No one likes to think the water they drink and use has dangerous contaminants in it. However, the possibility that your water isn’t so safe for you and your family always exists. Even if it was okay in the past, tap water isn’t always the same year after year. Here’s how you can figure out if you have safe water. 

1. Get to Know the System

Many people have no understanding of how their public water works. For example, Steubenville and surrounding areas receive water from the Ohio River. A pump station at the river gathers the water and then pushes it into a reservoir. From there, it goes out to the public through the potable water distribution system.

While this is a simplified look at how the system works, it can show you a few key places where contamination can enter the water supply.

Most municipalities report on these operations and send out notices if an issue affecting the potable water occurs. In the case of Steubenville, a look at the government website’s Water Department section will reveal many such notices.

Paying attention to what’s going on with your local water can go a long way towards figuring out if it’s safe or not. You will also start to see just how your county treats water-related issues and decisions. This way, you won’t become the last to know.

2. Check With Outside Sources

Many watchdog groups and environmental entities monitor the potable drinking supplies across the country. Two of the larger groups that keep databases on water supplies include:

Both of these groups publish stats and figures concerning water. Those statistics include which contaminants have a strong presence in the drinking water.

3. Test the Water for Yourself

Sometimes the problems with the water you use are obvious:

Nevertheless, water issues aren’t always so easy to spot. In addition, your water isn’t always the same as your neighbors. No matter what’s going on at the municipal level, your own plumbing may deliver contaminated water to you.

The best way to test your water is to use a dedicated and certified service. You can also send water samples to many of the local labs. You can also purchase a water testing kit, but those come with caveats. They typically only check for specific contaminants, and they’re not always accurate.

DIY kits can also give you a scare if you don’t do some research on possible contaminants and their acceptable levels in the water supply. All municipal waters contain contaminants, but they’re not a danger in most cases. Only when a contaminant sits above an acceptable range of safe consumption does it become a potential danger.

If your water comes from a well or other private supply, then it becomes even more important to test it. Private water supplies lack oversight, so it’s up to you to make sure the water you’re using doesn’t contain anything toxic.
A DIY kit can help you discover if you have a specific issue, such as too much lead in your water. Using a dedicated lab will let you know about far more.

If you have any doubts about your water, you should consider using a reputable third party. At Water Transport, we deliver clean water to your door. You can gain peace of mind knowing the water you use comes to you free of contamination. For more information, contact us today.