Does simple monitoring of finished water at the treatment plant guarantee good water quality at the tap?
Not always because a number of process changes in water treatment techniques, including modified chlorination procedures, which generally provides excellent water quality at the treatment plant before it enters a distribution system, can cause changes within the distribution system that negatively impacts water quality at customers taps. For example, flow changes or water chemistry changes that can either cause erosion or corrosion of toxic element-containing scales, which have built up over years, can result in toxic levels of lead or arsenic being delivered to consumers taps. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Contaminants that may be present in source water include: *Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage trea
