According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home.
Roughly 70 percent of that use happens indoors.
That’s why Andre Whalen if Culligan Water Conditioning says it is very important that the water is clean and free from contaminants.
“Pasta drinks, your skin drinks.
And if you think about it, it does all drink.” Typically, you cannot identify contaminants in water simply by looking at it.
Chemists can test your drinking water for total coliform bacteria.
“The E. coli is more pathogenic, and it can actually cause a serious illness.” Thompson tested for the presence of total coliform bacteria in the drinking water of three Virginia Beach homes: one that uses household well water, one less than 10 years old on a public system, and one nearly 170 years old on a public system.
“Any presence of total coliform will make the water unsafe for human consumption,” says Thompson.
To perform the test at each home, Thompson removes the faucet’s aerator, cleans the faucet with bleach, and runs the water for at least 5 minutes to flush standing water in the pipes.
When the results came back for each home, they were all the same: negative for E. coli and total coliform.

An environmental watchdog group is warning that drinking water in La Crosse and other Coulee Region communities is contaminated with potentially dangerous levels of an industrial solvent linked to cancer and other diseases.
Trichlorethylene was found in the La Crosse water system between 2010 and 2015, the last year for which data are available.
Although average levels were well below federal limits, it could still be cause for concern, especially for infants and fetuses, according to a national nonprofit organization.
A chemical found in industrial solvents as well as household products such as spot remover and correction fluid, TCE is one of the most commonly found groundwater contaminants, particularly at former commercial and industrial sites, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Trichlorethylene contamination of an aquifer in Massachusetts was featured in the book and film “A Civil Action.” The EPA legal limit for TCE is 5 parts per billion (ppb) in drinking water, but EWG argues it could be harmful at much lower levels.
Based on newer research, the Minnesota Department of Health in 2013 recommended 0.4 ppb — less than a tenth the federal limit — as a safety guideline, although there are no penalties for water utilities that exceed that lower threshold.
At least one site was above the recommended safe level in 2016 and 2017, according to the city’s annual water reports.
Prairie du Chien’s water supply has been above 0.4 ppb each year and was at 0.69 in 2015.
The highest levels reported in Wisconsin were in West Bend, Cedarburg and Grafton.
Public water in Spring Grove, Minn., exceeded the state health guidelines each year and in 2015 was measured at 4 ppb.

The people of Flint, Michigan, still don’t have clean drinking water, and now a new report shows they aren’t alone.
The drinking water of some 14 million Americans is contaminated with a cancer-causing industrial solvent called Trichloroethylene, or TCE, according to a new EWG analysis of tests from public utilities nationwide.
EWG’s Tap Water Database, which aggregates test results from utilities nationwide, shows that in about half of the systems it monitors, average annual levels of TCE were above what some health authorities say is safe for infants and developing fetuses.
More than 400 of the government’s Superfund sites have TCE contamination that can spread into groundwater and threaten drinking water supplies.
Drinking TCE-contaminated water has been linked to birth defects, hormone disruption, increased risk of cancer, and more.
The EPA’s legal limit for TCE in drinking water is 5 parts per billion.
That limit was set back in 1987, and researchers believe TCE could be harmful at much lower levels.
Even with the case, and Travolta’s star power, TCE pollution hasn’t been a sexy hot-button issue for years.
That could—and should—all change.
Read the EWG’s report for more information.

Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency will visit Colorado Springs on Aug. 7 and 8 to hear from community members about perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), toxic chemicals used by the Air Force for firefighting, that contaminated water supplies in Colorado.
Members of the public who’ve been affected by PFCs in their drinking water can sign up online for three-minute speaking slots Aug. 7 between 4 and 10 p.m. A working session, also open to the public, is set for Aug. 8 from 9:45 a.m. to noon.
Both events will be held at the Hotel Eleganté, located at 2886 S. Circle Dr.
The Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition and Fountain Creek Water Sentinels are among organizations speaking at the Aug. 7 event, says Liz Rosenbaum, cofounder of the coalition.
Rosenbaum says the Clean Water Coalition has been working with the EPA to ensure there’s plenty of time for residents to voice their opinions.
"I absolutely think something good will come out of this," Rosenbaum says.
And tests recently showed PFCs in several groundwater wells that supply drinking water to north metro Denver, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced July 12.
The Denver Post reports that South Adams County Water and Sanitation District officials found levels of PFCs ranging from 24 parts per trillion (ppt) to 2,280 ppt in 12 wells along Quebec Parkway near Interstate 70.
That’s up to 32 times more than the EPA’s current acceptable limit for PFCs, which is 70 ppt.
All together, the contaminated wells in Denver supply water to 50,000 residents across 65 square miles, the Post reports.

EWG’s Tap Water Database, which aggregates test results from utilities nationwide, shows that in about half of those systems, average annual levels of TCE were above what some health authorities say is safe for infants and developing fetuses.
And it’s not just from drinking water: TCE volatizes from water into indoor air.
TCE is also a serious health concern for those who depend on private wells for their drinking water supply.
National action required In December 2016, the EPA proposed banning uses of TCE as an aerosol degreaser and a spot cleaner.
But for TCE and three other chemicals, the EPA excluded key exposures from polluted air, water and soil from the scope of its safety assessments.
The EPA should also establish a new federal drinking water standard for TCE at a level that would protect children’s health.
TCE in indoor air Even when drinking water utilities or homeowners install a TCE-removing treatment for drinking water, people may be still exposed to TCE vapors in the air of homes, schools and workplaces if the groundwater or soil are contaminated.
TCE vapor intrusion is most of concern for people and communities near the hazardous waste sites where TCE contamination has reached the groundwater.
TCE has also been reported as a problem for indoor air in schools and preschool facilities.
EWG’s advice for families If TCE is found in your water, even at levels below the federal legal limit, EWG highly recommends filtering your water.

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An investigation funded by the Department of Defence found contaminated soil, surface water and groundwater at the base.
Six private bores on properties near the base also contained chemicals above the accepted level for drinking water.
Department of Defence PFAS Investigation and Management assistant secretary Luke McLeod said six bores had elevated levels, with at least one eight times above the level set by Australian drinking water guidelines.
However Mr McLeod said affected residents had been provided an alternative drinking water source when the investigation began in 2016.
Defence is not an environmental health regulator, a health expert, so we do rely on the advice provided by those state authorities to issue any advisories that they may deem necessary," Mr McLeod said.
The air base itself also had a number of areas of heavy contamination, which Mr McLeod said was being managed by the use of protective clothing and equipment.
"What we do know though is that the PFAS is largely contained at the base," Mr McLeod said.
West Bullsbrook resident Terol Barbour said she was happy with the information provided by the defence department, but wanted another test done on her bore.
"As far as I can see we haven’t been impacted by it, so I’m very pleased about that," Ms Tampalini said.

Time Broadkiln Beach and PrimeHook water customers should continue to avoid drinking water from their taps, health officials said Monday, three days after high levels of E.coli bacteria was detected.
The system has been treated and is being tested, but for the time being, residents should rely on bottled water or boil their water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation, officials said.
Andrea Wojcik, spokeswoman for the Division of Public Health, said water samples were collected on Friday and the results came out negative for the bacteria.
But the state is required to collect two consecutive negative water samples before people can begin drinking the water again, she said.
The first hint of a problem came Wednesday, July 18 when a routine sampling included a positive for the presence of coliform but was negative for E. coli.
The Office of Drinking Water has so far not found a specific reason for the contamination.
Drinking contaminated water can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches.
While Broadkiln and Primehook are owned by a private company, public drinking water systems are required to conduct regular tests for bacteria, nitrates and other contaminants through the Office of Drinking Water.
David Wilkinson, owner and operator of both companies, said a chlorine treatment system has been put in place.
He declined to say how much the treatment system and disinfection has cost.

A public meeting organized by the EPA regarding the local water crisis will be held at the Hatboro-HorshamHigh School on Wednesday, and the top water official in the government will be on hand as a guest speaker.
The event is being termed a "community engagement" day addressing polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in the local drinking water supply.
Many local leaders and politicians will be on hand, and other guest speakers include regional and national water officials.
PFAS have been found in water in Horsham, Warminster, and several nearby communities.
The chemical likely leached into the groundwater from a firefighting foam used at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, officials believe.
A 2016 federal study found no evidence of a "cancer cluster" in the local area, despite concerns that a growing number of local residents were being taken ill due to the contamination.
On Wednesday, the meeting will be divided into two primary sessions: a "working" session including numerous guest speakers and community panels, and a "listening" session during which the public is invited to make comments.
The working session is broken down into a federal, state, and local panel.
In-person registration is requested, but not required to attend or speak at the event.
Image via Shutterstock

Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., announced Tuesday she is introducing a bill in an effort to help communities clean up and monitor drinking water systems.
“Clean water is something every New Yorker should have access to,” Sen. Gillibrand said during a conference call.
“Across NY state, drinking water contamination has been hurting communities.” The Contaminant and Lead Electronic Accounting and Reporting Requirements would do several things, including providing resources to identify, test and clean up drinking water systems and force the EPA to share more information about water pollution in New York.
The act would increase funding for assisting small and disadvantaged communities with water quality compliance from $60 million a year to $230 million next year and $300 million from 2020 through 2023.
“If your water supply has been contaminated, it’s expensive to clean it up,” Sen. Gillibrand said during the press conference.
“Congress has a responsibility to make sure if a town’s water has been contaminated, they’re not stuck with no way to clean it up.” It would also force the EPA to set up electronic reporting of water quality compliance, provide technical assistance with public water systems trying to meet compliance standards, research contaminants, and provide grants for local educational programs on the health effects of contaminated water.
“The EPA has a responsibility to make sure that communities have all the information they need to understand exactly what’s happening when contamination occurs, and whether they need to start a cleanup effort,” Sen. Gillibrand said.
“The EPA should never hold back information from the public when it comes to our health and safety.” Sen. Gillibrand’s office could not immediately supply any particular New York communities that she thinks the bill will help if passed, but the senator made it clear she thinks the bill will benefit New York specifically.
“No one should ever have to wonder if their water is safe,” she said.

NEW DELHI: Noting groundwater contamination in an around the Sterlite Copper plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, the government on Monday told the Rajya Sabha that the analysis of samples from the unit showed the presence of heavy metals in water beyond permissible limit.
“The analysis of groundwater samples, from the Sterlite industrial unit, by the State Pollution Control Board shows presence of Iron, Lead, Fluoride, Cadmium, and Nickel more than the permissible limit of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards),” said minister of state for water resources Arjun Ram Meghwal while referring to information received from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
He was responding to a Parliament Question, asked by the AIADMK member in the Upper House, Sasikala Pushpa Ramaswamy.
The residents of the area had protested against the proposed doubling of capacity of the Sterlite copper plant.
Asked about the environment ministry’s stand, an official said, “We have received a report of the TNPCB.
We have been examining it as the matter is sub judice.
We will strictly follow the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2006 while firming up our stand.” The EIA, made under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, is considered a major tool for minimizing the adverse impact of industrialization on the environment.
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