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Frequently Asked Questions Click on the
question below to find the answer: Click here to return to the Water Quality Laboratory page. Click here to return to the Environmental Laboratory Services Front Page. What is the water source for the City of Grand Junction? The City of Grand Junction's drinking water originates from high quality surface water of the Kannah Creek area on U. S. Forest Service lands. This pristine source starts out as snowmelt and precipitation and covers 200 square miles on the top and south side of the Grand Mesa. Principal streams and storage areas in the watershed are Kannah Creek, North Fork of Kannah Creek, Juniata Reservoir and Purdy Mesa Reservoir. A 20-mile pipeline delivers this untreated water across the desert plateau to the water plant for treatment. How safe is City drinking water?
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA prescribes limits on the amount of certain substances in drinking water. City water meets or exceeds (is better than) drinking water limits set by the USEPA and has had no recent violations of USEPA drinking water standards since 1994. More information about the safety of drinking water can be obtained by calling the USEPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or by visiting the USEPA's web site at www.epa.gov/ogwdw
City water has many full time staff overseeing its source water to ensure high quality and adequate quantity. Keep in mind the watershed has no urban development (contributing industrial waste products), no farming (introducing pesticides and herbicides) and no mining/petroleum drilling (producing excessive heavy metal levels or hydrocarbons) above the City water intake at the Kannah Creek watershed. Wild life and domestic range animals grazing on United States Forest Service lands are present in the Kannah Creek watershed. Is City drinking water as good as bottled drinking water?
City drinking water is much less expensive than bottled water. Some bottled waters cost more than $5.00 per gallon. The City's water costs less than one thousandth of a cent per gallon delivered, based on 10,000 gallons usage. Do I need a water filter? City tap water is perfectly safe and meets all USEPA drinking water standards without the use of a water filter. In fact, if not properly maintained, water filter devices may cause water quality problems.
What type of disinfectant is used in City
drinking water? The City uses chlorine to disinfect treated water against microbes that may be found in raw, untreated source water. Chlorine is a long lasting, highly effective disinfectant. The presence of chlorine assures continuous safety against bacterial growth in the water distribution system. Chlorine was added for disinfection by municipalities in the early 20th century. Disinfection of drinking water is responsible for eliminating deadly waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever and cholera. As a result of such treatment, major waterborne diseases ceased to exist in the United State by World War II. Does the City fluoridate the drinking water? Grand Junction was the first water municipality in Colorado to elect to fluoridate the drinking water. In 1951 the decision to fluoridate was voted upon and approved by the public.
Research indicates that fluoride levels of 0.8 - 1.20 milligrams per liter (mg/L) have reduced dental cavities or tooth decay by 60%. In 1982, the Surgeon General stated that public water supplies should have the optimum concentration of fluoride for protection against tooth decay. This recommendation was also supported by a U.S. Public Health Service study in 1991. The City fluoridates the drinking water at a level of 0.9 mg/L. The maximum level of fluoride allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act is 4 mg/L. Any concerns regarding fluoridation should be discussed with your dentist or physician. How hard is City drinking water?
The levels of calcium and magnesium minerals, which occur naturally in source water, determine the hardness of drinking water. Hard water requires more soap to lather than soft water. It can also result in a whitish scale on sinks, plumbing fixtures and even housewares. Hard water is 200 - 300 milligrams per liter or parts per million. City drinking water is generally considered "moderately soft". Total hardness levels range between 99 - 127 milligrams per liter or parts per million. This corresponds to a hardness of 3 - 6 grains/gallon of water. How do I get rid of the scale
on my faucet/sink? Minerals naturally occurring in the water are responsible for the whitish scale commonly seen on sinks and sink fixtures. The harder the water (high mineral content), the greater and more rapid formation of scale. Even the softest of waters will result in scale since the minerals are left behind when the water on your sink or fixture evaporates. Household vinegar and a little elbow action should work if the scale formation is not excessive. Commercial descalers are also available for purchase at your local grocer.
When should a water softener be used? A water softener is not necessary due to the relative softness of the City's drinking water. Installation of a water softening system is costly and requires constant supplies and maintenance. However, some consumers may choose to install a system due to personal preference.
Is my drinking water tested? The City Water Quality Laboratory annually performs over 16,000 tests for substances in drinking water. Tests are performed at the water treatment plant, in the water distribution system and in the water supply area.
Sometimes I find a water sample bottle on my door knob with official looking instructions for water sampling. Are these sampling instructions and bottle from the City of Grand Junction? Excluding the lead and copper water study peformed by the City once every three years for an established group of homes, the City of Grand Junction does not leave samples bottles and instructions on your door. Official testing of drinking water private residences is normally conducted only at the consumers' request. If the Water Services department has reason to counduct testing, a Water Lab analyst will contact the homeowner with a full explanation of the purpose for testing, ask for an appointment and provide the homeowner with appropriate phone numbers for the Water Department. If anyone comes to your door and ask for a water sample please as for identification. Call the City of Grand Junction's Water Quality Lab at 243-9636 with any questions or concerns. I am on a sodium restricted diet, how do I calculate the amount of sodium in a cup of my drinking water? Use the Water Treatment Plant's 2006 yearly averages to obtain the parts per million (ppm), also call milligrams per liter (mg/L), for sodium or any other analyte of interest. To get the data click on the 2006 Averages for Water Treatment Plant at top right. To calculate the amount in a cup of water, take the ppm or mg/L result and divide this number by 4.23. For example, for the water result of 12 ppm of sodium, divide by 4.23 which equals 2.8 milligrams of sodium per cup (1 cup = 8 ounces). In addition to required testing by the USEPA and Colorado Department of Health, the City water system voluntarily tests for hundreds of additional compounds and microscopic organisms to make certain the water sent to you, our customer, is safe and of high quality. The City is committed to providing you
with the safest and most reliable water supply. If you have any
questions or concerns about your drinking water or would like a
copy of the latest City Water Quality Report, please call the laboratory
at (970) 243-9636 or e-mail Jo
Holcomb Laboratory Manager. This page updated Wednesday, July 16, 2008 |
Fluoride
is a compound found naturally in many places, including soil, food,
plants, animals and the human body. It is also found naturally,
in very low levels, in the City's source water.
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If you have any questions about the quality of your drinking water, please contact us at (970) 243-9636 or e-mail Jo Holcomb, Laboratory Manager.
City water meets or exceeds drinking water limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. For more information please click on the pages below 2007 Averages — Water Treatment Plant Raw and Finished Water |
