Frequently Asked Questions

Text Box: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS General Providing the highest quality water possible is a primary goal for EDA RANU. If you have questions, concerns or problems regarding water quality issues such as taste, odor, appearance, etc., or if your call is an emergency, please contact EDA RANU on 312 2100 or email us. Why does my water have an unpleasant taste and/or odor? It is very difficult to separate taste from odor because these two human senses are so closely related. Most occurrences of a peculiar taste or odor in the water can be grouped into one of the following three categories: 1) chlorinous, bleachy, chemical, and medical; 2) sulfurous (rotten egg-like), decayed, and sewage-like; or 3) musty, moldy, or earthy. Two common causes for a chlorinous, bleachy, chemical, or medicinal taste or odor in the water are: the addition of chlorine to the water by EDA RANU, and the interaction of that chlorine with a build-up of organic material in your plumbing system. Two common causes of a sulfurous decayed, or sewage-like taste or odor in the water: bacteria growing in your drain or bacteria growing in your water heater. Two common causes of a musty, moldy, or earthy taste or odor in the water: bacteria growing in your drain, or certain types of organisms growing in the EDA RANU's source water reservoirs. Certain types of algae, fungi, and bacteria growing in the water supply excrete small amounts of chemicals into the water that cause a musty, moldy, or earthy taste and odor. The two most common chemicals are geosmin and methylisoborneal (MIB). Although these chemicals have no documented health effects, most people can detect them in the water at concentrations as low as 5 parts per trillion. Todate EDA RANU has not registered any complaint of such. Why does my water look dirty, have sediment and/or particles in it? Some possible causes of problems associated with water which appears dirty, has an unusual color, or sediment/particles include: Sediments or pipe materials from breaks in water mains or hydrants. Water mains in the distribution system can fail due to age, corrosion, high pressure surges, or damage by construction work. Hydrants can also be broken off by vehicles. High flows can occur in water mains due to fire fighting, water system tests, or maintenance. Unusual high-flow conditions can stir up sediment or scale from the water mains. Construction activities - The customer's service connection from the distribution main to the water meter is sometimes disturbed by construction activities of contractors or other utilities. Aging galvanized plumbing -- Rust particles or scale from galvanized steel home plumbing can also produce reddish-brown water or rust particles, particularly noticeable when a tap is first turned on. Since there are many causes of dirty water, EDA RANU investigates each complaint carefully. Please be prepared to answer the following questions when reporting this problem 312 2100 or email us: What is the location of the premises where the dirty water occurred? When was the dirty water first detected? What does the water look like? Does it have color? Are both the cold and hot water dirty? Is the water dirty at all faucets? Are the particles large, small, or colored; does the water look milky or contain air? The answers to these questions will assist us in finding the cause of the dirty water and may also suggest corrective steps to take. Why do I sometimes get cloudy water coming out of my faucets? The cloudy water you are seeing could be a result of dissolved air in the water, a common and harmless condition. To verify this, place the cloudy water in a glass and observe whether it clears from the bottom up (you may be left with bubbles on the side of the glass and a small surface layer of bubbles). If this occurs then you have dissolved air in the water. If the cloudy water persists, or if you are noticing unusual tastes or odors, please call us or 312 2100 or email us.

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