I live somewhere that regulates drinking water extremely strictly.
Many of us do, but testing methods are often deceptive.
For example, if they are testing at the treatment plant, they miss any and all contaminants found along the pipes leading up to your home, including the inside of a faucet (which are quite filthy).
If they are testing from the tap, they will let it run for 5 minutes, then test. Nobody drinks water like that, so the contamination or sediment levels will appear much lower in the test.
What is it that concerns you about your potable water lines?
In my municipality, our water is indeed “clean”, yet test results in 2022 shows that we exceeded lead content throughout the entire year. That concerns me, and we’re talking only lead.
I’d be concerned about that .4mg/L sample on Aug 31 from the distribution system.
If your house was built pre-2000, you should flush your cold water tap for a minute each morning anyway
As disclosure, I work for my municipal waterworks and have direct training, knowledge, and experience on how the system operates and the lengths taken to both adhere to regulatory compliance and the steps taken when the treatment system fails to keep people safe. I also see all the problems that occur within that system and the resulting actions. My province had a terrible event occur decades ago, and rewrote the rules on providing safe drinking water to people. I see the requirements in place keeping the constant checks and balances on the system and the consequences for failure.
Many of us do, but testing methods are often deceptive.
For example, if they are testing at the treatment plant, they miss any and all contaminants found along the pipes leading up to your home, including the inside of a faucet (which are quite filthy).
If they are testing from the tap, they will let it run for 5 minutes, then test. Nobody drinks water like that, so the contamination or sediment levels will appear much lower in the test.
The points above, but also the fact that lead is still found in pipes.
In my municipality, our water is indeed “clean”, yet test results in 2022 shows that we exceeded lead content throughout the entire year. That concerns me, and we’re talking only lead.
I’d be concerned about that .4mg/L sample on Aug 31 from the distribution system.
If your house was built pre-2000, you should flush your cold water tap for a minute each morning anyway
As disclosure, I work for my municipal waterworks and have direct training, knowledge, and experience on how the system operates and the lengths taken to both adhere to regulatory compliance and the steps taken when the treatment system fails to keep people safe. I also see all the problems that occur within that system and the resulting actions. My province had a terrible event occur decades ago, and rewrote the rules on providing safe drinking water to people. I see the requirements in place keeping the constant checks and balances on the system and the consequences for failure.
Pre-1980 😵
I’ll start doing this. I appreciate the insight.