Both USEPA and State health departments require regular testing of public water systems to ensure compliance with the drinking water standards described previously. If you have questions about the safety of your public drinking water supply, you can call you local public water system and get a copy of the latest sampling information. If your public water system collects an unsafe sample or fails to routinely monitor, it will notify you through the most accessible means available, and within enough time to avoid major health risks. This notice can appear in the newspaper, through a radio or television announcement, or as a printed notice hand-delivered to your mailbox. The announcement will explain the problem and its potential adverse health effects. It will also explain what precautions you should take and what the system is doing to correct the problem.
The quality of water from private water supplies, such as those from wells at homes and businesses, are not regulated. It is the responsibility of the well owner to ensure a safe drinking water supply. Although there are a few requirements for water quality testing and monitoring of private wells (i.e., in some areas, testing is required at the time of property transfer), it is recommended that all well owners have their water tested periodically. While "complete" drinking water analyses can be expensive and are generally unnecessary for the private well owner, it is recommended that private water supplies be tested routinely for common contaminants including total coliform bacteria, nitrates, and lead. The frequency of water testing and the contaminants to test for depend on factors such as the potential sources of pollution and the type of well. A water's taste, smell, or color is not an indicator of water quality. Many of the most hazardous contaminants are undetectable to the senses. The only way to detect certain pollutants is by testing.
It is important to know
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