HOLLAND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS

Water & Wastewater Department

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

Where does my drinking (tap) water come from?

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.

What chemicals are added to the water?

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 in grains per gallon?

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 in the City of Holland 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 fat 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? Is it safe to drink?

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.

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

According to tests conducted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), 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.

Any time the water is stagnated for several hours, like overnight, flush the tap until cold.

If you would like to get your water tested, laboratories can be found in the phone book under “Laboratories – Testing”.

My water has a brownish or a reddish color to it. My water has brown flecks in it. What’s going on?

There are several causes for brown flecks or brownish color in your water.

1. Many older homes have galvanized water pipes and/or galvanized service lines. The service line is the water pipe that connects your home with the City’s distribution pipe located out in front of your home. Over time, these pipes do corrode or rust.

2. The rust may be coming from corrosion of your water heater.

3. There may even be some rust from flushing of hydrants or other routine maintenance of the distribution system by our crews.

Running the water for a few minutes will usually clear the water. For best results, run the cold water in your bath tub since most bath tub faucets typically do not contain a screen that could get plugged and it can move a lot of water fast. If the rust persists, contact the water department at (616) 355-1643.

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 carefully, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria.

I still have questions about the quality of my drinking water. Who do I call?

Contact the Holland Water Treatment Plant at (616) 355-1589 for questions related to water quality. Contact the Water Department at (616) 355-1643 for questions related to water main breaks, hydrants, connections, or other problems. We will be more than happy to answer your questions or refer you to other sources of information.

Copies of all test results are available for your inspection.

Please feel free to review our Water Quality Reports as well.