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Treated, Tested, Safe
Since drinking water comes from both
groundwater and surface water in Peoria,
there are two different treatment
methods. For groundwater, only the
addition of chlorine for disinfection is
needed for treatment. With surface water,
we use complex treatment plants where
the water goes through several processes.
The processes are; screening to remove
large debris; adding ozone to disinfect and
improve the water’s taste and odor;
filtering and using specialized chemicals
to treat the water and finally the finished
water is chlorinated for disinfection.
Water is treated and tested at the
source (wells and treatment plants) and
then monitored to ensure that it remains
safe on the way to your tap.
Drinking water has numerous chemical and
biological analyses conducted on a regular
basis. At the water treatment plants 20
process analyses are conducted daily, while
some are monitored continuously.
Compliance samples are collected and
analyzed by a laboratory certified by the
Arizona Department of Health Services
and approved by Maricopa County
Environmental Services Department (MCESD).
At our water supply well sites, compliance
samples are collected on a schedule
approved by MCESD. Within the water
distribution system, 100 samples per
month are collected for microbiological
analysis at a laboratory to ensure the
safety of the water in the pipes.
Peoria makes sure its water supply is safe
in many ways. Not only do we test and
monitor the water; we maintain a level of
chlorine. This chlorine is important to
ensure disinfection.
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From the Environmental
Protection Agency
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
prescribes regulations that limit the amount of
certain contaminants in water provided by public
water systems. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants
in bottled water, which provide the same protection
for public health.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and
bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds,
reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over
the surface of the land or through the ground, it
dissolves naturally occurring minerals and in some
cases radioactive material, and can pick up
substances resulting from the presence of animals
or from human activity.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may
reasonably be expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants. The presence of
contaminants does not necessarily indicate that
water poses a health risk. More information about
contaminants and potential health effects can be
obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water
Hotline: 800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to
contaminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons such
as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
persons who have undergone organ transplants,
people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system
disorders, some elderly, and infants can be
particularly at risk from infections. These people
should seek advice from their health care providers. EPA/CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines on
appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosproidium and other microbial contaminants
are available from the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline: 800-426-4791. |
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