WATER TESTING - A NEVER ENDING CYCLE
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues drinking water standards
with which all public water suppliers must comply. These regulations specify
what substances to test for and the frequency of testing. Testing is necessary
because all sources of drinking water can contain small amounts of these
substances.
Some of these substances, such as iron and fluoride, may actually have
nutritional values at low levels. However, other substances which
enter drinking water sources are fortunate by-products of modern society.
In Texas, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission is charged
with monitoring compliances of public water supplies with the EPA and the
State of Texas drinking water regulations.
The TNRCC establishes a schedule of testing for each supplier based
on:
- The size of the population
served by the supplier;
- How vulnerable its water
source is to contamination;
- The type of water (ground or
surface); and,
- If there has been a history of
detecting contaminants in the water source.
The EPA has always worked to keep drinking water safe, and it has now
extended that service to keeping the public informed of the quality of
its drinking water. Beginning in October 1999, public water systems in
Texas must provide their customers with a Consumer Confidence Report, also
referred to as a Drinking Water Quality Report.
These reports will be customized for each public water system and will
reflect the contaminants -- and level of contaminants -- which have been
found in their water system, as well as the maximum level allowed by state
and federal law. |
