Potable (Drink Water) Testing Services

CSI's extensive experience with testing potable water for contaminants is based on years of testing water supplied to New York City buildings and to buildings in surrounding communities.  Thus, we are capable of expertly sampling, testing, and analyzing your potable water supplies.

The Nature of the New York City Water Supply

From the perspective of pollution with industrial or agricultural waste, New York City has an exceptionally good drinking water system. However, NYC water has problems that can affect aesthetic qualities and occasionally raise health issues.

Particulates, Turbidity, Algae, and Detritus

The NYC water supply consists of lakes, streams, and reservoirs, connected to two large water tunnels supplying a vast web of underground iron mains.  The enormous volume of water supplied (about one and a half billion gallons per day to over 800,000 service connections), makes it impractical to completely filter or remove suspended matter.  

It is not unusual to periodically experience fouling with rust particles, detritus, leafy matter, algae, and other material reasonable to expect coming from a lake or an iron pipe.  This particulate material can cause turbidity, contribute color to the water, or cause unusual odors or tastes.  Except for buildings piped in galvanized iron or with a poorly maintained storage tank, the source of most particulates is the supply from the street.

Buildings in New York do not usually filter the water supply to their occupants.  Such filters would be quite large and difficult to maintain and may not be compatible with the pumping equipment and distribution system in the building.  Poorly maintained filters can themselves be a problem as they can encourage the growth of some microorganisms.  As a result, smaller filters at the point of use are more popular.

The Corrosive Nature of the Water Supply

New York City water contains relatively small amounts of dissolved minerals.  Such supplies are commonly called "soft waters."  This type of water is generally preferred over "hard water" because it is less likely to cause problems associated with mineral deposition or scale in piping, heating systems, and air conditioning equipment.  Unfortunately, soft waters can be quite aggressive to piping.  

Most piping corrosion products are relatively low in toxicity, however, evidence is strong that significant amounts of very toxic lead can be leached from solder used on copper piping.  Since 1985, the Safe Drinking Water Act has required the use of solder containing little or no lead.  Lead is not the only metal that can be leached from piping (although it is the most hazardous).  Iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and other metals can also be introduced into the drinking water supply.

Sampling Techniques

The proper sampling technique, appropriate container, correct handling and preservation of water samples is often as important as the quality of work performed in the laboratory.  CSI provides properly equipped and trained technicians or engineers, to obtain and preserve water samples and supervise their delivery to the laboratory.