Your Water

First, refer to your copy of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority's 2008 Water Quality Report. This report describes what has been found in each water source as well as their concentrations. Typically, TMWA does not test the water from individual homes. We sample our water production wells and treatment facilities regularly and every month we take over 150 samples monthly scattered across our distribution system for microbial activity. We report these sampling results to the Washoe County Health Department as well as the State of Nevada. If you wish to sample your own water for your own information, you may wish to contact the Nevada State Health Lab at 688-1335 or check your local yellow pages for analytical laboratories that test water and make sure they are a state-certified water testing laboratory. Describe what you are interested in sampling and they will give you a price for analyzing your water as well as the sampling protocol.

All drinking water contains some level of contaminants either man-made or naturally-occurring. However, these contaminants are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Nevada, and the Washoe County Health Department and kept at levels that are not considered a health risk. Many times a contaminant may be thought of to be very dangerous, but typically it’s not conveyed that one would have to consume hundreds or thousands of gallons of drinking water a day to get sick. If you wish to get more information about contaminants or health risks regarding water, you may check the EPA’s Drinking Water homepage at www.epa.gov/ogwdw or you may contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Click here for our latest water quality report.

TMWA typically does not test individual homes for hardness concentrations. Your water's hardness varies considerably depending upon whether or not you live near a prodution well and what time of year it is. In the summer you could be getting a blend of surface and well water. In the fall and winter you're receiving mostly treated surface water which would have a typical hardness between 3 to 4 grains (50 mg/L to 68 mg/L).

The Water Quality Report that was mailed to you in June contains this information. In the report, you will find the highest arsenic concentrations reported for each source and where each source is located. We closely monitor arsenic results and are required by the State of Nevada to remove from service any water production well that meets or exceeds the current MCL of 10 parts per billion. Click here to view a copy of the Arsenic Compliance Plan.

There are several reasons that may cause your water to turn brown or rust-colored. When the fire department flushes the fire hydrants, they test for sufficient pressure and flow to ensure fire protection. A large volume of water is blasted through the hydrant at very high speeds, scouring the water main. This scouring action disrupts the water main and any sediment that may have accumulated over the years becomes suspended in the water. The dirty water should go away soon after re-settling and you will have to flush your cold water faucets to evacuate the dirty water and bring fresh water into your water lines. Occasionally, changes in system pressure or a modification to valving in your area may cause discolored water until any sediment re-settles.

Sometimes, pressure changes or flushing may be going on in your area without your knowledge and it may cause a temporary change in the taste or odor of your water. It is best to flush the cold water line in your bathtub for 15 to 20 minutes to get fresh water from the water main into your house. If this does not take care of your taste or odor problem, a flush crew from TMWA may have to be called out to flush the entire water main, especially if you’re in a cul-de-sac or at a dead-end of the water main. House flushing should be attempted first since flushing the entire water main unnecessarily not only takes a lot of water but also may temporarily stir up the water main for others as well. However, flushing the water main will not fix any problems due to household plumbing issues or piping issues.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised people such as people with cancerundergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about their drinking water.

The EPA/CDC has guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants. More information about these and other contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. We test for Cryptosporidium weekly in both our source water and treated water. Cryptosporidium can be present in the Truckee River, but has not been found in the treated water that goes to your tap.

There are many sources that describe methods of drinking water disinfection or procedures in the event of an emergency. Typically, in the event of a crisis, the Washoe County Health Department will provide direction upon preferred methods of disinfection or any action that is necessary. Additional sources of information regarding emergency disinfection can be found through the EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water at www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html.

Before contacting the TMWA staff, please check our Water Quality FAQ section. Here you will find answers to the most commonly asked water quality questions. If your question is not answered in this section, please send a detailed email about your water quality concerns to waterquality@tmwa.net. From here, your question or comment will be routed to the person best suited to answer or address your questions. This email address is checked many times a day for messages.

Many of the water mains are very old with some more than 50 years old. Over a period of time, particulates accumulate in the pipe and will get stirred up by flushing, pressure fluctuations, or valving. When dirty water is noticed and any flushing in the area has been completed, it is best to run the cold water in your bathtub for 15 to 20 minutes to get fresh water into your house and to move the dirty water out of your pipes.