What About...?

• "Hard Water" - Dayton softens extremely hard well water so that water heaters, detergent, and soap can function efficiently. Hardness is caused by natural minerals in the well water. The average hardness for Dayton water in 2010 was 155 milligrams per liter (or 9 grains per gallon).
• "Rusty Water" - Residents from throughout the distribution system occasionally experience reddish or brownish discolored water. This is usually caused by increased flow through water mains, which dislodges iron deposits. This is usually not a health threat, but consumers should refrain from using the water until the disturbance is over. After that, the water should be allowed to run until it clears before using.
• Chlorine is added to drinking water as a disinfectant. Treatment plants add chlorine at a constant dosage to maintain an adequate concentration throughout the distribution system, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• "Cloudy Water" is usually caused by the release of dissolved air from water. This is quite common and harmless. When watched closely, the dissolved air (cloudiness) slowly travels upward, out of solution. Cloudiness can also be caused when natural minerals in water come out of solution.
• "White Spots in Coffeepots" - Minerals dissolved in water settle out when water is heated. The minerals will accumulate as "white spots in coffeepots." To remove these spots, fill the coffeepot with vinegar and let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse out the coffeepot several times with water.
• Fluoride occurs naturally in City of Dayton well water and in groundwater throughout the United States. Our water treatment plants supplement the natural fluoride to protect teeth from dental caries (cavities). The natural fluoride is increased from approximately 0.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 0.9 mg/L. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a change to the recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay. The new recommendation, 0.7 mg/L of fluoride, replaces the previous recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L. There are several reasons for this change, including that Americans have access to more sources of fluoride than they did when water fluoridation was first introduced in the United States." Ohio law requires water systems serving a population > 5,000 (unless exempted from the law) with natural fluoride less than 0.8 mg/L to add fluoride to maintain concentrations in the range of 0.8 mg/L to 1.3 mg/L. Systems that add fluoride are required to monitor fluoride concentrations.
• Lead - The most common cause of lead in drinking water is the corrosion of plumbing fixtures and solders containing lead. The drinking water supplied to the distribution system of the City of Dayton does not contain lead at a detectable level. As a precaution, before using the water for drinking or cooking, lead can be reduced or eliminated from drinking water by allowing water to run until it's gets colder. The City of Dayton Water Quality Laboratory extensively samples and tests drinking water from homes and other sites. Lead is not detected in most of the samples. Click Here for More Information ...
• Bacteria - The City of Dayton samples and tests untreated and treated water for coliform bacteria on a routine basis. Coliform bacteria are a group of bacteria that can indicate contamination. The lime softening process, filtration, and disinfection at Dayton's water plants helps to protect water from microbial contamination, including bacteria.