Water Fun Facts and Features!
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Did you realize that
there is no such thing as "naturally pure water".
Pretty amazing, isn't it!! In nature, all water contains some impurities. As
water flows in streams, sits in lakes, and goes through the layers of soil and
rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances that it touches. Some
of these substances are harmless. In fact, some people prefer mineral water
precisely because minerals give it an appealing taste. However, at certain
levels minerals, just like man-made chemicals, are considered contaminants that
can make water unpalatable or even unsafe.
Some contaminants come from erosion of natural rock formations. Other
contaminants are substances discharged from factories, applied to farmlands, or
used by consumers in their homes and yards. Sources of contaminants might be in
your neighborhood or might be many miles away. Your local water quality report
tells which contaminants are in your drinking water, the levels at which they
were found, and the actual or likely source of each contaminant.
Some ground water systems have established wellhead protection programs to
prevent substances from contaminating their wells. Similarly, some surface water
systems protect the watershed around their reservoir to prevent contamination.
Right now, states and water suppliers are working systematically to assess every
source of drinking water and to identify potential sources of contaminants. This
process will help communities to protect their drinking water supplies from
contamination, and a summary of the results will be in future water quality
reports.
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• There is the same amount of water on Earth as there was when the Earth was formed. The water from your faucet could contain molecules that dinosaurs drank. (But don't worry, it really is safe!!)
• Water is composed of two elements, Hydrogen and Oxygen.
2 Parts Hydrogen + 1 Part Oxygen =
H2 O.• Nearly 97% of the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% for all of humanity’s needs — all its agricultural, residential, manufacturing, community, and personal needs.
• Water regulates the Earth’s temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes wastes.
• 75% of the human body is water and 75%
of a living tree is water.
• A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water.
• Water is part of a deeply interconnected system. What we pour on the ground ends up in our water, and what we spew into the sky ends up in our water.
• The average total home water use for each person in the U.S. is about 50 gallons a day.
• The average cost for water supplied to a home in the U.S. is about $2.00 for 1,000 gallons, which equals about 5 gallons for a penny.
• Water expands by 9% when it freezes. Frozen water (ice) is lighter than water, which is why ice floats in water.
How About Some Questions?????
Q. Can I tell if my drinking water is okay by just looking at it, tasting it, or smelling it?
A. No. None of the chemicals or microbes that could make you sick can be seen, tasted, or smelled.
Q. When I’m working in the yard, I’m tempted to take a drink from my garden hose. Is this safe?
A. No. The water is safe, but a standard vinyl garden hose has substances in it to keep it flexible. These chemicals, which may get into the water as it goes through the hose, are not good for you. In addition, the outside thread openings at the end could be covered with germs.
Q. If I travel overseas, in which countries is the water safe to drink?
A. Besides the United States and Canada, the water is generally safe to drink in western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. In other countries, you should insist on carbonated bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.
Q. Is the fluoride and chlorine in my drinking water safe?
A. Yes. When added or naturally present in the correct amounts, fluoride in drinking water has greatly improved the dental health of American and Canadian consumers. Many tests have shown that the amount of chlorine found in treated water is safe to drink, although some people object to the taste. NOTE: even in the correct amounts, fluoride or the disinfectant chloramines in drinking water makes the water unsuitable for use in kidney dialysis machines or aquariums.
Q. Water often looks cloudy when first taken from a faucet and then it clears up. Why is that?
A. The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the gas bubbles in beer and carbonated soft drinks. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone.
Q. What is "hard" water?
A. The answer may surprise you. Hardness in drinking water is caused by two nontoxic chemicals-usually called minerals — calcium and magnesium. If either of these minerals is present in your water in substantial amounts, the water is said to be "hard," because making a lather or suds for washing is "hard" (difficult) to do. Thus cleaning with hard water is difficult. Water containing little calcium or magnesium is called "soft" water. (Maybe it should be called easy, the opposite of difficult.) Water that does not contain enough calcium or magnesium may be "too soft."
Q. What is the cost of the water I use in my home?
A. Prices vary greatly around the United States and Canada, but the typical cost is about $2 for 1,000 gallons. At that price you get approximately 5 gallons of tap water for a penny.
Q. Many areas near the ocean do not have large supplies of fresh water. Why can’t ocean water be treated to make drinking water
A. Ocean water can be treated, but the process is expensive. The cost of converting salt water to drinking water has been estimated at $5 to $7 for each 1,000 gallons instead of the $.30 to $.50 for treating 1,000 gallons of fresh water.
Q. Why is ocean water salty?
A. Rainwater doesn’t contain any salt, but when it falls on the ground, salt from the soil dissolves in the water as it flows back down to the ocean. When this water evaporates from the ocean, the salt stays behind. This has been going on for more than a billion years. That is why the ocean is now very salty.
Nearly 42 million people in the United States obtain their drinking water from private wells. Poor construction or lack of maintenance of water wells can lead to water contamination resulting in severe health problems.
How do I protect my private well water supply?
In order to properly protect your household water, the activities near the water source must be managed. This includes:
There are many other requirements for private water wells. Check your local requirements.
When do I test my water?
It is important to remember that taste and color are not an indication of safe water. Testing your water every year for total Coliform bacteria and nitrates provides a good indication of the water's safety. However, there are other situations that warrant water testing. These include:
How do I test my water?
There are many resources available with information on getting your well water tested or whether testing is necessary.
Give us a call @ 1-800-659-4659 and talk to our Water Lab for your free Water Consultation!!
What contaminants should I test for?
Certain types of contaminants should be tested for on a regular basis. These include:
Still concerned about your water?? Still have more questions??
Visit http://www.ilrwa.org and see what the local towns and villages in Illinois are doing!!!
Give us a call @ 1-800-659-4659 and talk to our Water Lab for your free Water Consultation!!
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