Is my water safe to use and drink?
We receive calls about companies wanting to sell well users a water filter system.Questions like this are hard to answer. We can respond with a few facts and a lot of questions.
This information is taken from publications by Dale Dorman, UGA Extension Housing Specialist and Tony Tyson, former UGA Extension Engineer.No water is 100% pure — even with filtering.It can still have manmade or natural contaminants.
Many are harmless, or even helpful, but some can affect your health.
Excellent quality
In general, our water is of excellent quality. Municipal supplies are government regulated and are tested. Properly installed home wells should supply good quality water.
Although many sellers of water treatment systems are legitimate, others may be unscrupulous. If they claim that the water in your area is contaminated, confirm it with an unbiased source.
Contact your local or state Health Department.
Some dealers may claim that government agencies require or recommend water filter use. This is false.
If you see an EPA registration number on a filter, this just means that EPA registered it for sale. It does not mean EPA recommends or has even tested the device.
Dealers may do free water tests, which is a good idea. These tests should be done and interpreted by an independent lab.
If they find something, they should tell you exactly what it is, the concentration and if it is harmful.
Then check the information through another source, like the University of Georgia Extension.
Sales tactics to watch out for
One sales tactic is to tell you that you have ‘won a prize’ only to ex- pect you to buy something else to get your ‘gift’.
Do not give credit card information to anyone unless you have checked out his or her product and want to buy.
The National Sanitation Foundation, ( NSF, 3475 Plymouth Road, P.O. Box 1468, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, phone number 313769-8010, operates a voluntary certification program for water treatment products.
They cannot recommend a particular model, but they can supply useful information. Check things out thoroughly before you buy!
Questions to ask
Here are some questions to ask salespersons. What exactly does my water have in it and is it harmful to my health? Can I have it tested at another lab?
How long have you been in business and would you supply names of former customers I can call? Is this product rated by NSF?
Will this product supply enough water for all my needs or should I just attach it to one tap?
Has this product been tested for this contaminant over the entire life of the device (not just for one gallon) under normal household conditions? What is my total cost to buy and maintain this device? (Then make comparisons before buying!) Will you retest the water in a month? What is the expected life of this product?
If you have a specific health concern — contact your doctor or l ocal health department.
UGA Cooperative Extension usually cannot test water to determine the cause of specific ailments like cancer, stomach upset, etc.
If you are sick, tell your doctor and let them recommend a course of action. Water testing can be very expensive, if you do not know what to look for.
You can get a copy of “Home Water Treatment Systems” by contacting us. Our email is uge2233@ uga.edu, or by phone at 770-749-2142.