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Water Quality
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ABOUT YOUR
WATER
Water
in Covington
The City of
Covington obtains its drinking water from the plentiful
underground water system called the Memphis Sand Aquifer.
The aquifer, located about 350 feet below land surface, has an
estimated thickness of 800 feet and produces some of the
highest-quality drinking water in the nation.
The
Covington Water Facility utilizes four deep wells to draw water
from the Memphis Sand Aquifer at an average depth of about 525
feet. Minimal Treatment is required and accomplished by
aeration for iron oxidation and CO2 removal, followed by
chlorination, fluoridation, pH adjustment and iron filtration.
In its present configuration, the facility can produce
approximately 6 million gallons of treated water per day.
In Covington, we use on average about 2 million gallons per day
and over a years time will pump over 700 million gallons.
Water
in Nature
Water
covers 70 % of the earth's surface. About 97 % of earth's
water is in the oceans. Only 3% is fresh water (not salty)
and 2/3 of the fresh water is locked in glaciers and ice caps.
Of the fresh water available for home and industrial water
supply, only 3% exists in lakes and streams. 97% is
underground.
Water
in Tennessee
Ground water is the source of drinking water for over 1/2 of the
residents of Tennessee. There are nine principal aquifers
in the state and on average, over 400 millions gallons per day
is withdrawn. About 75% of all groundwater used in the
state is in West Tennessee.
Analysis
We
presently do 15 separate water analysis in our lab each day,
which totals around 450 per month. Additionally, we are
required to analyze for approximately 145 other contaminants as
required by the Chemical Monitoring Schedule established by the
State of Tennessee, Division of Water Supply.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Bottled Water
Bottled water is widely used and very popular due to the absence
of the chlorine taste found in municipal water. Is bottled
water safer than tap water? Not necessarily. A
recent study
concluded that there is no assurance that just because water
comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from
the tap. Additionally, since bottled water typically uses
ozone for disinfection, there is no residual disinfectant as
with chlorine to continue disinfecting. Over time, it is
believed that bacteria may develop in bottled water.
Read the label.
Bottled water manufacturers are required to have their water
source on the label and it comes in many forms. Spring
Water, which is water that flows naturally flows to the
surface.
Artesian Water, which is ground water that reaches the
surface with assistance such as a pump. And Purified
Water, which is water from the tap that has been processed
to remove the things we added at the water plant. In fact,
an estimated 25 percent or more of bottled water is really just
tap water in a bottle -- sometimes further treated, sometimes
not.
Water
Filters
Water
filters are commonly used to remove chlorine and fluoride from
the water to remove the “municipal water" taste.
Most filters use a filtration system that requires some
maintenance. If you use a filter, be sure to follow the
manufacturers instructions or the filter itself can develop
bacteria.
Rusty
Water
Iron deposits can settle in the distribution system and if
disturbed by an event such as a water main break or fire
hydrant flushing, will get into solution and create an area of
red water in the distribution system. If you notice red
water, contact the water plant and turn on water faucets in your
home to flush your internal water system. Red water is not
a health hazard but do not wash clothes during such an event.
White
Particles
Occasionally, we have had customer complaints regarding white
particles in the water. In most cases, these particles had
clogged the strainer in the end of a faucet. We discovered
that these particles had nothing to do with the water quality
but is actually a problem associated with your water heater.
Some manufacturers utilized polypropylene tubes that in time
begin to disintegrate. The easiest way to determine this
is to apply heat to the particles and see if they melt. If
it does, it's probably plastic from the dip tube. If you
are unsure, contact the water plant.
Milky Water
We also
have customer calls regarding milky water. The customer
reports that the water comes out of the faucet with a milky
appearance but will clear if allowed to sit for a while.
This is a common occurrence and simply the result of air in the
water main, typically caused by a repair on the main somewhere
in your area. If you notice milky water, call your water
plant and flush your internal plumbing. Milky water is not
a health hazard.
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