Q: Why do my ice cubes appear cloudy?
Q: What causes rusty water?
Q: Why is chlorine added to water supplies?
Q: How can I remove the taste and smell of chlorine from my water?
Q: Are there health concerns related to chlorine in drinking water?
Q: Are there alternatives to chlorine?
Q: Phew! My hot water smells like rotten eggs!
Q: What's that pink (or sometimes black) stuff in my toilet?
Q: Is there fluoride in my drinking water?
Q: What does Connecticut Water do to ensure that the water delivered to customers meets all state and federal drinking water standards?
Q: Why do we need to disinfect drinking water?
Q: Why does my water look milky or cloudy?
Q: Can tap water be used in an aquarium?
Q: Why do my ice cubes appear cloudy?
Ice cubes made from tap water are seldom perfectly clear, for a perfectly good reason: The water contains dissolved calcium and other naturally occurring minerals. When the water is frozen, the minerals turn into harmless solid white particles that make the water appear cloudy.
Reddish or rusty water is a common result of older pipes in your home. When water stands in the pipes for long periods of time (including overnight), fine particles of rust may accumulate. Another possible cause may be a rusting hot water heater. The problem can easily be solved by letting the water run for a few minutes to clear out the pipes. Rusty water is not a health hazard, but you may want to avoid doing laundry with the rusty water to avoid staining.
Q: Why is chlorine added to water supplies?
Chlorine is a naturally existing element that is used to disinfect drinking water supplies to prevent waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery. The Connecticut Public Health Code requires that chlorine be added to all reservoir water supplies. Groundwater supplies may also be chlorinated. Chlorine has residual properties that allow it to continue disinfecting as water travels from the treatment facility to your home. Chlorine has been added to disinfect drinking water in America since about 1900.
Q: How can I remove the taste and smell of chlorine from my water?
We add as little chlorine as possible to our water while still maintaining an adequate level for disinfection. We work to maintain a chlorine level in our distribution system of one part per million. However, we understand that some customers object to the taste and smell of chlorine even in small amounts. Fortunately, the taste and smell of chlorine can easily be removed by refrigerating tap water in a sealed container, preferably glass. Some plastic bottles can add their own taste to the water. Having a bottle of ice water in the fridge also helps conserve water because you don’t have to let the tap run for the water to get cold.
Q: Are there health concerns related to chlorine in drinking water?
Chlorine reacts with organic material naturally present in water supplies and creates new compounds known as disinfection by-products “DBPs”. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently regulates a group of DBPs known as Trihalomethanes. Animal research using high concentration of DBPs suggests a link to a high risk of certain types of cancer. The EPA has not been able to link exposure to DBPs at low concentration levels with the health risks associated with concentration level exposure.
The water we provide to you has very low concentrations of DBPs and does not represent a significant risk of exposure to these compounds. Research on the relationship between DBPs and cancer and other health risks is ongoing. However, the disease prevention benefits far outweigh the risks associated with cholorinated drinking water.
Q: Are there alternatives to chlorine?
Some alternatives to chlorine are being used, but there are concerns associated with them. Chloramine, a chlorine related compound, is a weak disinfectant, so greater concentrations of it are needed to do the job. Ozone is popular in Europe, but it doesn’t have the same residual properties to disinfect all the way to the tap that chlorine does. Ultraviolet light disinfects without chemicals, but it is not effective for killing the organisms that cause Giardiasis and Cryptosporidiosis. There is no perfect alternative to chlorine.
Q: Phew! My hot water smells like rotten eggs!
"Rotten egg" smells may be caused by a problem in your hot water heater. Magnesium anodes used in hot water tanks to prevent corrosion sometimes generate bad smelling gasses. The odor usually occurs early in the morning and only with your hot water. This smelly problem may be easily fixed by replacing the magnesium anode with one made from an aluminum alloy. Before replacing the anode, be sure the odor is coming from the hot water and not from the sink drain or garbage disposal. If you have any questions about repairs, contact a plumbing professional.
Q: What's that pink (or sometimes black) stuff in my toilet?
During the summer, when the air is much more humid and hot, we typically receive an uptick in calls with questions about pink, black and red staining in toilet bowls.
There is a common misconception that these stains, slimes, rings, or residues are caused by the water from your distribution system. The source is not the water but is airborne spores of naturally occurring, common, household molds and mildews that thrive in moist, humid, or damp environments. The airborne spores feed on human products that contain phosphates and fats such as soaps, gels, shampoo, cosmetics, toothpastes, personal care products, and human waste products.
Controlling ventilation, moisture, dampness and humidity, coupled with frequent and routine cleaning (including drains), will help control the growth and spread of these airborne molds and mildews.
Q: Is there fluoride in my drinking water?
Connecticut Water Company understands that some customers prefer that their drinking water be fluoridated while others do not. The primary benefit of drinking water fluoridation is reduced risk of tooth decay in children. It is Connecticut Water’s policy to fluoridate only when required by state law. Connecticut Water believes the decision to fluoridate public drinking water is a public health issue best decided by state and federal health officials.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) requires public water systems serving 20,000 or more people to add fluoride to drinking water. This is based on the number of people served by a particular water system within the company and not the entire population served by the company. Connecticut Water complies with this requirement in all of our systems serving 20,000 or more people.
For information on your water system, visit our Fluoride & Drinking Water Fact Sheet or your system's Water Quality Report.
Connecticut Water has an extensive program of water quality protection that includes land ownership, watershed inspections, and source water quality monitoring. In addition, regular water quality testing is done in all of our water systems and continues to show that the water delivered to our customers is in compliance with state and federal drinking water standards. Our water quality testing data is regularly reviewed for potential changes or trends and any customer water quality complaint is escalated to professionals in our water quality team.
Q: Why do we need to disinfect drinking water?
Our surface and ground water sources from lakes, rivers and wells, are excellent sources of drinking water. With over 6000 lake and ponds, Maine has some of the best water sources in the country. We use various treatment methods and monitor treatment to ensure we deliver safe drinking water to your tap every day.
The disinfection of public water supplies is one of the most important functions of a public water system operation. Meeting disinfection requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act regulations has all but eliminated typhoid, cholera, and dysentery in our country. Today’s regulations require that we treat and test, not only for elements that cause water-borne diseases, but also for a host of other potential hazards.
Disinfection of drinking water is one of the major public health advances in the twentieth century. In the early 1900s, typhoid and cholera were common throughout American cities; disinfection was a large factor in reducing these epidemics. Chlorine was the preferred disinfectant back then and continues to be the most widely used substance for water disinfection in the United States.
Safe drinking water has played a key role increasing human life expectancy from about 45 years in the early 1900s to about 76 years at present. Since disinfection of public water supplies began, there has been dramatic decline in infant mortality rates and the virtual elimination of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and gastroenteritis, as well as many other waterborne diseases which once killed tens of thousands of Americans.
For more information on the history of drinking water disinfection visit: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/history.html
Q: Why does my water look milky or cloudy?
When water looks milky or cloudy when pouring from the faucet, it is likely due to air being released from the water. This mostly happens in the winter and is usually noticed more in the hot water.
Water from lake and river sources holds more oxygen in winter months because the water is cold and air is more soluble in cold water. Similar to soda, when the water is warmed up it will release the air more readily. As water travels from the treatment plant where it is fresh, cold and under pressure from the pumps sending it to the system of pipes throughout the community, it holds most of the air trapped in the water.
Upon entering your home it warms up (especially if it goes to the hot water system). When drawing the water from the faucet, the pressure is reduced and air is released, similar to opening a bottle of soda. This will look like milky water and if you let it set for a few minutes, the air rises to the top and oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
There is no reason for concern and you can use your water as you normally would.
Air can get trapped in your home plumbing and will find its way to the highest points in the plumbing as air rises. Starting with the cold water, from the lowest level of your building and working up to the top floors, flush the sink faucets, showers, and utility sinks. It is helpful to remove the aerators on the ends of the sink faucets when flushing, if present. It is also helpful to run the water as hard as possible without causing the sink to overflow. Trapped air can take a few days to work its way out but regular use should help.
Q: Can tap water be used in an aquarium?
Tap water must be treated first to remove disinfectants for use in aquariums. Consult your local pet store for further information.
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