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A Precautionary Boil Water Notice – What Does that Mean?
We issue such a notice when there has been large area of the distribution system (i.e. – homes and businesses) that has lost all water pressure – typically following a large main break. If the affected area is small we can restore water quality by flushing hydrants; but if the area is large we cannot do this effectively. In this circumstance we cannot guarantee the quality of the drinking water until the system is repressurized and we have completed testing. That testing takes 24 hours so we suggest that people may want to boil their boil until the tests are complete and indicate that the water is safe. Boiling the water will kill any bacteria that may be present in the water, including disease-causing microorganisms like Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium, which are frequently found in rivers and lakes.
For what uses should I boil the water?
You should boil all water used for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth. It is not necessary to boil water for bathing, washing clothes, or lawn irrigation.
How long do I boil the water??
Bring the water to a rolling boil for 1minute, let cool and use. To improve the flat taste of boiled water, aerate it by pouring it back and forth from one container to another and allow it to stand for a few hours, or add a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of water boiled.
Are there other alternatives to boiling the water?
If you are unable to boil your water, we suggested using bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth. Disinfection with chlorine bleach is another option, but the process is more complicated than boiling. For information on disinfection using bleach or other chemicals, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html
What happens if I drink the water without boiling or disinfecting?
Keep in mind that a precautionary boil water advisory is issued when there is a chance that the water may contain bacteria; it does not mean that bacteria have been detected. If water containing bacteria is not treated through boiling or disinfection, you may experience health effects such as headache, nausea, diarreha and fatigue. Infants, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk to develop these symptoms.
Who should consider boiling water?
Boil water notices apply to those locations which have been completely out of water –you turn on the tap and nothing comes out. Some locations will have low water pressure – it may trickle out of the tap but water is still flowing - and boiling water will not be necessary for there.
How do I find out about a boil water notice?
We will post information on the city Web site – both on the main page and on the Utilities Department page. Check www.a2gov.org
We will put information on local cable, CTN Channel 16. We fax information and provide interviews to local radio stations: WAAM (AM 1600), WEMU (FM89.1), KOOL (WKQL FM 107); WUOM (FM 97.1). The Ann Arbor News typically runs the information in the Local section. We notify the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator. We also notify other TV and radio stations, but the non-local ones typically do not pick up on just a precautionary notice. They are more likely to become involved when there is a demonstrated problem. Call the Water Plant at 994-2840. We have multiple telephone lines and answer as fast as we can. There will be a voice mail message with updates on it as well – and yes we do return our voice mail messages. We assume you want a return call unless you tell us otherwise.
How can I help?
If you are completely out of water – nothing comes of the faucet at all - let us know immediately. We also need to know your address. This helps us to map the affected area, determine if we need a boil water notice and who is affected by that notice. Talk to your neighbors, family friends – share the news!
What is turbidity?
Technically, turbidity is a measure of the ability of a liquid to scatter light. Another way to think of turbidity is as a measure of the particles in water or the cloudiness of water. The more particles that are in water the greater amount of light that will be scattered when a light beam is passed through a water sample and therefore the higher the turbidity. These particles may be a wide variety of things, such as dirt particles. It naturally occurs in rivers, lakes and wells and is something that drinking water plants are required to remove. Some particles may have health risks, but others do not. Turbidity will not distinguish between such particles.
So why is turbidity important in drinking water production?
Turbidity is used as a way to measure how well a treatment plant is operating. A well operated plant will have low turbidity. Therefore, it is unlikely to have other problems, such as with microorganisms, passing through the system. High turbidity indicates that a process is not working as well as it should. This does not necessarily mean there as health risk, but it is an indicator that actions need to be taken to improve water quality. Federal and State standards have recently changed to reduce the allowable amount of turbidity in drinking water and in the treatment processes used to produce that water. These new standards include more notification of the public when the treatment processes are not working optimally.
I think I am allergic to water; my skin is dry and itchy!
The water is not directly responsible for dry itchy skin, but it can make the problem worse. Water removes the natural oils from your skin, particularly when using soap. Loss of these oils makes the skin dryer and more prone to itching. This most commonly occurs in the winter. The air is dryer (lower humidity) and cold which leads to dry skin. It is not typically an allergic problem to the water supply, but rather the removal of the body oils which affect the skin.
So what can you do to avoid or reduce this problem? Use a humidifier in your house. Raising the humidity will help with dry skin. Take shorter, cooler showers. This will remove fewer oils from the skin. Use a moisturizing soap – the amount of oil removal varies with the type and amount of soap you use, so pick one that promotes body oil retention. Use lotion on dry skin to help it recover. Minimize your skin exposure to the outdoors – keep your hands covered in winter weather. Of course, see a doctor if serious problems persist.
What is the sodium content of the drinking water?
The City of Ann Arbor's drinking water averages 48.5 mg/l or ppm (parts per million). Most of this sodium is naturally occurring.
I bought a new dishwasher recently and the manual says I need to know the hardness of the water.
Hardness in water reflects the mineral content - primarily calcium. These minerals are naturally occurring. The Ann Arbor Water Plant treats the water to reduce the hardness. How well this process works varies seasonally with the water temperature. The hardness of the water averages 135 mg/l (milligrams per liter) or ppm (parts per million), ranging from 110 mg/l in the summer to 170 mg/l in the winter. If you have recently purchased a dishwasher, they want you to find the hardness in grains per gallon rather then mg/l. Expressed
this way, the hardness of the water varies from 6.5 to 10 grains per gallon. Harder water requires more soap to form suds and provide effective cleaning.
What are the white particles in my water: calcium versus dip tube?
There are two types of white particles that have been observed in Ann Arbor drinking water. They have very different causes and solutions. Both occur rarely.
One type is calcium. The water pipes are naturally lined with a calcium deposit. When pressure changes occur, such as during plumbing work, water main breaks, hydrant flushing or other disruptive procedures, some of this calcium may break loose from the pipe and come out the water faucet. Typically, the particles will be very small, around 1 mm in diameter. They usually do not clog the aerators (screens) on faucets. They are very hard, but can be dissolved in vinegar. These are the same deposits that you may notice inside a teakettle after many uses. These types of particles should only occur for a very brief time. If they are persistent or abundant in the water, you should call the water plant so that we can investigate and take action.
The second type of particle is actually plastic. The particles vary in size, even up to half an inch. They are noted for plugging up aerators. They are white in appearance, but one side may be yellowish. They can be crumbled by hand and do not dissolve in vinegar. They will melt if placed in a flame (we do not recommend this, as they may also smell bad). Often these particles are associated with a loss in hot water capacity. That is because they are actually parts of the hot water heater – specifically the dip tube. The dip tube is the tube that directs the cold water into the bottom of the tank for heating. Dip tubes manufactured from 1993 to 1996 are prone to this failure. The particles are non-toxic. The manufacturer should cover replacement of these dip tubes. The web site www.hotwater.com has more information. |