A likely cause is due to older plumbing.  Homes that may have internal plumbing that was installed over 30 years ago may have galvanized steel piping.  Galvanized steel has been known to corrode both externally and internally.  Internal corrosion is caused by tuberculation which is a build up of metal deposits that roughen the inside of the water pipe and cause additional friction losses.  Another cause for advanced corrosion is due to galvanic corrosion which is caused by the connection of dissimilar metals (i.e. copper and galvanized steel).  With galvanic corrosion, there is a transfer of electrons between the two dissimilar metals due to an electrochemical reaction occurs that causes the steel pipe (in this case) to rust and clog up.

Solutions would be to remove and replace the galvanized pipe with newer plumbing.

The Holland BPW water system operates at normal operating pressures of around 70 pounds per square inch (psi).  This is very common for municipal water systems.  The actual pressure at your location is largely due to the elevation of your home and the plumbing fixtures inside.  If you feel that corrosion is not the cause, please contact the Holland BPW before looking into purchasing a costly booster pump.  There may be a leak on the water service between the public main and the home that is causing a pressure drop.

The simple answer is, if you receive your water from the Holland Board of Public Works, the source of your drinking (tap) water is Lake Michigan.

Water from Lake Michigan is pumped to the treatment plant near Tunnel Park off Lakeshore Drive in Park Township.  Chlorine, aluminum sulfate, and fluoride are added to the water and the water is mixed.  From the mixing chamber the water flows to three settling basins where the larger particles are settled out.  After settling, the water flows onto ten rapid sand filters where the final filtering takes place.  The water is then pumped into the City’s water distribution system.

Chlorine, aluminum sulfate (alum), and fluoride are added to the water.

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant; alum is added to aid in particle removal, and fluoride for community dental health.

What causes the white scale on my coffee maker and cooking pots?  What is the white stuff on my chrome water fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom?

Two non-toxic chemicals, calcium and magnesium, are the cause of the white scale and the white stuff on chrome fixtures.  The term used to describe this condition is hardness.  The water at your tap is considered moderately hard.

What is the hardness of my tap water?

The hardness of you water is typically between 140 and 160 parts per million (PPM).  To convert to grains per gallon (gpg) divide PPM by 17.1.

Example:  145 PPM divided by 17.1 equals 8.5 gpg.

Does my tap water contain fluoride?  If so, how much?

Yes, tap water from the Holland BPW does have fluoride added to it.  We add approximately 1 PPM.

How much is 1 PPM?

1 PPM equals one pound of a chemical added to one million pounds of water.  Some comparisons to 1 PPM would be:

1 inch in 16 miles
1 minute in 2 years
1 square foot in 23 acres
$.01 in $10,000

Does our tap water contain sodium?  How much?

There is approximately 5.5 to 8.5 PPM of sodium in your tap water.

My water smells like bleach (chlorine)!  Why?  It is harmful?  What can I do about it?

Chlorine, a disinfectant, is added to your water.  It is added to your water to kill germs and bacteria and aids in making your water safe to drink.  A residual or small amount of chlorine is maintained in the distribution system and all the way to your faucet to continue to kill germs at your tap.

To eliminate the taste and odor, place a glass pitcher of tap water in your refrigerator for a short time (over night) and the bleach taste and odor will disappear.

How many calories are there in a glass of tap water?

Zero (0), None!  And your tap water is sugar free, fat free, carb free and cholesterol free!

Is it OK to use hot water from the tap for cooking or drinking?

No.  Hot water is more likely to contain rust, lead, and copper from your water heater and household plumbing.

Do you test for pesticides and herbicides in our water?

Tests are routinely conducted for pesticides and herbicides.  To date, we have not detected any pesticides or herbicides in your drinking water.

My water often looks cloudy when I first take it from the faucet.  The water quickly clears.  What’s going on?

Tiny air bubbles similar to those in a soda pop cause the cloudiness.  This occurs most often in the winter when the water is colder.  The water is safe to drink.

My water smells and tastes grassy (earthy-musty, swampy), what’s going on?  Is it safe to drink?

The source of the grassy odor in your water is most likely due to algae.  As algae grow they give off non-toxic, smelly chemicals that may cause unpleasant tastes.  These algae are more prevalent during the summer months.

To eliminate the taste and odor, place a glass pitcher of tap water in your refrigerator for a short time (over night).

Should I buy bottled water?

The water delivered to your dinking water tap meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards.  If you want a drink with a different taste or for convenience you can buy bottled water, but it may cost as much as 1,000 times more than your tap water.  Bottled water is good to have for emergency purposes, but it should be used and replaced on a regular basis.

Does my drinking water contain lead?  How can I protect myself?

According to tests conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE), water leaving the treatment plant does not contain lead.  Lead may enter your drinking water if your plumbing contains lead fittings, fixtures, 50/50 lead flux or pipe.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.  Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.  The Holland BPW is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but can not control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.  When your water has been sitting for several hours without use, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.  If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.  Laboratories can be found in the phone book under "Laboratories – Testing”.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791 or at the EPA website for lead.

My water has white plastic flakes in it.  What’s going on?

They may be from your hot water heater.  Many hot water heaters built in the mid-1990’s had a polypropylene dip tube installed.  The dip tube carries cold water to the bottom of your water heater for better efficiency.  As these tubes deteriorate, white flakes may appear in your water supply.  There are many interesting articles found on the internet about this phenomenon.  If you are confident it is not your hot water heater and the problem persists, please contact the water department at 616.355.1643.

Can home filters improve the taste of drinking water?

Some can, partly because they remove the chlorine added during treatment.  Another way to improve the taste is to refrigerate tap water in a clean container.  If you use filters, maintain them strictly to manufacturer's specifications, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria.