Water Quality & System Information : Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning water quality.

1. What is pure water?
2. Is my water safe to drink?
3. How do I determine the quality of my water?
4. Where can I get my water tested?
5. Why must chloramines be added to the water?

Answers:

1. What is pure water?
Pure water means different things to different people. All life is dependent on water and water exists in nature in many forms. However, strictly speaking, pure water does not exist for any appreciable time in nature. Even while falling as rain, water picks up small amounts of gases, ions, dust, and particulate matter from the atmosphere. Then, as it flows over or through the surface layers of the earth, it dissolves and carries with it some of almost everything it touches, including that which is dumped into it. Many of these impurities are removed or rendered harmless during the water treatment process in potable drinking water plants.

One means for establishing and assuring the purity and safety of water is to set a standard for various impurities. A drinking water standard is a definite rule, principle, or measurement which establishes safety by a governing agency such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). See Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Environmental Quality, Part 1 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Chapter 290 Public Drinking Water, Subchapter F Drinking Water Standards Governing Drinking Water Quality and Reporting Requirements for Public Water Systems.

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2. Is my water safe to drink?
The District takes water from Lake Georgetown and from ground wells above the Edwards Aquifer and treats it before it is sent to the customer. Water quality standards are set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Commission (TCEQ). These standards must be met 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Testing of the water is performed every day.

In this context, "safe" is a relative term that must be considered based on each individual's health and overall well being. Drinking water can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some impurities and each individual's health and overall well being should be considered. As long as those impurities are at levels no higher than those set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) drinking water standards, the water is considered safe to drink for healthy people. People with severely weakened immune systems or other specific health conditions should consult with their personal physicians to discuss their drinking water needs. Those who wish to take extra measures to avoid waterborne illnesses due to pathogens can bring their drinking water to a boil for a full minute.

Click the link to review The Water Quality Reports for the District.

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3. How do I determine the quality of my water?
We routinely sample and analyze our source water quality throughout our membrane filter treatment process and throughout our distribution (pipeline) system to deliver water service that meets all drinking water standards established by state and federal regulations. Summaries of test results are distributed annually in a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report).

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4. Where can I get my water tested?
Customers can choose to have their water tested at their cost by a TCEQ-accredited laboratory. These private laboratories will collect and analyze samples for a fee depending on the type of test. Water samples should only be taken under their direction. A list of accredited drinking water labs can be found on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality website www.tceq.texas.gov.

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5. Why must chloramines be added to the water?
Chloramines are a long acting disinfectant used to provide continuous protection against microbial contamination. Regulations require minimum chloramines residual to be present in the water at the furthest point of the distribution system.

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6. Why is my drinking water discolored?

White or cloudy water: The cloudiness in your water is typically caused by tiny air bubbles in the water. This occurs when air is entrapped in the water, similar to carbon dioxide in a bottle of soda. When you turn on the tap, the pressure is released, allowing the bubbles to appear, just as removing the cap from a soda bottle causes the soda to fizz. The rate and degree to which this occurs is directly related to water temperature and more so to temperature changes. This cloudiness occurs more often in winter when the drinking water is cold and the home, along with its plumbing is heated. If you allow a glass of water to stand for a few moments, the air bubbles will rise to the surface and will usually clear from the bottom of the container up to the top. This phenomenon is called entrained air and does not affect the quality of your water.
Blue water: The use of blue disinfectant in your toilet might cause discoloration of your tap water, particularly if the water supply to your home was recently turned off. This might create conditions in which water from the toilet tank was siphoned into the plumbing of your house. Do not drink this water. These disinfectants contain chemicals that might pose health hazards if ingested or touched. Flush plumbing by opening each tap until the water runs clear. To correct water quality problems you may wish to contact a plumber.
Green water: Standing water sometimes has a greenish cast to it. Fluorescent lights will make your water appear green, as will tiny traces of copper leached from the pipes in your home. Greenish water is most commonly associated with seasonal blooms of algae in the surface water supply. Algae blooms occur naturally under warm, dry conditions. The District adjusts it treatment process when algae is detected in the raw water source of supply to remove it during the normal water treatment process. The District also performs periodic lead and copper sampling to make sure that the water does not cause lead or copper to leach out from residents’ plumbing fixtures.
Brown or yellow water from either tap on the FIRST DRAW: Discolored water can be the result of controlled and uncontrolled events in the distribution system. Causes include main breaks, use of hydrants for fire-fighting activity and water main flushing procedures. Though these events are temporary and in most cases harmless, they can stain your laundry.

Fire Hydrant Flushing Schedule
The District conducts annual flushing of all hydrants. You may experience low pressure or discolored, rusty water while hydrants are flushed in your neighborhood.

Internal plumbing might be the culprit if discolored water appears for only a minute or two after the tap is turned on. When the zinc coating on the inside of galvanized iron pipe begins to wear thin, water becomes discolored as it comes in contact with bare iron. The longer the water sits in the pipes, the worse the discoloration will be. That's why you are most likely to notice the problem first thing in the morning or when you have just returned from school or work. After running the tap for a few minutes, clean water from the water heater or water main will replace the discolored water. Since iron is an essential nutrient, this condition poses no health hazard. If the discoloration bothers you however, flush the tap until the water becomes clear, saving the water for iron-loving plants.

Brown or yellow water from either tap, CONSTANTLY: Sediments in water mains sometimes get stirred up when fire hydrants are used and when the flow of water in mains is increased. These sediments might cause water to turn brown or yellow. Wait 30 to 40 minutes after you notice the discolored water, and try turning on the cold water in the bathtub for a minute or two. You'll probably notice that it clears right up, since sediments settle quickly back to the bottom of water mains. Discolored water due to sediments such as these poses no health threat, but for aesthetic reasons avoid doing laundry until the water clears up.
Brown or yellow water from hot tap only: If the discoloration is detected only in the hot water supply, it is likely an indication of an issue with the hot water heater. It is recommended that you turn off the hot water heater and allow it to cool. Once cool, safely drain and flush the unit. Then fill and turn the unit on to determine if the problem persists. Consult the owner's manual for instructions and warnings regarding this task or contact a licensed plumber.
Crystals: The crystals or sediment left behind after water evaporates might be calcium carbonate. This is a naturally-occurring mineral, identical to the calcium found in your bones and in most calcium supplements. If these deposits appear green, blue or brown, they might have been colored by tiny amounts of the metals found in your water pipes. Carbonate deposits can be dissolved with white vinegar. Dishwasher deposits can be minimized by using a commercial conditioner, by using liquid detergents and by using the "air-dry" instead of the "power-dry" setting on your dishwasher, which bakes the carbonates onto glassware. Calcium carbonate poses no health hazard.

If you have any doubts concerning the quality of your water, contact our Customer Service Department at 512-255-7871 or email us at CustomerService@bcmud.org.

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7. My drinking water often looks cloudy when first taken from a faucet and then it clears. Why is that?
Cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles similar to the gas bubbles in soda. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone. This cloudiness occurs more often in winter when the drinking water is cold and the home, along with its plumbing is heated.

8. What makes ice cubes cloudy?
Air that is trapped in the ice gives it a cloudy appearance. Commercially made ice is stirred as it is frozen. Household ice is not. Without mixing, many more ice crystals form and air is trapped in the ice. Light rays are distorted by these crystals and air, and this distortion gives home frozen ice a cloudy appearance.

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9. Why do I get blue-green stains on sink and tub fixtures?
Blue-green stains sometimes found on the surface of sinks and bathtubs is a copper compound. The stain will form when there is copper content in the water and water is able to stand and evaporate. The most common circumstances that result in a stain are a dripping faucet and the presence of copper plumbing. The stain will form faster when there is a porous surface, such as an older sink or bathtub, for the copper compounds to adhere to. The water supplied to District customers does not contain any measurable amount of copper, but can pick up copper from copper pipes and fixtures of the household plumbing.

The stain can be removed by treating the stained surface with a rust remover or a mixture of retail toilet cleaning crystals (Saniflush or Vanish) and water. These crystal toilet bowl cleaners contain sodium bisulfate, which will dissolve the stain away in minutes. Keep in mind: the stain will reappear sooner on porous surfaces than it will on a smooth surface, and will need to be cleaned more often. Abrasive cleaners are not as effective at removing copper or iron stains as crystal bowl cleaners. Also, the use of abrasive cleaners can make the fixture surface become more porous, which causes the stain to reappear faster.

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10. What causes a rust stain?
Different factors might be causing the rust stain. There might be discolored water in an area due to fire hydrant use. Also, high iron levels in the water will leave rust stains behind as the water evaporates and the iron oxidizes, leaving the red iron tinge. People with galvanized steel service lines and/or internal plumbing might see rust stains and particles periodically in the water, in sinks and toilet bowls, or on the aerator screens in faucets. This is the result of corrosion in the plumbing and not the water supplied. The water coming to you from the treatment facility has very low iron content.

11. What is the ‘pink’ stain?
Sometimes a pink ring develops on flat surfaces of the shower, in pet's water bowls, or toilets that are not used frequently. This is a colored organism that is present in the air and grows in these areas. It is a harmless bacterium and exists in moist/humid conditions. The pink ring can be removed by cleaning the area periodically with a commercial cleaning product that contains bleach.

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12. Why does water sometimes taste/smell funny?
If you recently moved from an area where the water contained very few naturally occurring minerals, or you are accustomed to a certain type of source water, such as a well or surface water supply, your water might taste different due to the minerals it contains. The taste of domestic drinking water varies with its source. It could be that you're simply not used to the new taste yet.

It is important to note that the taste of water from a surface water source might change with the seasons or a change in the treatment process. For example, during the summer months, a change in taste might be caused by what is a called an algae bloom. This change in taste does not pose a health risk. If you have any questions or concerns, however, please contact the Customer Service Department at 512-255-7871 or email us at CustomerService@bcmud.org.

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13. How can I improve the taste of my water?
The taste of water can be improved simply by refrigerating drinking water in a covered pitcher or container. To remove any chlorine taste or odors shake the covered container and allow it to sit in the refrigerator overnight. The chlorine will dissipate.

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14. Why does my water smell like rotten eggs or sewage?
If you smell rotten eggs or sewage in the water, it might be caused by gases forming in the household drain. These gases are formed by bacteria which live on food, soap, hair and other organic matter in the drain. These gases are heavier than air and remain in the drain until the water is turned on. As the water runs down the drain, the gases are expelled into the atmosphere around the sink. It is natural to associate these odors with the water because they are observed only when the water is turned on. In this case, the odor is not in the water, it is simply the water pushing the gas out of the drain. This can be verified by taking a glass of water from the tap and walking away to another area to smell the glass of water. If an odor is still present, please contact the Customer Service Department at 512-255-7871 or email us at CustomerService@bcmud.org.

If the drain is found to be the source of odors, disinfect the drain by following these steps: (Caution: do not mix any drain cleaners or detergents with bleach; certain combinations can create toxic fumes)

Run the cold water for about 15 seconds into the drain that is to be disinfected, then turn the water off.
Pour approximately one to two cups of liquid chlorine bleach (laundry bleach) down the drain (or drains) where the odor is present. Pour the bleach slowly around the edges of the drain so that it runs down the sides of the drain. Caution: bleach might cause eye damage, skin irritation, and might damage clothing – BE CAREFUL!
If the odor is coming from a sink with a garbage disposal, turn the disposal on for a few seconds while the bleach is being poured. This will disperse the bleach around the inside of the disposal. Caution: bleach might cause eye damage, skin irritation, and might damage clothing - take care to avoid splashing for the few seconds the disposal is turned on.
Allow the bleach to remain undisturbed in the drain for about 10 minutes. Caution: prolonged contact with metals might cause pitting and/or discoloration.
After 10 minutes, run the hot water into the drain for a minute or two to flush out the bleach. If a garbage disposal was disinfected, thoroughly flush it as well.
This procedure might need to be repeated if the odor returns.
If the odor is coming from a sink that is seldom used, be sure to run water in it occasionally. This keeps water at the bottom of the piping and forms a barrier preventing certain types of gases from getting through. You can also put linseed oil in your drain. This will form a barrier that is less likely to evaporate.
If the odor is detected only in the hot water supply, it might be an indication that there is an issue with the hot water heater. A sulfurous or rotten egg-like odor in the hot water is caused by bacteria growing in the water heater. This usually happens when the water heater is turned off while on vacation, when the hot water has not been used for a long time or when the temperature setting on the heater is set too low. Bacteria in the water heater are not a health threat; however, they must be eliminated to stop the odor problem. Consult the owner's manual or contact a licensed plumber.

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15. What is the hardness level of Brushy Creek water?
Customers will ask what the hardness of the water is so they can properly set their water softeners. The laboratory reports will list the hardness of the water in milligrams, but the water softener requires hardness in grains. For the weekly laboratory results and more information visit the District Water Hardness & Water Softeners page.

16. What is the difference between "hard" and "soft" water?
Hardness is a term used to describe the high level of calcium and magnesium in the water. Excessive hardness can cause scale (white spots) to be deposited in boilers, pipelines, faucet aerators and shower heads. Hard water also requires the use of large amounts of laundry soap to achieve desired results. The use of water softeners adds sodium to the water, which acts as a softening agent. Soft water is either water that is low in calcium or magnesium, or water that has been treated in a softener. The District’s water on average would be considered hard on a hardness scale. It is just a little bit harder than City of Austin water.

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17. Why does my dishwasher leave spots on my glasses?
Spots that might appear on glassware after it is washed and air-dried are caused by harmless minerals (usually calcium) that remain on the glass when the water evaporates. Commercial products are available that allow the water to drain from the glassware more completely. Spots on glass shower doors appear for the same reason.

In July 2010, a new law required manufacturers of dishwasher detergent to lower the phosphate levels being added to dishwasher detergents. Phosphate softens the water, allowing the soap to be more effective in removing food residue. Removing or lowering the phosphate levels may cause white powder residue on dishes and cloudy glassware at the end of the normal wash and dry cycle.

Customers who experience the white residue on glassware can periodically add a half cup of white vinegar to the beginning of the wash. The vinegar will provide enough acid to prevent hardness residue from remaining on glassware. Follow all manufacturers’ recommendations regarding dishwasher use.

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18. Why are white deposits found around my showerhead?
If a particular area has hard water, it is most likely a result of mineral deposits which form when the water evaporates. Commercial products are available which will remove this build-up. Soaking the shower head in a solution of white vinegar will also dissolve the deposits.

19. Should I get a home water softener?
A water softener can improve the aesthetic qualities of household water. For example, soap products perform better in softer water. But a water softener does not improve the safety or quality of water as it relates to health. Most water softeners exchange sodium for existing calcium and magnesium in the water and therefore, increase the sodium content of the water. The sodium increase in softened water might be a concern if you are on a sodium-restricted diet and you may want to consult your physician prior to purchasing a system. Also, there is evidence that softened water might be corrosive to certain metallic pipe materials. The decision to purchase a home water softener is therefore one of personal preference. Please visit the District Water Hardness & Water Softeners page for more information.

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20. Is there lead in my water?
Test results show that lead is not normally present in the water exiting the District’s water treatment facility. If there are lead-soldered copper pipes or brass faucets in your home, these might be acting as a source of lead in your water. The brass in most faucets (even chrome-plated faucets might be brass underneath) contains between 5% and 8% lead. To eliminate the risk of lead exposure from such faucets, take these simple precautions:

Flush tap before drinking or cooking with water if the water in the faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. When water stands in lead soldered pipes or brass fixtures for several hours or more, lead might dissolve into drinking water. Whenever the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours, lead that might be present can be significantly reduced by running the water from the tap, usually for 30 seconds to two minutes, before using. To conserve water, catch the running water and use it to water plants.
Use cold water for cooking. Avoid cooking with water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly than cold water. If hot water is needed, water can be drawn from the cold tap and heated on the stove or in the microwave.
Check home wiring. Have an electrician check the house wiring. If grounding wires from electrical systems are attached to household plumbing, corrosion and lead exposure might be greater.

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21. What is the maximum level of fluoride allowed in drinking water?
The EPA does not enforce "secondary maximum contaminant levels" (SMCLs). SCMLs are established as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water for aesthetic considerations such as taste, color, and odor. These contaminants are not considered a risk to human health at the SMCL.

While SMCLs are not federally enforceable, the EPA requires a special notice for exceedance of the fluoride SMCL of 2.0 mg/L. Community water systems that exceed the fluoride SMCL of 2 mg/L, but do not exceed the MCL of 4.0 mg/L for fluoride, must provide public notice no later than 12 months from the day the water system learns of the exceedance (40 CFR 141.208).

Tooth discoloration and/or pitting is caused by excess fluoride exposures during the formative period prior to eruption of the teeth in children. The secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L is intended as a guideline for an upper boundary level in areas which have high levels of naturally occurring fluoride. The level of the SMCL was set based upon a balancing of the beneficial effects of protection from tooth decay and the undesirable effects of excessive exposures leading to discoloration.

22. What are the normal fluoride levels that occur in the District’s systems?
The naturally occurring fluoride levels in the BCMUD’s water supply averages 0.35 mg/l. The District does not supplement this level with additional fluoride.

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23. Will I lose the benefits of fluoride in my drinking water if I install a home treatment device?
Certain types of home treatment devices will remove 85 percent to more than 95 percent of all the minerals in water, including fluoride. These devices are reverse osmosis, distillation units, and de-ionizations units. A typical ion exchange water softener, which removes calcium and magnesium, will not remove fluoride.

24. Where can I find additional information about fluoride?
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
* National Cancer Institute

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25. Will a home treatment device improve the safety of my water?
Tap water provided by the District meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards set for public health. While some home treatment devices can remove chlorine and taste/odor constituents, home treatment devices rarely improve the safety of the water to any significant degree. Home treatment devices require regular service. When not maintained as recommended by the manufacturer, effectiveness of a home treatment device is reduced and can possibly result in lower quality water. Before purchasing a home water treatment unit, consider local water quality, cost and maintenance of the unit, product performance, and certifications to make sure the unit will meet your needs.

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26. Why do home faucets have aerators?
When mixed with water, tiny air bubbles from the aerator prevent the water from splashing too much. Because the water flow is less, often half the regular flows, aerators also help to conserve water.

27. Where can I obtain additional information about my water quality?
View the Water Quality Report at the District’s website at www.bcmud.org or contact Customer Service at 512-255-7871 or email us at CustomerService@bcmud.org.

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Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning water quality.

DISCOLORED WATER

AESTHETICS

HARDNESS

LEAD

FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER

OTHER

Answers: