Photo by carolineangelo.D.C. Water has officially released its 2010 Drinking Water Quality Report, “the most comprehensive drinking water resource delivered to District residents each year.” So how’s our water?
Well, according to the 30,000-some-odd tests on the 1,300 miles of pipe performed by the city’s water and sewer authority, not too bad, even on measurements of lead, which can be caused by older pipes:
District tap water is safe, reliable and affordable, but water quality can vary among homes and buildings. The median age of water mains in the District is 77 years, and many residents are experiencing similar challenges with aging pipes in their households. Property owners are encouraged to learn about their plumbing and replace older pipes.
The report does note that the agency is hopeful for improvement in the city’s water source, the Potomac River (in which can contain “even radioactive materials and…substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity”), and also admits that the Army Corps of Engineers “did not monitor for turbidity in two of 48 filters” at the Washington Aqueduct in October 2010, “and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time.” (Uh, I’m sure it was fine.)
The entire report can be read below; those with questions should contact D.C. Water’s Drinking Water Division at (202) 612-3440.
