| Drinking water safety is often taken lightly and for | | | | fitted which effectively destroy bacteria, viruses and |
| granted by several Americans. Environmentalists and | | | | other germs. |
| scientists however, realize the growing dangers of | | | | Sampling Stations |
| ground water pollution and other health risks from | | | | The DEP installed water quality sampling stations as |
| various sources that contaminate different sources | | | | part of the water quality monitoring program to |
| including drinking water stations. Find out how to | | | | better view and detect the presence of harmful |
| avoid harmful pesticides, organic chemicals and | | | | pathogens and other substances in drinking water. |
| pathogens. | | | | The quality should comply with state and federal |
| Growing Risk | | | | drinking water regulations by providing a uniform and |
| Waterborne diseases are very common and have | | | | clean sampling environment that will improve water |
| affected whole city populations in the past wherein | | | | sampling effort efficiency. Public health can greatly be |
| people presented serious or fatal complications. | | | | protected as the stations are installed in different |
| Microorganisms such as viruses, parasites and bacteria | | | | key areas of a given city. Water quality as well as |
| can be present in drinking water stations. Cysts like | | | | potentially unsanitary sources can be assessed. |
| entamoeba histolytica are a form of persisting | | | | The stations are about 4.5 feet from the ground and |
| microorganisms while cyst carriers can be an infection | | | | are made of heavy cast iron. A 3/4-inch copper tube |
| source without even having to present symptoms | | | | is found inside which feeds water from a nearby |
| that individuals can detect. Cysts can survive for | | | | water source into the station. A spigot is included in |
| several weeks or months in a moist environment and | | | | the fixture wherein water samples are taken. Over |
| are not easily affected by disinfectants. | | | | 1,000 water samples are taken from hundreds of |
| Public Exposure | | | | locations each month to be checked for the |
| About 5% of Americans are affected while | | | | presence of turbidity, organic and inorganic pollutants, |
| underdeveloped countries have a higher risk of being | | | | bacteria, chlorine, pH, odor and other properties. |
| affected by 50%. Some of the major reasons for | | | | Installing hundreds of stations cost several millions of |
| waterborne outbreaks include poor hygiene and | | | | dollars and locations for the drinking water stations |
| sanitation. It takes at least 2 weeks to examine and | | | | were based on the need to collect representative |
| get fairly reliable results from water samples to | | | | water quality samples in every distribution area. Other |
| detect viruses. Viruses are more resistant than | | | | features like water pressure zones, accessibility, |
| bacteria to water treatment procedures and are not | | | | proximity to water mains and population density need |
| as easily detected by bacteriological monitoring which | | | | to be considered as well. |
| is the conventional process to indicate potable water | | | | Speaking of Standards |
| safety. | | | | Small amounts of a number of contaminants are |
| Drinking water stations may harbor enteric viruses | | | | generally expected. Health risk is not immediate as it |
| without any sign of bacterial pollution. Waste water | | | | depends on the presence, type and level of |
| recycling for domestic use may increase virus | | | | contaminated drinking water. There are standards set |
| contamination risk. More stringent filtration and | | | | by the EPA for about 90 contaminants in drinking |
| cleansing processes should be incorporated at | | | | water including like sources and various health effects |
| stations to avoid contaminated drinking water. There | | | | for the short and long term. |
| are a number of reliable products that can easily be | | | | |