Whether your water comes from a public system or private well, it’s probably deemed safe for drinking, bathing and cooking. However, there are many sources of pollution that may alter the taste and smell of your water—and impact your health, as well. A quality water filter can help ensure the taste and clarity of your water—while preventing contact with dangerous contaminants and mineral pollutants like iron and sulfur.

Sources of Groundwater Contamination

• Pesticides and fertilizers: Seeping into rural water systems, common agricultural chemicals like nitrites and herbicides can taint groundwater sources with disease-causing pollutants.
• Landfills: As residents and commercial entities dispose of hazardous waste and mounds of garbage, rainfall carries soluble contaminants into groundwater systems below the dumping areas. Septic tank leaks may also endanger private and public water supplies.
• Microorganisms: In areas of high flooding and overwhelming wildlife populations, bacteria, fungi and parasites can cause groundwater pollution.
• Radon: A color and odor-free gas, radon is produced through the breakdown of uranium deposits. While small amounts of radon are present in many water sources, high levels may lead to increased cancer risks.
• Sulfur: Formed by the decay of plants and other organic materials, sulfur is not a known health hazard. It does, however, cause water to take on an unpleasant, “rotten” odor and taste. A water filter can prevent this undesirable effect.
• Iron: Leached into groundwater from rock formations and high-mineral soil, iron can also impact the taste of your water supply. While it doesn’t generally cause health problems, iron builds up on faucets, fixtures and tubs—leading to unsightly deposits that are hard to remove. When you invest in a water filter, water tastes better and kitchen/bathroom fixtures are easier to clean and maintain.

If your primary water source is a private well, it’s especially important to invest in a water filter and regularly test water for contaminants. And while public water systems have fairly diligent testing schedules, the potential for water contamination still exists. If you’re concerned about protecting your family from water pollutants and maintaining your water’s quality taste and smell, consider installing a proven water filter. A reputable filtration system can improve water quality, remove sulfur and iron, and prevent the chemical spread that may adversely affect your health and well-being.

Information paraphrased from Winnipeg.ca

Where does Winnipeg’s Drinking Water Come From?

We get our drinking water from Shoal Lake, which is located on the border between Manitoba and Ontario. Shoal Lake was chosen as the best source of water supply for our city in 1912, and that is still true today.

• Water flows from Shoal Lake to Winnipeg by gravity through a 135 kilometre long aqueduct (concrete pipe).
• The water is stored in Deacon Reservoir, a large reservoir that can hold 8.8 billion litres, enough water to supply Winnipeg for about 20 days.
• Water passes from Deacon Reservoir to three smaller reservoirs and pumping stations in different areas of the city.
• Each day, we deliver an average of 215 million litres of water to approximately 270,000 Winnipeg homes and businesses.

Is Winnipeg’s Drinking Water Safe?

The drinking water in Winnipeg isn’t any more unsafe than most areas – meaning it’s ok to drink.  However, it doesn’t always live up to guidelines for turbidity, odor, or Trihalomethanes. For a full report on Winnipeg’s drinking water quality – check out the full report.

A common complaint about local tap or well water is that it occasionally has a sulphur (or, rotten egg) smell.  This is caused by Hydrogen Sulfide gas (H2S) that occurs naturally, and gives water its trademark “rotten egg” smell and taste.

Is Sulphur Smelling Water Dangerous?
Most of the time, no.  A sulphur smell in your water likely doesn’t relate to the sanitary level of your water.  However, it IS possible that exposure to sewage or other pollution, and you should have your local Culligan Dealer test your water.

Here are a couple general tips to go by when identifying the source of your sulphur smelling water:

• If the smell is only from the hot water faucet the problem is likely to be in the water heater.

• If the smell is in both the hot and cold faucets, but only from the water treated by a water softener and not in the untreated water the problem is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the water softener.

• If the smell is strong when the water in both the hot and cold faucets is first turned on, and it diminishes or goes away after the water has run, or if the smell varies through time the problems is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the well or distribution system.

• If the smell is strong  when the water in both the hot and cold faucets is first turned on and is more or less constant and persists with use the problem is likely to be hydrogen sulfide gas in the groundwater.

An easy solution to this is to set up a whole home water treatment system – such as the reverse osmosis water softening equipment provided by Culligan dealers in your area.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a common herbicide atrazine has been found at three times the recommended level for safety.

From the Iowa Independent Article:

The study included data from two Iowa watersheds — the Nishnabotna River in western Iowa, where 82 percent of samples taken contained atrazine, and Wolf Creek in Black Hawk and Grundy counties where 96 percent of samples taken contained atrazine. In Wolf Creek samples, the maximum peak atrazine concentration was 10 parts per billion (ppb), more than three times the EPA standard atrazine level for drinking water.

The study also looked at 12 public water systems in southern Iowa. The highest concentration of atrazine in raw water was found at the Winterset Water Treatment Plant in Madison County, where the maximum concentration was 47.5 ppb. This system serves approximately 4,768 people and uses water from Cedar Lake.

Atrazine has been shown to cause problems with the development of reproductive organs.  Exposure to this chemical in your local Iowa tap water is preventable.  Your local Iowa Culligan Dealer can help you put together a package to help filter your water and keep you safe from contaminants.

Culligan’s corporate office recently launched a press release covering their new product – the world’s only certified whole-house arsenic filtration system.

Here are some excerpts from the release:

To address consumer concerns about arsenic in their water, Culligan, the leader in home water treatment solutions for more than 70 years, just introduced the only certified Whole-House Arsenic Reduction Filter on the market. The entire system has been tested and certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) against NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for the reduction of total arsenic (pentavalent and trivalent). Homeowners can be assured that the new Culligan solution is backed by third-party certification experts who uphold independent testing standards to validate which devices are successful at reducing arsenic and other contaminants. Whythird party certification is important to consumers is the entire system passed laboratory tests (including arsenic reduction performance), material review, structural integrity, and literature compliance.

As you can see – this is another step forward by your local Culligan man to improve the quality of your drinking water. If you’d like to learn more, please contact one of the Culligan dealers in your area.  Here’s links to a few areas of interest:

Iowa City Home Water Softener
Binghamton Home Water Softener
Winnipeg Home Water Softener

Many cities add flouride to their drinking water. Several experts have started raising questions as to whether or not this is safe, particularly for the elderly and for young children.

A new DVD by the flouride action network features several scientists discussing the issue of flouride in your drinking water.

An article from last summer at cbc.ca outlines some common problems Winnipeg residenta have with their drinking water.

Winnipeggers are holding their noses yet again to fend off the distinctive musty smell and taste that often plague the city’s tap water in the summer.

Winnipeg’s water has an odd taste for a few weeks almost every year due to seasonal algae growth in Shoal Lake, a 227-square-kilometre lake on the Manitoba-Ontario border that provides Winnipeg’s drinking water.

Despite its unpleasant taste and smell, Winnipeg tap water is still safe to drink, says Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s medical officer of health. Tap water is routinely tested during the summer season for substances produced by algae.

If you, like many consumers, are interested in improving the quality of the water in your home, you should contact your local Culligan Man!

Stewart Water Conditioning has been serving the Winnipeg, Manitoba area for years – and can provide you with anything from bottled water to whole home water treatment systems!

You can check out their contact information here.

Here is information from water quality surveys as presented by ewg.org. This information illustrates just some of the findings for the quality of the drinking water in Binghamton, New York.

Related Posts:Rochester Drinking Water

This report is published by the Environmental Working Group – and is a result of tests performed on the Iowa City, IA Water Department. The full report is available for viewing here.

Pollution Summary:
Contaminants found in your tap water (1998 – 2003): 18

Health effects or target organs of contaminants found: Cardiovascular or Blood Toxicity, Cancer, Developmental Toxicity, Endocrine Toxicity, Immunotoxicity, Kidney Toxicity, Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Respiratory Toxicity, and Skin Sensitivity.

Overall Water Contaminant Information:

Iowa City, IA Water Quality Report

Culligan® delivers high quality, clean drinking water right to your tap. Culligan drinking water systems can reduce a variety of water contaminants, for better health and enjoyment.

Good, clean drinking water is essential to everyone’s health. Nutritionists recommend you drink at least eight glasses of water a day. A Culligan reverse osmosis system provides a smart, convenient way to make sure your family is getting the amount, and quality of water they need. In fact, many families find that with delicious Culligan water at home their kids drink fewer sugary soft drinks.