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Tap vs. Bottled hanks in part to aggressive marketing,the bottled water industry has successfully convinced us all that water purchased in bottles is a healthier alternative to tap water. However, according to a four-year study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, bottled water is not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water. In fact,about 25 percent of bottled water is actually just bottled tap water (40 percent according to government estimates). The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating bottled water,but these rules allow for less rigorous testing and purity standards than those required by the U.S. EPA for community tap water.For instance,the high mineral content of some bottled waters makes them unsuitable for babies and young children.Further,the FDA completely exempts bottled water that's packaged and sold within the same state,which accounts for about 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States. People spend 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than they typically do for tap water. If you get your recommended eight glasses a day from bottled water, you could spend up to $1,400 annually. The same amount of tap water would cost about 49 cents. Even if you installed a filter device on your tap, your annual expenditure would be far less than what you would pay for bottled water. For a detailed discussion on the NRDC study results, check out their website at https://goo.gl/Jxb6xG. Water Conservation Tip Top Tap ou can play a role in conserving water and The most common signs that your faucet or sink is affecting the 1 saving yourself money in the process by quality of your drinking water are discolored water, sink or becoming conscious of the amount of water faucet stains, a buildup of particles, unusual odors or tastes, and a your household is using and by looking for reduced flow of water. The solutions to these problems may be in ways to use less whenever you can. It is not your hands. hard to conserve water. Here are a few tips: Kitchen Sink and Drain • Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for Hand washing, soap scum buildup, and the handling of raw meats every cycle, regardless of how many dishes and vegetables can contaminate your sink. Clogged drains can lead are loaded. So, get a run for your money to unclean sinks and backed up water in which bacteria (i.e., pink- and load it to capacity. and black-colored slime growth) can grow and contaminate the sink • Turn off the tap when brushing your area and faucet, causing a rotten egg odor. Disinfect and clean the teeth. sink and drain area regularly.Also, flush regularly with hot water. • Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Faucets,Screens,and Aerators Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons Chemicals and bacteria can splash and accumulate on the faucet a day.Fix it and you can save almost 6,000 screen and aerator, which are located on the tip of faucets, and gallons per year. can collect particles such as sediment and minerals, resulting in a decreased flow from the faucet. Clean and disinfect the aerators or • Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. screens on a regular basis. Watch for a few minutes to see if the color Check with your plumber if you find particles in the faucet screen shows up in the bowl.It is not uncommon as they could be pieces of plastic from the hot water heater dip to lose up to 100 gallons a day from an tube. Faucet gaskets can break down and cause black, oily slime. If invisible toilet leak.Fix it and you can save you find this slime, replace the faucet gasket with a higher-quality more than 30,000 gallons a year. product.White scaling or hard deposits on faucets and showerheads may be caused by hard water or water with high levels of calcium • Use your water meter to detect hidden carbonate. Clean these fixtures with vinegar or use water softening leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water to reduce the calcium carbonate levels for the hot water system. using appliances. Then check the meter after 15 minutes. If it moved, you have a Water Filtration/Treatment Devices leak. A smell of rotten eggs can be a sign of bacteria on the filters or in the treatment system.The system can also become clogged over time,so regular filter replacement is important. (Remember to replace your refrigerator filter!) Public Meetings The Elk River Utilities Commission meets regularly on the second Tuesday of every month at 3:30 p.m.The location for the meeting is 13069 Orono Parkway, in the Utilities Commission Room. 45