Sidney water supply passes annual quality test

During hot summer days when a cold glass of water sounds particularly enticing, water safety might be the last thing on the minds of Sidney residents.

While no violations were reported in the city's 2012 annual water quality report, which was published earlier this month, one sample last September tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is sometimes naturally present in the environment. The presence of coliform bacteria can be a sign that other harmful bacteria might also be in the water.

"They only thing that can get us health-wise is coliform," said William Taylor, superintendent of Sidney water department. "If coliform is in the water, that means conditions are right for e. coli to form."

The water was retested, and coliform was not found in the second testing. This means the issue resolved itself, or the first test was subject to human error, Taylor said.

Employees with the city of Sidney continually collect water samples at 35 different locations throughout the city. They take these samples at different intervals, depending on government mandates.

The samples are tested at Nebraska state laboratories or sent to labs in Scottsbluff. These test results are compiled and analyzed each year to ensure Sidney water is safe for its residents.

Levels of arsenic in 2012 were above the goal level but below the highest allowed level by the state. Although the levels in Sidney water are below the highest allowed level, any arsenic in drinking water could potentially be detrimental to health.

The Environmental Protection Agency must balance the possible health effects of arsenic consumption with the cost of removing it, Sidney's 2012 water quality report said.

"EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems," the report continued.

It would be virtually impossible to remove all arsenic from Sidney water, Taylor said.

It's a game of chance for water employees to decide where to test for lead in household water pipes. They look at the building records for houses constructed in the 1980s, which might have copper pipes with lead in the soldering.

This helps them decide which houses to test, Taylor said.

Peak amounts of lead were only found in one house tested in 2012.

The report states that young children may be more susceptible to the effects of lead exposure. Those who think their homes might contain plumbing with lead contamination can request that their water be tested.

It is more common for lead contamination to happen in houses with new plumbing, because in older dwellings mineral deposits cover up the lead in the pipes, according to EPA reports.

Those who suspect lead in their water should flush their pipes for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking, the report said.

Around 10 to 20 percent of lead exposure could come from drinking water, according to the EPA.