Water Testing

How’s the water? The complaints have slowed down considerably here, so we are assuming the residents are satisfied with the improvements. We are, however, getting calls about water testing.

It seems that there is a company going around town hanging a flyer and a little water-testing bottle on residential doors. We don’t know the name of the company, but the city hasn’t hired anyone to test water and we aren’t going around hanging bottles from doorknobs. Whoever the company is, they are on their own. They didn’t need a solicitors permit from the city because they weren’t actually selling something door to door. The city administration became aware of the situation when residents started calling us.

Our understanding is that when you return the bottle filled with water for testing, a few days later you get a call from the company, telling you that your water has "impurities." When one of our residents questioned them on what the "impurities" were, the company representative didn’t seem to know. The same resident asked where the water was tested. The response was "our lab." When asked if the lab was Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved, the spokesperson for the company said they didn’t know. When pressed further for answers, the company representative said they would have to have a "technician" get back to our resident. The resident hasn’t heard anything from them since.

This company may be selling water filters or some exotic water purification system. We don’t know. What we do know is that the city water meets all EPA requirements. It is up to the resident to decide if the water coming out of the tap is acceptable to them or if they choose to further "purify" the water. Some people may have allergies to certain chemicals that are used in the Alliance water. Others should only drink distilled water because of a medical condition.

A few weeks ago, all of the City of Alliance water customers were sent the Consumer Confidence Report from our Water Treatment plant. This report is required by law to be sent to every water customer, every year. The report explains the results of the continued testing that takes place at the city’s water treatment plant. It also explains what the acceptable limits are for different elements in the water. Acceptable to the EPA, that is. All public water systems have to live up to certain standards and Alliance is no exception. Our water superintendent, Dan McGannon, is more than happy to talk to any caller about water. Dan is sort of a water "guru." He knows all about water and loves talking about it. The phone number at the plant is 330-829-2241.

If you are having a problem and want your water tested, call Dan at the Water Treatment plant and he will discuss it with you. Rest assured, your water is safe to drink straight from the tap. The city isn’t promoting water testing or filtering. It is up to the individual what they want to do with the water once it reaches their house. Drink it, wash dishes and clothes with it, flush with it, or filter it. The only time the city will tell you to do anything with your water is if there has been a water main break near you and you need to take special precautions.

We just wanted you to know that the city isn’t testing water with little bottles hanging off your doorknob. If you have any particular subject related to the City of Alliance that you would like to know more about, give us a call at 330-821-3110.