Water Quality
Monitoring of drinking water quality is an integral component of water management and public health. In this section, access educational resources on drinking water quality, including tips on water contaminants. Advice is available on drilling and managing wells, protecting groundwater, and teaching water quality stewardship.
Water Contamination
Pollution caused by agricultural and industrial activities, as well as naturally occurring substances, is a constant threat to many water supplies. There are different types of water contaminants, such as lead, nitrogen, pesticides, and organic material suspended in water from soil erosion.
Certain contaminants can be identified by their color, smell, and taste, though, most require testing to reveal whether the water is contaminated. Bacterial contamination is one of the most common water quality problems. While many positive bacteria tests indicate a serious issue, some can be the result of a one-time contamination incident. In such cases, shock chlorination can be recommended as a simple process to disinfect contaminated water supplies.
Discover more about water quality and safety with Penn State Extension’s water webinar series. Information can be found on a wide array of topics, including nitrates in private water supplies, common water quality issues in wells, and household water treatment processes. Advice can also be found on testing water for arsenic, as well as detecting and solving corrosive water problems.
Groundwater Protection
Many water systems draw all or part of their supply from groundwater. Groundwater protection is vital for protecting the water supply and reducing treatment costs.
With more than half a billion gallons used for drinking water each day, groundwater is an important resource in Pennsylvania. Many people, however, are becoming concerned about the future availability of groundwater supplies due to increased local use and impervious cover of the land surface. Learn what you can do to preserve the PA water supply during the Individual Actions to Protect Pennsylvania Groundwater webinar.
Other protection strategies to consider include implementing an environmentally safe fuel storage plan, taking steps to prevent water contamination, and properly maintaining septic systems.
Water Quality and Roadside Springs
Roadside springs are a popular source of drinking water. It is important to note, however, that they are an untreated water supply and understanding the actual water source can be important.
While roadside springs take on many forms, many of them fail at least one water quality standard, due to factors such as the presence of coliform bacteria, corrosiveness, and sediment. Learn more during the Study of Roadside Springs in Pennsylvania free webinar. During the webinar, Extension educators cover a variety of topics including spring construction and risks associated with drinking water from roadside springs.
Healthy Streams and Watersheds
An important factor when measuring a stream’s health is its embeddedness. Low embeddedness – or the layering of gravel, cobble, and boulders on a stream bottom – allows easy water flow and provides habitat for many aquatic bugs. Aquatic insects are an integral part of healthy streams that form the basis of the aquatic food chain.
Another way of assessing the health of a stream is by evaluating its bank vegetation. The bank cover plays an essential role in decreasing the amount of soil exposed to passing water and reducing erosion. In addition, a well-planted vegetated area can help absorb nutrients, remove pollutants, control the stream’s temperature, and reduce flood water damage.
On this page, find further resources on water quality, stream health, and watersheds. In-depth information is also provided on treatment methods for acid water in Pennsylvania streams and live staking. A PA stream map is available, as well.
- Articles
Rain Garden Plants: Virginia Bluebells
An informative guide on Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), covering general characteristics, optimal site conditions, and their role in attracting pollinators to your garden. - Articles
Post-Flood Drinking Water Safety for Private Water Systems
This article provides essential steps for assessing and ensuring the safety of your private water system after a flood. - Workshops
Septic System and Safe Drinking Water Clinic
Length 2 hoursUnderstand your drinking water supply. Learn how to protect, test, and treat water from wells and springs. - Articles
Lead in Drinking Water
Learn how to determine if your drinking water contains too much lead, and discover ways to reduce lead in your water. - Articles
PFAS Drinking Water Standards, Testing, and Treatment in Pennsylvania
Rules now limit some PFAS compounds in public drinking water, but households with private wells or springs are responsible for monitoring and, if needed, treatment of their water supply. - Articles
Análisis de PFAS y tratamiento del agua de pozos en Pensilvania
Las PFAS son un contaminante emergente en las aguas subterráneas ubicadas cerca de bases militares, centros de entrenamiento de bomberos, vertederos, rellenos sanitarios, zonas industriales y campos donde se han esparcido biosólidos. - Articles
Understanding Public Water Systems
Notifications from Public Water Systems Help Ensure Timely Alerts of Public Drinking Water Problems - Articles
After the Flood: Recovery Considerations for Rural Pennsylvanians
Parts of Pennsylvania were drenched with heavy rains and flooded streams recently. In addition to drying out wet basements, there are few important things that rural Pennsylvanian's might want to pay special attention to. - Articles
Interpretación de los análisis del agua de riego
Interpretación básica de cómo diversos parámetros de calidad del agua pueden influir en el crecimiento de las plantas durante el riego. - Articles
Análisis de agua potable
Los propietarios de viviendas que utilicen pozos, manantiales o cisternas como suministro de agua deberían considerar la posibilidad de analizar el agua de forma rutinaria. - News
EPA Finalizes Drinking Water Standards for Six PFAS
Date Posted 4/15/2024Final National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for six PFAS have been announced. - Articles
Watershed-friendly Deicing
Did you know that runoff containing deicing chemicals can damage our rivers and streams? - Articles
Problemas de Agua Corrosiva
El agua corrosiva puede disolver los componentes metálicos de las tuberías y causar niveles peligrosos de cobre y plomo y fugas por pequeños agujeros. - Articles
Gas Metano y su Eliminación de Pozos de Agua
El gas metano puede ocurrir en pozos de agua a partir de procesos naturales o de actividades de perforación cercanas. - Articles
Cloración de Choque de Pozos y Manantiales
La cloración de choque se puede utilizar para desinfectar los suministros de agua que se han contaminado como resultado de un incidente de contaminación. - Articles
Ablandamiento de Agua
El agua dura produce depósitos grises o blancos cuando se calienta el agua. Se puede usar ablandamiento de agua para reducir estos síntomas. - Articles
Protect Your Wellhead to Safeguard Drinking Water Supplies
The immediate area around your well head is the area most likely to impact your drinking water supply if potentially polluting activities take place there. - Articles
Overview of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) and Water Quality
This article provides background information on PPCPs, their sources, occurrence in the environment, and health impacts. Actions we can take to protect water resources are also discussed. - Articles
Microplastics
Why plastic overuse is a problem, defines what microplastics are, and provides tips to reduce our use of plastics. - Articles
County Summaries of Pennsylvania Groundwater Well and Spring Data
These online data summaries can help water well and spring owners decide which parameters to test in their drinking water. - Articles
Bacterias Coliformes
Este artículo describe qué son las bacterias coliformes, de dónde vienen y cómo eliminarlas del agua potable. - Articles
Nitratos en el Agua Potable
El exceso de nitratos en el agua potable puede causar el "síndrome del bebé azul" o metahemoglobinemia. Hay varias opciones de tratamiento disponibles para eliminar el nitrato del agua. - Articles
Plomo en el Agua Potable
Aprenda a determinar si su agua potable contiene demasiado plomo y descubra formas de reducir el plomo en su agua. - Articles
Arsenic in Private Drinking Water Supplies
How to Proactively Protect Your Household from an Invisible Contaminant - Videos
Water Softening
Length 4:21Water softening is a method that can be used to treat the common household problem of hard water. Softening water involves removing the scale caused by calcium and magnesium.