Ensuring Water Quality is a Multifaceted Responsibility

The AMWUA cities are vigilant about protecting the quality of their water supply. That is why the cities' staff rigorously test, analyze, and monitor water quality every day. Did you know that your tap water goes through more testing and meets a higher standard than required for bottled water? In other words, the tap water you use daily is safe, clean, and protected.

Municipal water providers are among the most regulated industries in the country and are held to the highest standard. This means significant money, time, and effort are focused on water quality. Every year, Valley water utilities collectively perform millions of tests and measurements to ensure water treatment and distribution systems are safe. Each of the AMWUA cities has an aggressive water quality program with a dedicated team of chemists, technicians, and specialists who test for hundreds of substances daily and in multiple service areas using state-of-the-art equipment to make sure your water consistently meets the safe drinking water standards.

When you consider the multiple sources of water utilized by the AMWUA cities, including the Colorado River, Salt and Verde River water, and groundwater, we must realize that each of those requires different levels of treatment due to the varying makeup of the water. Diverse water sources cannot be treated equally. To better address those treatment challenges, the cities have invested in vast infrastructure and advanced treatment facilities. There is always enough safe and regulated water while striving to keep it affordable for households throughout the Valley.

River water contains natural, organic particles when it enters water treatment plants. This can make the water appear cloudy and is often referred to as turbidity, which measures how clear the water is. The water treatment process aims to decrease turbidity, making the water clear and removing any particles that may be harmful. After the multi-phased process, a chemical such as chlorine is added as the final stage of treatment to remove and prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from growing. A small amount of disinfectant is required to be in the drinking water system and maintained until the water is delivered to homes and businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities.

In addition to the treatment process, continual monitoring, and frequent testing of water samples, each municipality must provide regular reports on their water quality detailing each sample. Annually, a report with all of that data is compiled and submitted to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for final approval. This process ensures high water quality and brings accountability while eliminating the danger of a major water contaminant crisis. Also, please note that you will be notified if water quality is ever an issue in your city.

The AMWUA cities consistently meet all of the safe drinking water standards set by ADEQ, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , and the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department . These requirements fall under the Safe Water Drinking Act, bringing accountability and safeguarding high water quality standards. 

You can always get complete information about the quality of the water delivered to your home from your local water provider. To read the latest water quality report for your municipality, please visit the appropriate links found below:

To print or save this week's blog, a PDF version is available HERE

For over 50 years, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org .

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