Water Quality, I think I'm going to be sick!

[bignellm]

homefacts.com "Water Quality of Grand Rapids MI"

Some odd aquarium tests led me to a very undesirable outcome. Because I get snoopy and have to have an answer, I tested my tap water and to my disgust, got nearly the same results as the Aquarium!!! So started snooping around online and hit the site above while checking things out.

I am truly sickened, if even 1/10th of this is true. The water here is virtually undrinkable, unless you don't mind dying a horrible death from fighting chemically induced diseases.

Lord help me, switching to bottled water.

[bignellm]

2010 Official Grand Rapids Water Report

Soo much discrepancy over detail between the site. Ugh.

[Cliff]

I guess I can sometimes forget about how luck I am to live in a city that gets it's water supply from the run-off of the rocky mountains (North Saskatchewan River to be exact).

I think the worst we ever had was when living in one certain area of Louisville KY, but I don't think it was as bad as your link. At least your nitrate is only 0.28ppm

[Goes to 11!]

Soo much discrepancy over detail between the site. Ugh.

Most likely caused by the three year difference between them and the newest one is 2 years old.

Why not just call the water dept and get a report? I have them printed out several times a year.

According to the link info is available here:

If you have questions about Grand Rapids Public Utility’s drinking water or would like information about opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water, please contact: Dennis Doyle Water Department Manager or Anthony Ward GRPUC General Manager at 218-326-7024

[bignellm]

Yea, when I tested the tap with my API test kit, the nitrates reading was between 5 and 10 ppm. So, not sure how accurate that report was. That test is what sent me on my witch hunt. Will have the water department send me a copy of this years report.

God I wish I were back in my home town, getting good ole' ground water from there. Worst thing in there, was iron and calcium.

Seems by moving here, if I don't get bottled, then I'm risking intake of all sorts of cancer causing chemicals :(

[Brhino]

that site doesn't list any of the concentrations in which the various chemicals were found, though. Notice that even though several nasty things were detected, the water is still rated significantly above average. It's nearly impossible to find a water source that doesn't have some contaminants in it. You could say the same thing for the food you eat and the air you breathe.

[bignellm]

that site doesn't list any of the concentrations in which the various chemicals were found, though. Notice that even though several nasty things were detected, the water is still rated significantly above average. It's nearly impossible to find a water source that doesn't have some contaminants in it. You could say the same thing for the food you eat and the air you breathe.

That is all true. I wish it would have listed. Makes the data (without ppms and unhealthy--toxic ppm level indications) makes it almost useless.

Which on a somewhat reflective note, if I'd have lived for centuries quietly watching everything, I might say, "what have we done"

[bignellm]

Just a silly question, when reading test results (bottle against white near the color indicators) what level of lighting is best to see the result? I tried incandescent, sun, fluorescent, and LED flashlight.

Sidenote: Under LED, the result of the PPM test for nitrates appeared very light, between 0 and the next.

[Cliff]

2010 Official Grand Rapids Water Report

Soo much discrepancy over detail between the site. Ugh.

At least you get some values on page two of this above link

[bignellm]

Sure did, also searching forum for nuggets of wisdom I missed before I joined last year.

I keep re-reading the API instructions for the Master Test Kit. Been searching Google too for which light to view test results under...