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Is our water hard or soft?
Surface water from the Pacific Northwest is some of the softest water in the country.
The typical range of softness is 1/3 to 1/2 grains of hardness per gallon.
What can I do about chlorine odors?
The odor is just chlorine doing its job. The simplest way to get rid of the odor is to pour a
pitcher of water and let it sit in the refrigerator. Overnight, the chlorine will have dissipated
and the odor will be gone.
Do we have fluoride in our water?
No. And Yes. The City of Tigard does not actively participate in the addition of fluoride
to its drinking water supply. However Tigard does receive a portion of its water supply
from the City of Beaverton which happens to fluoridate its water.
Beaverton fluoridates its water supply at a concentration of 0.9 parts per million or
milligrams per liter. Due to recent changes in water purchasing contracts Tigard is only
drawing a minimum amount of water from Beaverton during the peak summer months. This means
a concentrated area of Tigard is receiving fluoridated water during the summer months only.
To find out whether or not you are receiving or will receive fluoridated water, please contact
the City of Tigard Water Quality Program Coordinator, Sally Mills at 503-718-2604 or at
sally@tigard-or.gov.
Why does the taste and odor of my water sometimes differ?
Water naturally varies in taste and odor at different times of the year. Taste and
odor problems can come from new or old pipelines, plumbing fixtures, or changes in
water quality. Customers may notice changes predominately during weather changes.
These changes are closely monitored to ensure that they do not affect the safety of
the water.
Why is the water discolored more frequently during late summer and fall?
Discolored water is common since we have been buying water from the Bull Run system.
This is a non-filtered surface water system and the water is typically discolored when
the City of Portland is drawing from lower levels in the reservoirs, or during the fall
when leaves dropping into the water may cause a change in color.
Is bottled water safer than tap water?
The safety of bottled water depends on its source and the treatment is has
undergone. Bottled water is considered a food product, so it regulated by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) regulates water utilities. The FDA has been tightening regulations, and
now bottled water generally must meet the EPA's Purity and Safety Requirements for
Public Drinking Water. Using bottled water is a personal preference. However,
if you are using bottled water for health reasons, we suggest that you thoroughly
research the product that you are selecting to assure that is offers the level of
protection that you are seeking.
How can I get my water tested?
If you are concerned about the quality of water in you home, you may want to
have your water tested. For a fee, private laboratories will test your tap
water. Not all labs are certified to test for all contaminants. Click here for a list
of local laboratories.
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What is a dip tube?
We get a lot of phone calls from residents reporting small
white or gray particles plugging their faucet aerators and strainers. Some customers
are cleaning their aerators on a daily basis just to keep the water flowing. So,
what is the problem? The problem is not unique to us, but is actually occurring
across the nation. The problem actually has nothing to do with the water but is
the result of the dip tube in many home water heaters installed between the years
1993 and 1997. If you would like more information on dip tubes please contact Sally Mills at
sally@tigard-or.gov or
503-639-4171 extension 2604.
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