| Northern Virginia is growing in population rapidly and as | | | | and organic waste as tap water but is not subject to |
| more people move into the area, a question that is | | | | any regulation whatsoever. |
| asked more and more frequently is - what is the | | | | In addition to emitting foul sulphur odors and sediment |
| quality of my drinking water? | | | | from the water Northern Virginia well water contains |
| Individuals and families are naturally concerned with | | | | significant amounts of iron in the rock in some areas, |
| their health and drinking water is an important element | | | | particularly the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, resulting in iron |
| of maintaining good health. | | | | "staining." Sulfide in ground water is also found in parts |
| Unfortunately, the quality of the water in Northern | | | | of the Valley and Ridge where coal or natural gas is |
| Virginia and Washington, D.C. is very poor and is | | | | present produces an obnoxious odor. |
| getting worse. Contaminants, bacteria, minerals and | | | | Ground water that is a source of well water also can |
| chemicals in tap water are masked with heavy doses | | | | be contaminated by human activities. Bacteria from |
| of chlorine and tap water, in addition to being unhealthy, | | | | septic systems, and nitrate from both septic systems |
| tastes and smells terrible. | | | | and fertilizer applications, are among the most |
| Regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency | | | | common contaminants. Since well water is not subject |
| (EPA) does not eliminate contamination but merely | | | | to regulation, the potability and suitability for drinking, of |
| sets maximum levels of contaminants that can enter | | | | a private well is the responsibility of the homeowner |
| the human body. and cause long term damage. | | | | and many private wells are contaminated. |
| What is the Story With Tap Water? | | | | Treating Drinking Water From Wells |
| Tap water is municipal water that is usually pumped | | | | The Sate of Virginia strongly recommends treatment |
| from a nearby river and then processed to meet EPA | | | | of well water with chlorine to kill bacteria in well water |
| guidelines. The processing is usually done through a | | | | and, in an effort to overcome the obnoxious smell and |
| waster treatment plant with heavy amounts of chlorine | | | | taste of chlorine, de chlorination. Again, this process is |
| added to kill remaining bacteria that processing does | | | | not controlled by any state or Federal agency. |
| not catch. It is important to note that EPA guidelines | | | | Two general kinds of water treatment are disinfecting |
| are just that - they establish minimum amounts of | | | | and conditioning. To ensure that the supply is free of |
| allowed contamination that may eventually be harmful | | | | harmful bacteria, water is disinfected. Objectionable |
| to both adults and children. | | | | tastes, odors, and matter are removed by conditioning. |
| In Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. the drinking | | | | Well Water Disinfection Methods |
| water is pumped mainly out of the Potomac River and | | | | Drinking water is most commonly tested for coliform |
| at least one waste treatment plant. | | | | bacteria, which live in the intestines of warm-blooded |
| Contaminants that may be present in this source | | | | animals. Coliform bacteria in a well are usually the result |
| water include: | | | | of a faulty septic system or contaminated surface |
| Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, | | | | water entering the well or water delivery system. |
| which may come from sewage treatment plants, | | | | Materials and tools used in well construction are |
| septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and | | | | frequently contaminated withbacteria that live in the soil |
| wildlife. | | | | and these can be introduced into the water system |
| Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which | | | | while constructing the well, installing components of the |
| can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm | | | | piping system, or servicing any part of the water |
| water runoff, industrial or domestic waste water | | | | supply system. The State of Virginia strongly |
| discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. | | | | recommends that the water system be disinfected |
| Contaminants also include pesticides and herbicides, | | | | following construction and after all repairs. |
| which may come from a variety of sources such as | | | | Chlorination is used to disinfect private supplies |
| agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential | | | | because it destroys bacteria within a reasonable |
| uses. | | | | contact time and provides residual protection. |
| In addition contaminants may include organic chemical | | | | However,ordinary levels of chlorination are not always |
| contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic | | | | effective in destroying Giardia cysts, which cause a |
| chemicals, which are by-products of industrial | | | | severe gastrointestinal illness. Super-high levels of |
| processes and petroleum production, and can also | | | | chlorination,boiling and filtering are the only effective |
| come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and | | | | methods to destroy or remove these cysts. |
| septic systems. | | | | High chlorine concentrations can have objectionable |
| Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally | | | | tastes and odors, and even low chlorine |
| occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and | | | | concentrations react with some organic compounds to |
| mining activities also affect local tap water. | | | | produce strong, unpleasant tastes and odors. |
| What is the source of water in Washington D.C.? | | | | To eliminate these offensive tastes and to remove |
| The water in the Potomac River, Anacostia River, and | | | | excessive amounts of chlorine, the water is then |
| Rock Creek flows into the District from outside | | | | dechlorinated. Activated carbon filters are the most |
| jurisdictions. For example, the Potomac River begins in | | | | common devices used to dechlorinate water, remove |
| West Virginia, while the Anacostia River begins in | | | | objectionable chlorine tastes, and reduce corrosion of |
| Maryland. The quality of water in the District is thus | | | | plumbing systems. |
| affected by activities throughout the watershed. | | | | In addition to removing taste and odor problems, |
| Storm water runoff from commercial, industrial, | | | | reports have shown that granular activated carbon |
| residential and agricultural sites, point source pollutants | | | | absorption is the best method currently available to |
| from wastewater treatment plants and industrial | | | | remove specific organic chemicals (including some |
| discharges, and combined sewer overflows from as | | | | pesticide residues), and as a method for radon |
| far away as West Virginia and Pennsylvania all | | | | removal. |
| contribute to the quality of water in the District and | | | | How Safe is Tap and Well Water for Drinking? |
| Northern Virginia. | | | | Municipalities, well owners and even the EPA claim that |
| What About Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO's) | | | | tap and well water in Northern Virginia and Washington |
| CSO's frequently occur when natural events like | | | | D.C. is perfectly safe for drinking but one must wonder. |
| flooding overcome the capacity of waste treatment | | | | Consider the source of tap water in light of sewage |
| plants and raw sewage is pumped back into the | | | | treatment, heavy chlorine additive and waste |
| water source like the Potomac River. | | | | discharge in the Potomac River and one starts to |
| During periods of significant rainfall, the capacity of a | | | | wonder. Also consider that well water is subject to |
| combined sewer may be exceeded. When this occurs, | | | | most of the contaminants of tap water but is |
| regulators are designed to let the excess flow, which | | | | unregulated as well. |
| is a mixture of storm water and sanitary wastes, to | | | | Is Drinking Bottled Water an Alternative to Tap or |
| be discharged directly to the Anacostia River, Rock | | | | Well? |
| Creek, the Potomac River, or tributary waters. This | | | | The popularity of bottled water has grown |
| excess flow is called Combined Sewer Overflow | | | | tremendously as Americans seek healthy lifestyles |
| (CSO). Release of this excess flow is necessary to | | | | and better tasting water. But not all bottled water is |
| prevent flooding in homes, basements, businesses, and | | | | healthier than the tap or well alternative. |
| streets but it adds bacteria and contaminants as | | | | Up to 25% of all bottled water on the market is tap |
| potential threats to tap water. | | | | water repacked in plastic bottles and bottled water |
| Since a portion of the tap water comes from | | | | that is not purified often contains minerals and other |
| sewerage treatment plants CSO's can adversely | | | | contaminants that may be harmful to your health. |
| affect the quality of our receiving waters in a number | | | | These contaminants are not only unhealthy and affect |
| of ways: | | | | the taste of the water but limit storage life for |
| CSO's contain material which contributes to high | | | | emergency supplies of drinking water. |
| bacteria levels in the receiving waters. Organic material | | | | Purified water however, using a distillation and |
| in CSO's can contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels, | | | | oxygenation process, provides the water drinker the |
| which can contribute to a potential for fish stress or | | | | safest and best tasting alternative to contaminated tap |
| fish kills, especially in summer months; and, debris in | | | | and well water in Northern Virginia and Washington |
| CSO's such as plastic bottles, Styrofoam cups | | | | D.C. Distillation removes the water from the |
| (otherwise known as "floatables") contribute to poor | | | | contaminants in a process that insures purity and |
| aesthetics. | | | | oxygenation adds a light refreshing taste to the |
| How Safe For Drinking is Well Water? | | | | remaining purified water. |
| Well water, a popular alternative to tap water | | | | Consider the long term health of you and your family |
| particularly in Northern Virginia is subject to the same | | | | and build a healthy lifestyle on pure drinking water. |
| ground water contaminants, chemical discharge waste | | | | |