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| Is my tap water safe to drink? |
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To ensure the quality of our water, we test the water continuously during and after treatment. In fact, we conduct more tests than required by regulation. We use the necessary chemicals to treat the water, including chlorine to kill E.coli and other harmful bacteria that may be present. A small (and harmless) amount of chlorine is left in the water to ensure its continued safety as it travels to you. If we are concerned about the quality of water, we follow the regulations in place and immediately notify the appropriate authorities such as Huron Perth Public Health and the Ministry of Environment. Any resident who wishes to know levels of organic and inorganic parameters in the drinking water as well as microbiological sample numbers and water flows, they can be viewed in the Water Systems Annual and Summary Reports |
| What could cause my tap water to look dirty? |
Your tap water may look dirty for the following reasons:
If you notice coloured water when you turn on your hot water taps, you likely need to drain the sediment at the bottom of your hot water tank. Do this by placing a container under the hot water tank’s faucet and allow the tank to empty for about one minute. Repeat this procedure monthly to prevent further build-up sediment. |
| What could cause my tap water to appear cloudy? |
| At times during the year, you may find that your tap water appears cloudy. It is usually caused by dissolved air, which is released in the form of fine bubbles when cold water becomes warmer. These air bubbles give the water its cloudy appearance. To confirm this, pour some cold water into a glass and observe. You should notice the air bubbles gradually disappear from the bottom of the glass upwards. If your hot water appears cloudy, the water is probably too hot. To solve this problem, lower the temperature setting on your hot water tank. |
| What could cause my tap water to have a taste/odour? |
| The Municipality of North Perth’s water systems pump water from deep drilled groundwater wells. These water sources may rarely have a slight odour due to the mineral content in the water. Treatment chemicals remove most, if not all, natural odour and it is rarely detected in cold tap water. The odour is not a health concern. If you are sensitive to this taste/odour, try keeping a jug of fresh, cold water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking. Carbon filters can also be used to remove taste/odour but must be carefully maintained.
If you notice a “swampy” or “sulphur” odour when using the bathroom faucets, it may be caused by decaying hair, dirt and debris that is caught in the drain and releasing an odour when you run your water. To confirm this, fill a glass with cold water and take it immediately to another room in the house. If this water is odourless, the odour is coming from your drain. |
| Why can I taste or smell chlorine in my water? |
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Many people are able to taste or smell extremely low concentrations of chlorine in water and may be able to detect it in our water system. We have to maintain an adequate chlorine level at every customer tap to ensure the safety of the water and to meet regulations. |
| How do I get rid of the chlorine taste and smell in my water? |
| An easy way to get rid of the taste and smell of chlorine is to fill an uncovered container of water and keep it in the fridge for drinking. Much of the chlorine will leave if left overnight. |