Potable Water

[Keystone]

POTABLE WATER. Water free from impurities present in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects and conforming in bacteriological and chemical quality to the requirements of the public health authority having jurisdiction.

Pennsylvania is one the few remaining states having no statewide well water regulations, not to say local municipalities haven't created requirements that relate to there conditions but a significant number of municipalities remain without. So what are your requirements for water testing and is it local or statewide?

 

[ICE]

I haven't a clue as to what our requirements are for testing potable water.

Here is a link to a problem with the water in Louisiana. I first heard about it from a radio program where an official from Louisiana was telling everybody to avoid getting water in your nose or ears while taking a shower because there's a bug in the water that will eat your brain. Then he said, "But don't worry about drinking the water because the bug dies when it hits your stomach".

Brain-eating amoeba may be linked to Hurricane Katrina - CNN.com

 

[Paul Sweet]

Virginia has statewide standards for wells. Regulations

A bacteriological test from a private testing lab is required for a Certificate of Occupancy. Enforcement is by local health department offices.

 

[Keystone]

Touched base with multiple testing labs, what constitutes "potable water testing"?

Majority of labs test for E. Coli, Coliform & Nitrates.

A slim few went further but not one of them test for chemicals unless specifically requested and you identify specific chemical testing.

Suprising with all the regulations out there and potential for considerable health affects that testing within significant area of Pennsylvania has little to no guidelines. Lets drink lead based water but as long as you have an air barrier behind your tub you PASS inspection.

 

[Wayne]

Re: Potable Water

Touched base with multiple testing labs, what constitutes "potable water testing"? Majority of labs test for E. Coli, Coliform & Nitrates.

A slim few went further but not one of them test for chemicals unless specifically requested and you identify specific chemical testing.

Suprising with all the regulations out there and potential for considerable health affects that testing within significant area of Pennsylvania has little to no guidelines. Lets drink lead based water but as long as you have an air barrier behind your tub you PASS inspection.

The same tests are done in the jurisdiction in which I practice.