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| questions and answers |
Wednesday, July 23rd - 8:29 PM |
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73°F |
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| Can I tell if my drinking water is okay by just looking at it? |
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| No. None of the chemicals or microbes that could make you sick can be seen, tasted, or smelled. For example, E. coli, which is tested for daily in Spokane water, is invisible to the naked eye. |
| What are Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria? |
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| Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterial species predominantly comprising the fecal coliform group of bacteria. E. coli bacteria are found and live in the digestive systems of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Therefore, they are found in sewage and other wastewater. While most members of this species are considered harmless organisms, some strains are responsible for gastrointestinal and diarrhea illnesses. |
| When I'm working in the yard, is it okay to drink out of the garden hose? |
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| No. The water is safe, but a standard vinyl garden hose has a substance in it to keep it flexible. These chemicals, which may get into the water as it goes through the hose, are not good for you. In addition, the outside thread opening at the end could be covered with germs. |
| Is the chlorine in my water safe? |
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| Yes. Many tests have shown that the amount of chlorine found in treated water is safe to drink, although some people object to the taste. If you dislike the taste, boiling your water then refrigerating it will get rid of the chlorine taste. However, once the chlorine is gone, water must be used like any other perishable food item. |
| Why is my water cloudy when it first comes out of the tap? |
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| The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar the gas bubbles in carbonated drinks. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and dissipate. |
| What is Hard Water? |
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| The answer may surprise you. Hardness in drinking water is caused by two nontoxic chemicals (usually refered to as minerals) -- calcium and magnesium. If either of these two minerals are present in your water in substantial amounts, the water is considered to be "hard", because making a lather or suds is "hard" (difficult) to do. Thus, cleaning with hard water is more difficult. Water containing little calcium or magnesium is said to be "soft" water. Spokane’s water is moderately hard, with average hardness of 150 ppm, or 10 grains per gallon. |
| What makes water cloudy? |
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| Commercially made ice is stirred as it is being frozen and household ice is not. Without mixing, many more ice crystals form and air is trapped in the ice. Light rays are distorted by these crystals and this distortion gives home frozen ice a cloudy appearance. Dissolved minerals (calcium and magnesium) in the water also tend to settle out when the water freezes. You may notice these minerals floating in your glass when you use the ice cubes. |
| What is the white ring in my teapot, and how do I get rid of it? |
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| Dissolved minerals in water are left behind when water evaporates or is heated. These minerals are white and accumulate in teapots and coffeepots. These white minerals can also be found on shower heads and glass shower doors.To remove these minerals, fill the teapots and coffeepots with vinegar and let them sit overnight. Soak shower heads overnight in a plastic bowl filled with vinegar. When you are done soaking, carefully discard the contents of the plasticbowl down the drain and flush the container and sink drain with plenty of water. Rinse the teapots, coffeepots, or shower heads thoroughly after treatment and before use.White spots on glass shower doors are difficult to remove with vinegar because the spots dissolve very slowly. A better idea is to prevent the spots from forming by wiping the glass doors with a damp sponge or towel after each shower. |
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