Water Testing - Frequently Asked Questions

• Is softened water OK to drink or bad for my health?
  
  
• What should I test my water for to insure that it is safe to drink?
  
  
• Who should test their water?
  
  
• Why should I test my water?
  
  
• What are the most serious water quality problems in Pennsylvania?
• "Determining Pond Surface Area"

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  • Is softened water OK to drink or bad for my health?
  Softening takes out calcium and replaces it with sodium. Each milligram of calcium is replaced with just about a milligram of sodium. No adverse health effects have been documented from drinking softened water. However folks on sodium restricted diets may want to save the sodium they are allowed to have for their steak rather than taking it in their water! Back to Top
  • What should I test my water for to insure that it is safe to drink?
  Penn State recommends testing for Coliform bacteria and Nitrates each year and for total dissolved solids and pH every three years. Back to Top
  • Who should test their water?
  Everyone with a private water supply. Public supplies are required by law to test periodically to insure a safe water supply. Owners of private water supplies have no legal obligation to test their water. The only exception occurs in some states when a home is built or sold. Back to Top
  • Why should I test my water?
  For personal protection. In Pennsylvania approximately 40% of private water supplies test positive for coliform bacteria. These organisms do not cause disease but their presence indicates that disease organisms could be present. Because of the high probability of the presence of coliform organisms, a water test is highly recommended. Back to Top
  • What are the most serious water quality problems in Pennsylvania?
  Corrosive water is the most common problem followed by bacterial contamination. When a drinking water standard is set for radon this is likely to become a widespread problem. For more information contact: Thomas R. McCarty
  1100 Claremont Road
  Carlisle, PA 17013
  717-240-6500 trm3@psu.edu