Push aside bread, water is the true “staff of life,” particularly in the workplace where the water cooler is ground zero for refueling our bodies as well as catching up on office gossip. Water, which carries oxygen to the body’s cells, makes up more than half of body weight and humans can’t live for more than a few days without it. While our bodies don’t get water just from drinking water alone, as almost all fluids contain water as well as certain foods, consuming pure, fresh, clean water is vital for good health. How can an FM ensure a workplace’s drinking water is safe?
Central North Pacific Ocean’s Pacific Trash Vortex, also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, hosts plastics, sludge and other debris trapped by currents. The vulnerability of the world’s water to contamination and pollution is a reality in the 21st century.
Drinking water safety
In the United States, there are scientists and government regulators committed to detecting, observing and regulating potential contaminants in water. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), passed by Congress in 1974, protects public health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water supply. The law requires many actions to “protect drinking water and its sources—rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs and ground water wells,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, drinking water safety cannot be taken for granted, and the toll of time can result in a system that may wear out as well as inadvertent mistakes that can happen. When the system breaks down, there is a risk of toxic chemicals finding their way into the ground’s surface and into tap water. It is important to be aware if there are any contaminates in a locality’s water, what the concentration levels are and if they are contaminants that potentially pose health risks.
In many commercial office buildings, general drinking water for business occupants may be overseen by the facility manager who is responsible for oversight of proper maintenance of the water pipes. Drinking water also makes its way into commercial buildings from catering suppliers, installation of office cooler systems and individual employees who bring in drinking water via bottles and coolers.
Tips for clean water
Here are some tips to ensure fresh, clean and safe drinking water in the workplace:
- Avoid plastic water bottles: Plastic bottles are very convenient for toting water around on the go, but not all plastic bottles are created equal. The plastic from plastic water bottles, particularly when warmed up, can leak into drinking water. A study published in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” by X.L. Cao, M.D., noted “significant migration of BPA, or bisphenol-A, especially in hot conditions.”
- Don’t reuse plastic water bottles: Contamination problems can result from reusing plastic water bottles without appropriate washing between each use. Even with thorough washing, toxic chemicals from a plastic water bottle are more likely to break down and drift into the water inside.
- Ditch the office water cooler: A Tufts University research study on water coolers found that, “organisms from each new bottle of water adhere to a cooler’s reservoir—the ‘well’ in which the bottle sits—and also to its hot and cold water spigots, accumulating over time and thereby boosting the bacterial count of any water that passes through on the way to a cup or glass.”
- Investigate faucet filters: If tap water doesn’t taste appealing and there are concerns about heavy metals, chlorine or other contaminants in the water supply, water filters used in a pitcher or attached to the faucet may be a viable option. Not every filter type eliminates every type of contaminant. The EPA requires community water systems provide customers with an annual water quality report that can be used to determine the quality of the facility’s water supply.
- Scrutinize water vendors: It is important that whoever is charge of contracting a drinking water vendor thoroughly checks out the reputation and background of the company. Is the water regularly monitored to ensure it is contaminant free? Is there a help desk available for employees to call? What types of filters are used and are they appropriate for screening out the types of contaminants found in your region? Is the water delivery company a reputable business with tenure and great customer recommendations?
The EPA has established national standards for tap water which “help ensure consistent quality in the nation’s water supply under the SDWA. The EPA prioritizes contaminants for potential regulation based on risk and how often they occur in water supplies.” To aid in this effort, the EPA ensures that “certain water systems monitor for the presence of contaminants for which no national standards currently exist and collect information for their occurrence.” This health risk assessment is based on measuring risks to the most sensitive of our population which includes infants, children, pregnant women, immune-compromised and senior citizens. The EPA then sets a “legal limit for the contaminant in drinking water or a required treatment technique.” The SDWA requires Public Water Systems to provide an annual “Consumer Confidence Report” or “Right to Know Report” to consumers which contain water quality information and the water system’s operation as well as opportunities for community participation.
Go ahead and test it
U.S. drinking water standards are legally enforceable which means individual states and the EPA can take enforcement actions against water systems that do not meet safety standards. Individuals and FMs can request an area water quality report from the water company or visit the Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov. Invest in a testing kit and test the water in the office. These samples can be submitted to laboratories for analysis to ensure the safety of a workplace’s water supply. FMJ
