ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES


Water Well


 Water is very important to everyone. We need it to survive. But what if your water is contaminated, smells or just tastes terrible. These are issues, we at the Health Department, face every day. We physically test for coli form bacteria in individual water supplies or wells.
Water Problems
Contaminants Source Symptoms Test
Color iron, copper, or manganese; organic matter

visible tint

Color
Corrositivity depends on temperature, acidity, hardness and oxygen content of water pitted or leaking pipes; metallic taste; staining due to lead, copper, iron or zinc dissolved from plumbing Corrosion Index
Detergents/Foaming Agents household and industrial wastes

frothy, cloudy appearance; soapy taste and unpleasant odor

Methylene Blue
Odor dissolved gases, minerals; leaking underground storage tanks; landfill or septic runoff; organic matter

"rotten egg", septic, musty or chemical smell

Odor
PH

dissolved acid and alkaline

pitting of pipes and fixtures, bitter or metallic taste, slippery feel, soda taste PH
Water Treatment Guidelines
Problem Possible Solution
Bacteria or coli form bacteria Chlorination, UV lights, or other forms of disinfection
Silt or other debris in the water Mechanical filter or sedimentation
Odor causing substances Chlorination and/or oxidizing filters and/or activated carbons
Insoluble iron and manganese particles Mechanical filter with a water softener and/or oxidizing filter followed by a chlorinator
Water Hardness Water Softener
Acidity Neutralizing filters
Volatile organic chemicals, some pesticides and radon Activated carbon filter
Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, or cadmium Reverse osmosis units or a distiller
Disinfection Methods for Drinking Water
 
Boiling Water
Advantages Disadvantages Costs
  • Readily available
  • Well suited for emergence
  • Will drive volatile organic chemicals out of water
  • Extremely effective disinfectant that will kill even giardia cysts
    		•
  • Reguires a great deal of heat
  • Time to bring water to boil and cool before use
  • Can give water "stale" taste
  • Typically limited capacity
  • Not an in-line treatment systems
  • Requires separate storage of treated water
    		• None
     
    Chlorination
    Advantages Disadvantages Costs
  • Provides residual disinfectant.
  • Residual easy to measure.
  • Chlorine readily available at reasonable cost.
  • Low electrical requirement.
  • Can be used for multiple water problems (bacteria, iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide)
  • Can treat large volumes of water.
  • Requires contact time of 30 minutes for simple chlorination.
  • Turbidity (cloudy water) can reduce the effectiveness of chlorine.
  • Gives water a chlorine taste.
  • May combine with precursors to form THMs.
  • Does not kill giardia cysts at low levels.
  • Careful storage and handling of chlorine is required.
    		• $600.00 to $900.00 Installed with contact chamber
     
    Ultraviolet Light
    Advantages Disadvantages Costs
  • Does not change taste or odor of water.
  • Kills bacteria almost immediately.
  • Compact and easy to use.
  • High electrical demand.
  • No disinfection residual.
  • Requires pretreatment of cloudy or colored water.
  • Requires cleaning and new lamp annually.
    		• $500.00 to $800.00 Audio and Visual alarm recommended
     
    Iodine
    Advantages Disadvantages Costs
  • Does not require electricity.
  • Requires little maintenance.
    •  
  • Provides residual treatment.
    •  
  • Residual easy to measure.
  • Health effects of iodine undetermined.
  • Concentration affected by water temperature.
    •  
  • Gives water a slight straw color at high levels.
    •  
  • Gives water an iodine taste.
    •  
  • Not effective as an algaecide.
    		• Not available