City of Palm Coast Utility Division Cautions Residents about Water Testing Offers

Palm Coast, FL – November 28, 2012 – The City of Palm Coast has received several inquiries about a recent mailing to residents marked, “Water Inspection Notice Inside.” The enclosed postcard talks about the Environmental Protection Agency and offers a free water test.

 

Some residents wondered if the mailing was official correspondence from the City of Palm Coast or the federal governmental. It is not.

 

 

“Free” water tests are often offered by companies interested only in selling you their water treatment device when you don’t need it. In performing the test, the salesperson may add tablets or droplets of chemicals to your tap water, explaining that the water will change color or that particles will form if the water is contaminated. When the water changes color before your eyes, the salesperson may warn you that the water is polluted and may cause cancer. In almost all of these cases, any water (even spring water) would "fail" the company’s test. Consumer complaints have been filed against many of these companies for using scare tactics and fraudulent practices designed to convince consumers that they have unsafe drinking water.

 

In fact, the City of Palm Coast’s water is very safe. The City water supply and system are tested on a regular basis for a comprehensive list of potential contaminants – as required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These analyses consistently give the City high marks, and residents can be assured their water is high-quality and safe.

 

“The City’s water system meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards,” said Jim Hogan, Palm Coast utility systems manager of water operations.

 

The city sends out, in the bill notices, an Annual Water Quality Report also known as the Consumer Confidence Report as required by the EPA by no later than July 1 of each year. Palm Coast’s previous years’ reports are on the City website at: https://palmcoastgov.com/Government/Departments/Utilities/WaterQuality.aspx.