How to read city water quality report

[Wyatt57]

New here setting up first tank.
what do i look at in my city water report to see if the water is ok to use for new tanks?

 

[blaxsun]

Ideally you want to run it through an RODI system and check the TDS reading on the output.

 

[Airwolf]

I would use the report to see if chloramines are used. If so I would get a system that is suited for them.

 

[tbrown]

Keep in mind, the city report will show you an average of the water throughout the city unless the report is divided into zones. Each well and treatment facility will have slightly different water qualities. Typically, the city will try to get the pH at each site close but the hardness (calcium/magnesium/manganese) will be different depending on source water and treatment type. Also, nitrates and phosphates will vary throughout the system.

 

[Wyatt57]

Ideally you want to run it through an RODI system and check the TDS reading on the output.

Good guy tds????

 

[tbrown]

Good guy tds????

Total dissolved solids.

 

[Sean Clark]

Also keep in mind that the city water conditions can change at anytime between reports. It is best to be in control and have your own rodi system.

 

[PHXHobbies]

Some reports show a lot of info while others show little. Mainly look for;

Total Dissolved Solids (sometimes may be Conductivity)

Chlorine OR Chloramine (0.01 to 4.00 ppm range) if chloramine, make sure to use appropriate filtration
Hardness or

Alkalinity

pH

Total hardness

Arsenic


an RODI unit really is the best way to go, 0 TDS is not always 0 TDS (see conductivity meter for true purity) but you will surely want to filter the water through sediment, carbon, and RO with the DI filters as well.

 

[Wyatt57]

Good guy tds????

Rodi on the way

 

[Malcontent]

How do you know if you have chlorine or chloramine when chloramine is reported as chlorine?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I personally wouldn't assume a water company report is all that useful to say if the water is OK, since copper from your own pipes won't show up, but it can be useful to rule out some water.