WATER FACTS SUMMARY SHEET
Updated 06/30/04

COLIFORM BACTERIA

Coliform bacteria are organisms which live in the intestines of humans and animals. They also can be found in plants, soils and surface water. Presence of these bacteria indicate that other harmful organisms may be present in the water. Since testing for a specific disease-causing organism is difficult, the coliform bacteria test is considered the best way to determine whether or not a water supply is safe from bacterial contamination.

Water containing any coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, TNTC (too numerous to count) or CG (confluent growth) should not be used for drinking or cooking unless boiled for 5 minutes or disinfected by other means. Bacteria and other organisms found in drinking water can cause intestinal upset as well as disease such as dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis.

Most bacteria in wells or springs come from surface water contaminated by decayed animal waste or human activities. As surface water seeps downward through the soil towards the water table, these bacteria may be naturally removed by the soils. The extent of removal depends on the depth and character of the soil. In general, shallow wells and springs are more likely to be

contaminated than deep wells. Wells and springs must be properly located, constructed and maintained in order to prevent surface water from entering the well or spring.

Presence of coliform bacteria in wells or springs usually result from:

1. Well or spring covers that allow dust, rain, bird droppings, etc. to enter.
2. Wells or springs that are located in areas where surface water covers the well or spring during the wet periods of the year.
3. Defective steel well-casing seals.
4. Shallow wells or springs with rocked up side walls.
5. Recent changes or repairs to the well or spring, pumps, piping, etc.
6. Improper well location and/or construction.

If you have one or more of the problems described above, it should be corrected. If it is not corrected, the problem may reoccur, even after repeated disinfection.

The water system may be disinfected by mixing chlorine bleach (Clorox, Dazzle, etc.) with the water in the well or spring in the following dosages:

DUG WELL

________________________________________________

DEPTH*	5 FT	10 FT	15 FT	20 FT
DOSAGE	1/2 GAL	1 GAL	1 1/2	GAL 2 GAL

________________________________________________

*Approximate amount of water in the bottom of a
well and not the total depth of the well. For a surface SPRING, use 2 gallons.

DRILLED WELL

________________________________________________

DEPTH	50 FT	100 FT	150 FT	200 FT	250 FT	300 FT
DOSAGE*	2 1/2C	1 1/2QT	2 QT	2 1/2QT	3 QT	3 1/2 QT

________________________________________________

GAL=gallon QT=quart C=cup

*PLEASE NOTE: A greater amount of chlorine may be needed to disinfect the water depending on the degree of contamination.

Once the chlorine has been mixed with the water, open all faucets, sillcocks and similar outlets individually until you smell chlorine in each outlet. Allow the mixture to stand in the system overnight, then flush the chlorine mixture from the system using an outside faucet and garden hose. DO NOT FLUSH THE MIXTURE INTO YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM. You may resume using the toilet facilities as the septic system is designed to handle this, but the septic system cannot handle the large amount of water needed to flush the chlorine from the well. Since the chlorine will kill the grass, be careful where you run the water outside.

After disinfection, the water supply should be resampled. Resample kits for "bacteria only" are available. (SEE LAST PAGE)

Resampling should be done only after the odor of chlorine disappears. It takes about 3 or 4 days of normal water usage before all of the chlorine smell disappears.

 

APPLICATION FOR WATER TESTING

____________________________________________________________

PLEASE SEND ME TEST KIT FOR THE FOLLOWING:

TEST G (XX) $14.00 RESAMPLE COLIFORM BACTERIA

____________________________________________________________

FEE WAIVERS

Free water testing is available in some cases if you are food stamp eligible or if you have already spent $150.00 on water testing at a state certified lab and have reason to suspect contamination (other than bacteria) of your private water supply.Contact the Health & Environmental Testing Laboratory to apply at(207) 287-1716.

_______________________________________________________________________

I ENCLOSE MY CHECK FOR $_____________________.

Make check or money order payable to TREASURER OF STATE (Send no cash or stamps). Detach and MAIL THIS PAGE ONLY along with the appropriate fee to:

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING LABORATORY

221 State Street

State House Station #12

Augusta, Maine 04333

____________________________________________________________

SEND TEST KIT TO (Mailing Address):

NAME_________________________________________________________________

STREET_______________________________________________________________

TOWN_________________________________________________________________

TELEPHONE___________________Location of water supply (town)_________

Food Stamp ID Number if applicable____________________________________

WATER FACTS SUMMARY SHEET
Updated 01/09/96

FLUORIDE

If your lab results are *<.2 - .29 ppm**:

These results show a very small amount of fluoride. This level is not high enough to help protect your child(ren)’s teeth against decay.

The Office of Dental Health recommends that you consult with your family dentist or physician to obtain a prescription for fluoride drops or tablets for your child(ren).

If your lab results are .3 - .7 ppm:

These results show that some fluoride is present, but it may not be enough to protect your child’s teeth against decay.If your child is two years old and under, this level should be enough to protect your child’s teeth against decay. You are advised to see your family dentist or physician to confirm this.

If your child is over two years old, you are advised to see your family dentist or physician to obtain the proper dose of fluoride drops or tablets for your child.

If your lab results are .7 ppm or higher:

These results show a level of fluoride that is high enough to help protect you and your child(ren) against tooth decay.***

The Office of Dental Health recommends that you consult with your family dentist or physician about this result, especially if your child is two years old and under.

 

* This symbol means "less than"

** ppm - parts per millions

*** Fluoridated water gives the greatest benefit to children; however, this protection will continue throughout life for everyone who drinks fluoridated water.

 

pH

The pH of a water sample indicates its acidity. pH values range from 0 (very acid) to 14 (very basic); 7.0 indicates water that is neutral (neither acid nor basic). Most ground waters have pH values ranging from about 5.5 to slightly over 8.

A water sample having a pH less than 7.0 tends to be corrosive. It will dissolve some metals (lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc) from pipes and iron from well casing, pump, and piping.

Water with a pH under 6.0 should be neutralized either chemically or by filtering. Contact a water treatment specialist. See the yellow pages under "Water Treatment" for the name of a specialist in your area.

CONDUCTIVITY

Conductivity is the numerical expression of the ability of an aqueous solution to carry an electrical current. This ability depends on the concentration of ions in a solution. Solutions of most inorganic acids, bases, and salts are relatively good conductors. The physical measurement made in a laboratory to determine conductivity is usually of resistance, measured in ohms or megohms. The reciprocal of resistance is conductance or conductivity which is reported in micromhos per centimeter (umhos/cm).

Freshly distilled water has a conductivity of 0.5 to 2.0 umhos/cm. The conductivity of potable waters in the United States ranges from 50 to 1500 umhos/cm.

HARDNESS

Hardness is caused by minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, which are picked up by water passing through underground mineral deposits. Hard water is not considered contaminated, but it does retard the cleaning action of soap and forms a scale on cooking utensils, hot water pipes and heaters. This build-up may eventually reduce pipe capacity and water pressure. Hardness is the total concentration of calcium and magnesium in water. Water with under 75 milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate is soft; water with over 200 milligrams per liter is hard.

There is no standard for hardness. Hard water is not harmful to health. Calcium and magnesium are essential body elements. In fact, studies suggest that hard water is better for cardiovascular health than soft water, though the reasons for this are not yet known.

Water softeners are available from water treatment specialists. In the process of removing minerals, sodium is added to the water and maybe unsuitable for a person on a low-sodium diet. See the yellow pages under "Water Treatment" for the name of a specialist in your area.

 

NITROGEN COMPOUNDS

Nitrate and nitrite are naturally occurring substances found in soil, plants, water and other sources. Nitrogen compounds are commonly found in uncontaminated water in only very small amounts. Most of our daily consumption of nitrates comes from plants. Most nitrites are found in saliva and in the stomach where nitrate is converted to nitrite.

The primary drinking water standard is 10 milligrams per liter for nitrate - (N) and 1.0 milligram per liter for nitrite - (N). Primary standards are set to address health risks.

Nitrate or nitrite concentrations cause methemoglobinemia in infants, a disease which affects blood so that it no longer carries oxygen through the body. Also known as "blue-baby syndrome", this disease can be fatal. Infants should not drink water which is over the standard, and it should not be used for mixing infant formulas.

Nitrate or nitrite consumption does not affect adults the same as children. Generally, adults can consume much more of these substances without health risk.Nitrogen compounds can be introduced into drinking water supplies through a number of sources including privies, septic systems, municipal and industrial wastes, livestock manure spreading and storage, and heavy use of fertilizers on gardens and agricultural land.

Locate and remove the source of nitrate contamination, if possible. Nitrogen compounds can also be removed from the water. Contact a water treatment specialist who has expertise in nitrate removal. Water treatment equipment which removes hardness or iron will not remove nitrate. See the yellow pages under "Water Treatment" for the name of a company in your area.

Do not boil the water to make it safe for temporary use - - this will only increase the nitrate concentrations. Use bottled water for infants.

 

COPPER

Copper is an essential element for plants, animals, and humans. When present in drinking water in levels over one milligram per liter, it may cause a bitter taste, or green-blue stains on sinks.

Copper is a gastrointestinal irritant and can be toxic at high levels. However, the levels in drinking water are rarely high enough to cause a serious risk. A one milligram per liter secondary drinking water standard is set to indicate a taste problem, not a health hazard.

Since copper is found only in trace amounts in Maine’s ground waters, excess levels are usually caused by corrosion of copper pipes from soft, acidic waters.

Copper caused by corroding of pipes will tend to be more concentrated in early morning because the water stands all night in the pipes. Reduce the concentrations by letting water run for several minutes before using for cooking or drinking. Equipment for pH control will reduce the acidity of water so that less copper is dissolved. Contact a water treatment specialist; or change to plastic pipe of a type approved for hot water. See the yellow pages under "Water Treatment" for the name of a water treatment company in your area.

CHLORIDE AND SODIUM

Chloride amounts of a few milligrams per liter occur naturally in ground water. Naturally occurring chloride is derived from trace amounts which are present in rocks and soil.

Consuming drinking water containing chloride is not harmful to health. High amounts of chloride can give a salty taste to water and can corrode pipes, pumps and plumbing fixtures. Therefore, the secondary drinking water standard of 250 milligrams per liter is set to indicate water quality problems and not health effects.

If high chloride amounts are detected, the water source should also be checked for sodium. Amounts of high sodium often occur in water with high chloride amounts. Excess sodium from salt in the diet increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. For most healthy people, a sodium level 100 milligrams per liter of water will not substantially increase risk. Individuals on a low sodium diet due to high blood pressure or other health problems, are restricted to water within the 20 milligrams per liter standard. They should consult their physician about drinking water which exceeds that level.

High amounts of chloride are associated with contamination from salt water intrusion, septic tanks, road salting, and road salt storage piles.

Most water contains some sodium which naturally leaches from rocks and soils. An excess of sodium in water may cause a salty taste or odor, as well as presenting long-term health effects.

Current drinking water standard for sodium is 20 milligrams per liter. Individuals on a low sodium diet due to high blood pressure, or other health problems, should consult their physician about drinking water on a daily basis which exceeds that level.

Most Americans consume as much as ten times more salt than the body requires. Excess sodium from salt in the diet increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. For most healthy people, a sodium level of 100 milligrams per liter of water will not substantially increase risk.

Sodium contamination is most often caused by road salt runoff, road salt storage or salt water intrusion. In coastal areas, when water is removed from an underground source faster than it is replaced, sea water may be drawn into the well. Also salt spray from the seas can increase sodium in ground water.

Water softeners also increase the amount of sodium in water. If you use a softener, it is probably the cause of high sodium. Check this by taking another sample from a point before the water enters the softener. A bottle for the "Sodium Only" test is available.

If the sodium level is caused by a water softener, you may need to change the method of treatment. One option is to soften only the hot water, so that water used for drinking and cooking will not be affected.

Locate and remove the source of contamination if possible. Although costly, methods are available to remove sodium and chloride from drinking water. Contact a water treatment specialist. See the yellow pages under "Water Treatment" for the name of a company in your area.

IRON & MANGANESE

Most water contains some iron and manganese which naturally leaches from rocks and soils. Found naturally in soils, rocks, plants, and most water supplies, these minerals are essential to human health. Excess amounts in drinking water can cause discolored water, rusty-brown stains or black specs on fixtures and laundry. Excess amounts may also affect the taste of beverages and can build up deposits in pipes, heaters or pressure tanks.

Iron and manganese in the amounts found in most drinking waters are not harmful to health. The secondary drinking water standards of 0.3 milligram per liter for iron and 0.05 milligram per liter for manganese are set to indicate problems of taste, staining, and cloudiness.

Manganese is one of a small group of chemicals (including iron, copper and a few others) that reaches an undesirable level due to taste, odor, or color before it becomes a health hazard. For this reason, health-based guidelines for these chemicals are usually not available. Instead, secondary or "aesthetic" MCLs have been promulgated by the U.S. EPA. These "SMCLs" are not formally adopted by the state and thus are not legally enforceable. However, exceeding the SMCL usually means that the water is undesirable for human consumption. The SMCL for manganese is 0.05 mg/l.

The existence or an SMCL for a chemical does not preclude that chemical being present in water at a level that would be a health concern if consumed. Consumption of water containing large amounts of manganese has been documented to cause adverse health effects in a few cases. Because of the large number of wells being found in the state with high manganese levels, and because some people apparently consume water containing levels much higher than the SMCL, it was determined that a guideline for protection of public health was necessary in addition to the existing SMCL.

The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that a reasonable guideline for manganese would be about 0.8 mg/l.

In some places iron occurs in high concentration naturally because of the type of rocks and soils the water comes in contact with. If the water is acidic, ground water can also pick up additional iron from contact with well casing, pump, and piping. The more acidic the water, the more it will dissolve metal from the surface it contacts.

High iron in ground water also can be caused by landfill leachate or a leaking petroleum tank.

Iron and manganese can be removed by any one of a number of methods. Contact a water treatment specialist. They are listed in the yellow pages under "Water Treatment".

IRON BACTERIA

Removing iron can be complicated if iron bacteria are present. These organisms use iron as a source of energy, and they accumulate in jelly-like masses that can clog pumps, pipes and filtration systems. If a rusty slime builds up inside the toilet tank, iron bacteria are probably present. Though not harmful to health, these bacteria affect odor and taste. They may be difficult to remove. A shock chlorine treatment is recommended. The chlorine dosage is higher than the amount used for routine disinfection.

Mix household bleach (Clorox, Dazzle, etc.) with water in the well or spring in the following dosages:

DUG WELL

________________________________________________

DEPTH*5 FT10 FT15 FT20 FT
DOSAGE2 GAL4 GAL6 GAL8 GAL

________________________________________________

*Approximate amount of water in the bottom of a dug well and not the total depth of the well. FOR A SURFACE SPRING USE 2 GALLONS.

DRILLED WELL

________________________________________________

DEPTH	50FT	100FT	150FT	200FT	250FT	300FT
DOSAGE	2 1/2 QT	1 1/2 GAL	2 GAL	2 1/2 GAL	3 GAL	3 1/2 GAL

________________________________________________________

QT = QUART GAL = GALLON

Once the chlorine has been mixed with the water, open all faucets, sillcocks and similar outlets until you smell chlorine in each outlet. Allow the mixture to stand in the system for 4 - 6 hours. Then flush the chlorine from the system using an outside faucet and garden hose. DO NOT FLUSH THE CHLORINE INTO YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM. You may resume using your toilet facilities as the septic system is designed to handle this, but the septic system cannot handle the large amounts of water needed to flush the chlorine from the well. Since the chlorine will kill grass, be careful where you drain the water outside.

A repeat dosage may be necessary.

COLOR, TURBIDITY, & ODOR

Although these tests do not directly measure the safety of the water, they do relate to an individual’s acceptance of a water. The levels of 5 units of turbidity, 15 units of color, and odor number of 4 are levels which are objectionable to a number of people.

Turbidity and color may be removed by entanglement with a chemical floc, setting, and filtration. Activated carbon cartridges will remove tastes and odors by absorption.

If a supply suddenly develops an offensive odor, discontinue using the water for drinking and cooking purposes until another analysis shows the water is satisfactory for such purposes.

 

QUESTIONS & CONCERNS:

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO CORRECT A PROBLEM, PLEASE CONTACT THE HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING LABORATORY AT:

PHONE: (207) 287-1716
FAX: (207) 287-6832