Water Quality

 

 
Is my water safe to drink? Are there contaminants in my water?  Since your water comes from a natural source and has met the federal and state standards, it is considered safe or "potable" (rhymes with floatable).  In accordance with state regulations, Rincon routinely monitors your drinking water for numerous contaminants.  These contaminants include inorganic contaminates, lead, copper, nitrates, volatile contaminants, synthetic organic contaminants, disinfection byproducts, and microbiological contaminants.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.  The presence of contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

 Why does my water taste/smell funny? When your water tastes or smells funny, the problem might be in the water or it might not.  The odors may actually be coming from your sink drain where bacteria grow on food, soap, hair, and other things that get trapped.  Ugggghhh!  Gases in the drain that smell get stirred up when water goes down the pipe.  Odor can also come from bacteria growing in water heaters - usually ones that have been turned off for a while or have the thermostat set too low.

If there is an odor, check to see if the smell comes from only one of you faucets.  Does the odor go away after running the water for a few minutes?  If you answer yes to either situation, the source of the odor is probably within your own plumbing.  Email us to request a free brochure on what you can do by clicking here.
  How can I get rid of the chlorine smell in my water? Chlorine is added to tap water to insure that germs in the water are killed.  When you can taste or smell a hint of chlorine, your water has been properly treated.  There are regulations that limit the amount of chlorine added to tap water so that it keeps the water safe to drink.  An easy way to get rid of the chlorine taste and smell is to let water sit in a glass for a few minutes.  Then put the water in a covered container and chill it in the refrigerator.
Why is the Consumer Confidence Reports so technical?  What does the Consumer Confidence Reports really mean? It means that Rincon and our importers are doing an excellent job of providing our customers with a safe, reliable and high quality-drinking water.  The federal and state governments require us to publish our annual testing results to assure you that we are meeting the strict government standards.  Although the charts can be highly technical and most likely confusing, its contents and some of the language are mandated by federal law.  We would be glad to assist you if you have any questions.
What is hard water? Water is considered "hard" when the two nontoxic minerals, calcium and magnesium, are present in substantial amounts.  Because calcium and magnesium make lathering suds a difficult task to do, the water is labeled as "hard."  These minerals are also the cause for the white scaling on pots, pans, coffee pots, and tea kettles.  Colorado river water is naturally high in both minerals and therefore is considered "hard."  Hard water does not impose any health risks.
Is our water safe for everyone? Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.  Immuno-compromised persons such as persons undergoing chemotherapy, persons 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 drinking water.  EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
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