Can you drink tap water in New York: 10 facts about the city's water supply

Water is an irreplaceable and vital ingredient. Every country and every city has different requirements for water quality. Interesting facts about drinking water in New York told the publication New York Food Policy.

1. New York City's water is not filtered, making it the largest unfiltered water system in the country.

2. If New York started filtering water, the city would need about $ 1 million per day to operate a filtration plant.

3. New York City's water supply doesn't just supply water to the residents of the five boroughs. It also supplies water to residents of Westchester, Orange, Ulster and Putnam counties.

4. Climate change poses a problem for most water supplies, but because New York's water is not filtered, increased turbidity may have more immediate negative health effects.

5. Tiny shrimp called copepods live in the waters of New York. These microscopic crustaceans are actually not harmful at all, they are also used to purify water from mosquito larvae. While they help make the water cleaner and even tastier, the presence of copepods means New York City's drinking water is technically not kosher, which has caused some conflict with the city's Orthodox Jewish community.

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6. The Department of Environmental Protection conducts between 500 and 000 New York City health and water quality tests each year.

7. Since most of the water comes from precipitation, the source of tap water in the city is actually quite unpredictable. Therefore, close supervision and scientific cooperation are required to ensure a stable water supply.

8. About sixty percent of the privately owned Catskill / Delaware water supply is highly regulated. Because New York City's water is not filtered, pollution from industrial construction near a water source can cause serious health problems.

9. New York water is treated with chlorine, fluoride, orthophosphate, sodium hydroxide and ultraviolet light to make it safe to drink.

10. Based on 2009 data, water quality in New York is inferior to Boston, St. Louis, Austin and twelve other cities. City water is still safe, but its reputation for being the best tap water in the world is slightly exaggerated.

How to test water for lead

Lead is colorless, odorless and tasteless. To test water for lead, request a free test kit. nyc.gov.

The EPA will send you a test kit with instructions for sampling your drinking water. Includes a prepaid label to be sent to the lab for lead analysis, and results will be mailed to you within 30 days of sample testing.

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This kit is for residential use only and cannot be used to meet the lead testing requirements for kindergartens or other businesses.

You can order a test by link.

You can only order one set at a time. If you are a homeowner who wants to order more than one kit for your home, you must make a separate request for each home.

Every year, the Department of Environmental Protection publishes a report on the quality and condition of water. The latest report can be found at link.