“My friends and I own a small eatery with a bed-n-breakfast in the mountains and we have water from the town. Every once in a while the news tells us to boil until further notice. The last time it happpened a customer asked how long they could have been drinking bacteria water before the news told us to boil the water. I said we don’t know and they said we should know that sort of thing before we serve people food and drink. How long COULD the water have been bad?”

From the sounds of things you had a real snot eating or staying in your place. We hope he/she at least tipped well and didn’t cause you any other grief!

Regarding the answer to the question asked, you will have to talk to the town water department and ask them for information on their bacteria testing policies and public notification policies since some municipal water systems have tighter, more stringent testing requirements than others — but none can get any looser than those set by the State & Federal Governments.

Regular testing for bacteria?

We assure you that your local water department, if it follows State and Federal Water Treatment & Testing Guidelines, performs regular testing for bacteria, testing for chlorine and tests for a host of other important water quality contaminants and water quality parameters on a regular basis.

If you want more detailed information on the steps used by your local water company to protect you from bacteria and other unwanted drinking water contaminants, we suggest that you contact your local water department directly.

As we mentioned, city and municipal water departments take specific, regulated steps to protect their customers from bacterial contamination… but even in the best of circumstances sometimes things happen which could possibly put those customers at risk.

Water main breaks between the water treatment plant and customers’ homes as well as unexpected equipment failures at the water treatment plant can both certainly happen at any time and both may result in opportunities for bacteria to enter the drinking water supply.

Personal protection against bacterial contamination?

Recently a number of folks have started installing UV water sterilizers like the Crystal Quest UV 6 in their homes as a final layer of protection against bacterial contamination. These devices render bacteria unable to reproduce by exposing the unwanted critters to a specific wavelength of UV light.

So, while the devices do not necessarily kill the bacteria right away, UV water sterilizers like the Crystal Quest UV 6, when used in the right application, make certain the organisms do not have a chance to multiply and create problems for those who ingest them.

Please note, however, that UV water sterilizers should NOT get used as the first line of defense against bacteria when dealing with untreated and/or unfiltered water.

Why? Because UV water sterilizers can do nothing to remove unwanted particles, solids and/or chemical contaminants. To remove things of that nature one should consider a unit that uses activated carbon, reverse osmosis, etc.

While on the topic of commercial water filters…

Jacky had concerns about water quality in a commercial setting so it only makes sense that we end this article by mentioning the CQE-UV-00105, a commercial UV water sterilizer with a flow rate greater than 22 GPM.

Crystal Quest CQE-UV-00105

“I’m trying to find someone to come test my well water. I’m in Reidsville, NC. And we are just renters I have never had well water before and I would like to know what’s in it. When it rains really hard for a few days the water smells like fish. Then sometimes like onion do you know of a company that test wells in Reidsville??”

While we do not know of a specific company that tests well water in your area, Janelle, we suggest contacting your local health department and asking them if they can provide you with a list of qualified local water testing laboratories.

We took the liberty of doing a quick Google Search for ‘well water testing in Reidsville, NC’ (click the link, Janelle!) and while no immediate matches popped up, a few companies appeared to have locations w/in 20 or 30 miles of where you live, Janelle.

You should also check out the EPA’s North Carolina Water Page. It contains a number of links and phone numbers that may prove useful.

Regarding the ‘fishy smell’ in well water?

Without actually testing the water we suspect that your water may contain some form of organic matter whose levels change in accordance with the changing of the level of the aquifer from which your well draws its water. From what we have read the organic matter usually does not pose much of a health threat, though in some instances it can, and it typically poses more of an aesthetic nuisance than anything else.

Sources also indicated that certain types of bacteria in one’s well may also cause well water to possess a fishy smell at times.

Regarding the ‘onion smell’ in well water?

Most resources we viewed suggested changing the anode rod in the hot water heater since it, over time, can begin collecting mineral deposits or fail in other ways that can result in water coming from the water heater smelling like onions and sometimes, though we neglected to mention this in the previous section, like fish.

Treating for onion water and fishy water?

As noted a moment ago, making sure the anode rod in the water heater has not gone bad or become encrusted with unwanted mineral deposits makes for a wise course of action if water in a home has taken on an onion or fishy smell.

One site we found said the following about diagnosing and treating water that contained foul odors:

“This type of odor may indicate the presence of organic (non-pathogenic) matter. The most common method of treatment for this type of odor is activated carbon filtration or chlorination followed by carbon filtration. It is helpful to attempt to diagnose the cause of the odor so that proper treatment is designed. You may also test your well water for bacteria and nitrates to confirm portability of the water.” ( source )

No matter what, though, Janelle, make sure you get the water tested by a certified water testing laboratory — preferably one that specializes in diagnosing problems with well water.

Coliform Bacteria Test Kit

Late last week residents in a Massachusetts community outside of Boston received word that water samples from two of the town’s wells tested positive for the presence of bacteria (enterococci bacteria). Accordingly, health officials advised residents to not use their tap water without boiling it first.

Boiling the water before using it for cooking, drinking, washing, brushing one’s teeth, etc. would effectively kill off any bacteria potentially present.

as a general rule, health officials view the presence of enterococci bacteria as a sign that the water may have become contaminated with fecal matter and that, friends, could definitely make more than a few people sick.

For anyone with a compromised or otherwise suppressed immune system, ingesting water containing fecal matter could mean death.

No matter how you look at it, though, the very idea of drinking human or animal waste sounds… absolutely revolting.

The Town of Marshfield has ordered residents to boil their water before using it, after tests of water samples from two test wells found a high level of enterococci bacteria. Enterococci bacteria is an indicator of the possible presence of fecal matter, and when it is found in drinking water it poses a serious health risk.

The well sites on Spring Street and Church Street, two of six wells in the towns hi-zone water system, had high levels of the bacteria, according to results returned Thursday night.

Residents are being instructed to bring water to a rolling boil before drinking and cooking, or before brushing teeth, bathing, or washing their face. ( source )

Far too many people trust in modern technology these days and forget one of the most basic facts in the Known Universe: “Sh#t happens.”

Machines can break, valves can fail and unexpected leaks can occur. When any of those things happen, some of the bacteria from the sh#t that unavoidably happens has an opportunity to get into your water supply.

Who should test for bacteria in drinking water?

In most cases people with city water do not need to test for bacteria in their water, but an occasional test just to make certain nothing has gone wrong with the pipes between the water treatment facility and their homes never hurts.

For people who private wells, the odds of bacteria infiltrating their wells go way, way up. Therefore experts suggest a regimen of periodic testing for coliform bacteria to anyone who owns a private well.

Trained water experts perform daily testing of city water but no one will test your well water if you don’t.

WaterSafe Bacteria Test Kit

As if the residents of New Orleans had not dealt with enough water-related issues in the past few years, health officials advised residents in the French Quarter and Lower 9th Ward areas to not use their water for any purpose without boiling it first.

Boiling the water will kill off any bacteria which may have grown in the lines of a water treatment facility where recent electrical and mechanical problems resulted in lower than acceptable pressure readings.

When pressure drops, water sits stagnant and as we all know, stagnant water can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

While testing has not detected any bacteria in the water, yet, health officials in New Orleans decided to err on the side of caution and issue a ‘boil water advisory’ to the affected areas rather than risk widespread illness if harmful bacteria did manage to get into the water supply.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The most widespread boil-water order since Hurricane Katrina has been issued for the east bank of New Orleans, affecting more than 300,000 people.

Robert Jackson, director of community and intergovernmental relations for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, told The Associated Press on Saturday that the order was issued after a mechanical and electrical failure at a water treatment plant caused pressure to drop.

He said the order is precautionary, but residents should be prepared to boil all water for cooking and other uses until at least Sunday night. He says no one has been sickened by the water, but officials are still testing the water to ensure no bacteria formed while the pressure was down.

…

The area includes the city’s French Quarter and Lower 9th Ward areas. ( source )

No matter where you live, and what type of water you have (i.e. tap water or well water), the threat of bacteriological contamination will always exist. More so for people who have well water due to the stringent testing requirements followed by public water treatment facilities, but still, since miles of piping exist between the water plant and most people’s faucets, the risk of accidental contamination does exist for folks on city/municipal water systems.

Easy ways to test for bacteria in drinking water?

No home drinking water test kit takes the place of testing performed by a certified water testing lab, but spot checking with home drinking water test kit allows homeowners to keep an eye on the quality of their water between lab tests… at an affordable cost.

Companies such as WaterSafe and SenSafe manufacture simple test kits for coliform bacteria in drinking water that pretty much anyone can use and get results they can trust.

While very true that numerous safeguards exist within the infrastructures of water treatment and water distribution facilities, accidents can occur and potentially harmful contaminants could find a way into the water supply after it leaves the water department’s capable hands.

Therefore, it does make sense for people on city water supplies to check every once in a while for the presence of bacteria in their water. Again, not because the city made a mistake, but rather because a small crack anywhere in the piping that carries the water from the water treatment facility to their homes could possibly serve as an entry point for dangerous strands of bacteria.

October 22, 2010 — The town of Amherst has issued a “Water Quality Advisory” after three of 22 water samples tested positive for total coliform and E. Coli bacteria today. The town’s water system also supplies the UMass campus.

The samples were taken as a part of routine testing and public health officials are conducting further tests to determine whether a “Boil Water Order” is needed.

Results of the tests and the officials’ decision will become available Saturday afternoon, said a campus alert.

The university has a campus-wide precautionary plan in place if a “Boil Water Order” is called for. The plan will supply members of the campus with bottled water and hand sanitizer as well as instructions on how to minimize any health risks.

More information about the water testing can be found at www.amherstma.gov. ( source )

Occasional reports of bacteria in water remind us that even with all of our great technology, our water public water supplies can sometimes fall victim to contamination. Periodic testing for simple water quality parameters using test kits from companies like WaterSafe and SenSafe put the power of contamination detection in the hands of the people who need it most… the general public.

As always, though, if you already have reason to suspect that you may have unwanted contaminants in your drinking water, defer to the expertise of certified water testing laboratories what have the advanced equipment and skills required to accurately assess the quality and safety of your water supply.

Doulton Countertop Ceramic Filter

Doulton Undersink Ceramic Filter

Filter system for bacteria? If the addition of a disinfectant stream such as ozone or chlorine does not seem feasible, then one may want to consider using a ceramic filter system like the ones on the left made by Doulton which install quickly and easily in pretty much any home.

Regardless of whether you choose to install a counter top model which will require no fooling around with plumbing or you opt for an undersink model which will install cleanly and neatly beneath your sink, the Doulton line of ceramic water filter systems offer excellent protection against potentially dangerous and/or unpleasant drinking water contaminants such as bacteria (i.e. E.Coli, Cholera, Shigella, Salmonella, etc.) cysts (i.e. Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.), chlorine, lead, and undissolved particles (i.e. dirt, sand, sediment, etc.).

When used with the UltraCarb ceramic filter candle, these units test and certify to NSF 42, NSF 53 and World Health Organization Standards.

Part number for the UltraCarb ceramic filter element: W9123053

Looking for a system with a bit more…. bacteria killing power? Or perhaps a water filter system that certifies to the NSF 55 Standard Ultraviolet Microbiological Water Treatment Systems? Take a look at the UV Pure Hallett & Upstream systems listed on the IsoPure Water web site.

Despite efforts by public health officials to keep the general population safe, scofflaws make their jobs very difficult sometimes. For some reason members of the general public believe signs warning of dangerous water conditions (including water quality issues) always choose to believe those signs apply to OTHER people, but not them.

Note to the Public: A ‘Beach Closed’ sign and closed in fencing around the swimming area means… YOU CAN GET SICK IF YOU SWIM IN THE WATER! Also, if the staff on-hand suggest avoiding going in the water and/or wading into the water deeper than just a few inches, FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE!

LITTLETON, Colo. — The swimming beach at Chatfield State Park was temporarily closed Sunday when routine water testing found high levels of E. coli bacteria, authorities said.

But 7NEWS Reporter Jaclyn Allen found dozens of people playing on the beach and swimming in the water right next to the closed swimming area Sunday afternoon.

Several families said they had no idea why the beach was closed because it’s not posted on the signs, which simply said: “Swim Beach Closed Today.” The swim beach was also fenced off.

Visitors were surprised to learn from 7NEWS that the closure was triggered by bacterial contamination that could make them seriously ill.

“I had no idea about the E. coli,” said Monique Garcia, whose toddler son had been playing in the water all day. “The woman who took our money told us the beach was closed because the water quality was not good.”

Signs warning “Swimming Prohibited” were posted in the neighboring area where people were swimming and splashing in the water. Park rangers said people are only allowed to wade knee-deep in the water outside the designated swimming beach area.

But clearly people weren’t getting the message. ( source )

Signs and staff warned people to avoid the water, but they went around the fencing and played in the water anyways. So far no one has reported any illnesses resulting from those dolts ignoring warnings, but next time they may not have the same luck.

People have DIED from illnesses they contracted by swimming in water that health officials had recently declared unsafe for swimming.

Can the average person test water at parks, pools, etc.?

In a word, yes… and to do so will NOT break the bank. WaterSafe manufactures a bacteria test kit for pools/spas and rivers/streams/ponds/lakes that gives pass/fail results for bacteria in water at a level which would make the water safe or unsafe for swimming.

As nasty as that sounds, for some folks that actually happens.

MORRISON, Wis. — All it took was an early thaw for the drinking water here to become unsafe.

There are 41,000 dairy cows in Brown County, which includes Morrison, and they produce more than 260 million gallons of manure each year, much of which is spread on nearby grain fields. Other farmers receive fees to cover their land with slaughterhouse waste and treated sewage.

In measured amounts, that waste acts as fertilizer. But if the amounts are excessive, bacteria and chemicals can flow into the ground and contaminate residents’ tap water.

In Morrison, more than 100 wells were polluted by agricultural runoff within a few months, according to local officials. As parasites and bacteria seeped into drinking water, residents suffered from chronic diarrhea, stomach illnesses and severe ear infections.

“Sometimes it smells like a barn coming out of the faucet,” said Lisa Barnard, who lives a few towns over, and just 15 miles from the city of Green Bay. ( source )

One would suppose that local and state health officials examined all of the evidence and looked at the situation from multiple angles before allowing, and in some cases encouraging, farmers to make use of the cows’ waste products they did, but Mother Nature can always find a way to get around the best made plans of men.

Most people know that natural disasters such as floods contaminate drinking water pulled from wells but many do not think about things like farm runoff… which can occur at pretty much any time of year and will typically contain nitrates, nitrites, coliform bacteria and a host of other ‘nasties’ that people ought not consume.

In 2006, an unusually early thaw in Brown County melted frozen fields, including some that were covered in manure. Within days, according to a county study, more than 100 wells were contaminated with coliform bacteria, E. coli, or nitrates — byproducts of manure or other fertilizers.

…

Some residents did not realize that their water was contaminated until their neighbors fell ill, which prompted them to test their own water. ( source )

As the old phrase goes, “Sh#t rolls downhill.” In cases like this, though, the sh#t runs downhill and into people’s wells.

Well Water Testing

Nothing takes the place of professional water testing performed by a certified water testing laboratory. Period. At-home and/or do-it-yourself water test kits serve as ideal screening methods for water contamination only.

With that said, please take a look at the following test kits designed for testing well water:

Water Quality Test Kit

Well Drillers Master Test Kit

Well Drillers Standard Test Kit

The WaterSafe brand of home water test kits also released a Well Water Test Kit recently.

For more information on the effects flooding can have on well water, please see an earlier Water Testing Blog entry called “Well and Ground Water Testing in Flood Zones“.

Heavy rains, run-off and flooding are the most likely culprits for recent water testing results that indicated some coves and the public beaches in Lake of the Ozarks State Park had elevated levels of E.coli.

The cove testing is being done through a partnership with the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and AmerenUE. The samples taken at the state park are handled by DNR and are done on a weekly basis. Although sampled separately, the testing results produced some similarities when it came to E.coli levels.

According to Susanne Medley, communications director for DNR, the ongoing testing being done at Lake of the Ozarks indicates heavy rainfall events will cause a jump in the amount of E.coli found in the water.

Heavy rains were reported in the lake area throughout the late spring and early summer.
Runoff from heavy rains may transport waste found in soil from faulty septic tanks or sewer systems, wastewater treatment facilities, large concentrations of waterfowl, and animal waste and manure, she said. ( source )

Curious to know if the water in your favorite swimming hole contains dangerously unsafe bacteria levels? Use of a kit such as the Water Check Bacteria Test Kit can help.

as always, though, keep in mind that NOTHING takes the place a water test performed by a licensed, certified water testing laboratory and that do-it-yourself bacteria test kits serve as a screening tool only.

“Overview: This standard establishes requirements for point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) ultraviolet systems and includes two optional classifications. Class A systems (40,000 uwsec/cm2) are designed to disinfect and/or remove microorganisms from contaminated water, including bacteria and viruses, to a safe level. Class B systems (16,000 uw-sec/cm2) are designed for supplemental bactericidal treatment of public drinking water or other drinking water, which has been deemed acceptable by a local health agency.” (source)

• Ultraviolet light waves generated by the system kill bacteria and other micro organisms as they pass through.
• You may find these systems under sinks and often times hooked up in series with some sort of activated carbon filter and/or a sediments screen.
• Ultraviolet disinfection systems typically do an excellent job of killing parasites and bacteria.
• Class-A ultraviolet disinfection systems protect against viruses and harmful bacteria.
• Class-B ultraviolet disinfection systems protect against forms of bacteria not typically responsible for causing diseases.