Water Monitoring

The Water Monitoring section is responsible for collecting compliance samples from throughout the City’s water distribution system. The City’s past compliance performance determines sampling frequencies. They test newly constructed water mains for proper disinfection prior to them being placed into service. Water Monitoring also responds to public inquiries and concerns about the water.

Contact Chief Water Quality Inspector Michael Rose at (602)495-5926 or at michael.rose@phoenix.gov

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Compliance Sampling

Both the EPA and ADEQ require water quality compliance sampling. The Safe Drinking Water Act is the primary federal law that insures the safety of America’s drinking water. The Water Monitoring section takes over 330 samples of water from over 115 sites in the distribution system every month checking the chlorine level and for any possible bacteria. Sampling is also done at the Water Treatment Plants and at the wells that supply your drinking water. View the most current Water Quality Report.

For more information on our water, please see:

• Safe Water Act at www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/sdwa.html.
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at www.adeq.state.az.us.
• Salt River Project (SRP) at www.srpnet.com/environment/waterquality.asp.
• Central Arizona Project (CAP) at www.cap-az.com/operations/water/waterq.cfm.

The City also does sampling once a year for the Federal Lead and Copper Rule in homes through out the City. This program targets homes that may have lead service lines or had a lead mixture solder used in the plumbing during construction or when the home was replumbed. (Attached web, attached questionnaire). If you would be interested in the program, please request a questionnaire and return it to the Water Monitoring group of Pollution Control.

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New Water Mains

Water Monitoring does the testing of new water mains to ensure they are of a suitable bacteriological quality. Contractors that are installing water lines in new or existing subdivisions coordinate through the Development Services Department in the requesting of the test. The new water main should be disinfected per AWWA Standards.

Chapter 37 of the City of Phoenix Code gives the Water Services Department specific authority for testing water mains. The entire Chapter 37 can be reviewed using the menu link on the PCD Overview page. The following excerpts are provided for your review.

Article:
II Water Main Extensions & Construction Sections 30-33
XII Backflow Prevention Sections 141-146

Please note these excerpts are provided as a convenience for quick review and not a substitute for the actual and entire City Code.

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Customer Inquires

The Water Monitoring section also receives inquires from customers on the water that they receive from the City of Phoenix. Customer inquires on general information about water service should go the Customer Service Division at 602-262-6251 (See main Water Services page)

Some of the more common questions asked address:

Taste and Odor

View the most current Water Quality Report.

One of the major reasons for the "musty" and "earthy" smell and taste of the water during certain times of the year is the presence of two compounds, geosmin and MIB, which are produced by a few types of blue/green algae that live in the canal system that the City uses for a drinking water source. While the actual algae are removed during treatment, sometimes the taste and odor persist. These taste and odors are not harmful. There are ongoing studies that include the City of Phoenix, ASU, SRP, and CAP to find an effective way to reduce the effects of those compounds on the water. (www.asu.edu/asunews/research/urbanwater_042402.htm)

Many times we receive inquiries on why the water at certain sinks have a sewer smell. Bacteria that live in the drains sometimes cause this, and when water is run, it produces the sewer smell. Also partially clogged drain traps or garbage disposals often have the sewer smell, causing the water taken from the tap to seem it has the same odor. To prevent or stop this occurrence, the drains need to be periodically cleaned.

Hardness of the water

The definition of hardness is the sum of the concentrations of calcium and magnesium in the water. These minerals are found in the earth’s terrain that our ground and surface water comes from. The water in the City is considered to be very hard, running from about 10 to 17 grains per gallon (185 – 287 parts per million) of hardness. An addition of a water treatment device, like a softener or reverse osmosis unit, will help in reducing the hardness in your home.

For more information on water softeners, etc, call the Arizona Water Quality Association at (480) 947-9850.

For online information on home water treatment devices, see:
www.nsf.org/consumer.
www.premierwater.com/Articles/Understanding Water Softeners.htm.

Evaporative Coolers

See Evaporative Cooler section for more information from the City of Phoenix.

Evaporative coolers are affected by the hardness of the water. Hardness (mainly calcium) can build up on the pad(s) and reduce the effectiveness of the cooler. A bleed-off system and a sump dump will help in stopping the accumulation on the pads.

For more information on evaporative coolers, please see:
energyoutlet.com/res/cooling/evap_coolers

Water Heaters

Water heaters need to be regularly flushed to help prevent sediment build up on the bottom of the tank. This sediment will affect the efficiency and could shorten the life of the heater. Some times this sediment can come through your plumbing and be deposited on the screen of your faucet.

For more information on water heaters, see:
www.stemdoctor.com/hot_water_heaters.htm
www.handymanjim.com/f.htm