The Source Vol 1

mericans
are fortunate to have one of the safest
drinking water supplies in the world. But
that doesn’t mean that problems don’t exist.
There are always exceptions to the rule,
and drinking water supplies need to be carefully
monitored.

What
Affects Drinking Water Quality?

There
are several things that can affect water quality, the most important
of these being:

	Animal and human waste Expanding or building new industrial, residential, or commercial areas.
	Using pesticides or fertilizers.
	Use of underground storage tanks or drains, such as for gasoline or for farm equipment.
	Improper disposal of waste at landfills.

How
are Public Water Supplies Regulated?

The
Safe Drinking Water Act directs the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to establish national drinking water standards. These
standards limit the amount of various substances allowed to be present
in drinking water.
This means that every public
water system in the country that serves at least 15 households/businesses
or 25 people daily for 60 days (which includes schools) is required
to test their water on a routine basis for the presence of these
contaminants. If there is a serious contaminant violation, water
systems have 24 hours to inform their customers and to take action.
Less serious violations are reported on the water bill.
Drinking water contaminants include nitrates; microbes
such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses; organic chemicals; metals;
and radionuclides.

Why
Do Schools Need to be Concerned?

Children’s
bodies are not yet fully developed, so exposure to some drinking
water contaminants may affect their growth and development. For
some contaminants, such as nitrates and lead, children are the most
sensitive group of the population.

What
Would Cause School Employees to Suspect a Possible Water Quality
Problem?

Any
change in the color, turbidity, or odor of water in a school requires
immediate attention. Of course, acute health effects such as stomach
distress or diarrhea would be obvious. If the school is on a public
water system, call the local water supplier. If the school has a
well on its property, investigate any activity around the wellhead
that is causing or could cause contamination, and get the water
tested.

What
About Contaminants in Pipes?

Sometimes
the pipes in a school or home can contain contaminants such as lead
or copper. The longer water has been sitting in pipes, the more
lead it could contain. Anytime the water in a particular faucet
has not been used for six hours or longer, “flush” your
cold-water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as
it will get. Schools in particular need to be concerned because
they are not open 24 hours a day. The best thing to do is to have
the school’s water tested.
If the school is on a public
water supply, check to see if the water supplier has tested the
water. If the school has its own water supply, it should test for
lead if it hasn’t already.

For
more information about safe drinking water, the Safe Drinking Water
Act, lead, radon in drinking water, and other related issues, call
the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.