002

Amazing video of how a group of innovative scientists were able to turn a Mideast desert into a flourishing garden.

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Below are the first two of what we hope will be many “free” publications that we are happy to point you toward. Please let us know how you enjoyed these particular publications, and if there are other topics you would like to see made available. Thanks.

The United States enjoys one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world. Nevertheless, many of us who once gave little or no thought to the water that comes from our taps are now asking the question, “Is my water safe to drink?”

Simply click the ebook icon to download your free, full-color copy of “Water On Tap”

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Americans spend billions of dollars each year on home water filtration systems. According to the Water Quality Association, more than 4 out of 10 use a home water filtration systems. These units range from simple pitchers costing less than $20 to sophisticated reverse osmosis units costing hundreds of dollars.

Simply click the ebook icon to download your free, full-color copy of “Filtration Facts“.

Brought to you by Sound Water Solutions.

Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science today announced they have developed a new reverse osmosis membrane that promises to reduce the cost of seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation.

read more | digg story

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