By Roger Warehime, Manager, Energy Management & External Relations
3. The water from your tap spent fifty years in a filtration process. No wonder it tastes so good! It takes approximately 50 years for surface water to seep through roughly 700 feet of various rock formations on its way to the Jordan aquifer from which we draw our water supply. That means the water you drink today likely fell to the earth as rain or snow sometime during the Kennedy administration. Over the years, the rocks acted as filters, removing organisms that can cause disease as well as other contaminants. As it passed through rock layers, some minerals dissolved into the water. The most notable mineral is calcium, which comes from limestone and is the major contributor to water hardness. It is the taste of calcium that gives the water its flavor and distinguishes it from softened water. Many people think that soft water does not taste as good as hard water because of sodium added by the softener; in actuality, it is the lack of calcium that causes people to prefer untreated water to softened water.
2. Tests have shown that bottled water sold in the United States is neither safer nor cleaner than most tap water. Many people perceive bottled water to be purer, safer, and healthier than tap water. However, the FDA rules that govern the testing and purity standards for bottled water are actually less stringent than the EPA rules that govern testing and purity standards for tap water. And the FDA rules do not apply to water that is packaged and sold within the same state, meaning water bottled and sold in Minnesota must undergo very little testing. On the other hand, by law, municipal water supplies must be frequently tested for a wide variety of contaminants ensuring the safety of our local drinking water.
1. Drinking tap water rather than bottled water saves money… and the environment. If you drink the recommended 8 glasses per day from the tap you will pay less than 50 cents per year. Drink the same amount from bottled water and you could spend up to $1400. And just think of all those plastic bottles you will keep out of the landfills by drinking tap water. More money in your pocket today and a better world tomorrow—who can argue with that?
So, remember: this summer when the heat is on, tap into cool, fresh, clean Owatonna drinking water.
Other interesting facts about Owatonna’s water:
• Owatonna has 10 wells, 6 water towers, and one ground level storage tank
• One of Owatonna’s wells is the deepest potable water well in the state (1,325 feet below sea level)
• Our water comes out of the ground at 51 degrees Fahrenheit year round
• Our oldest water tower was constructed in 1923 and is located near the high school on Academy Street
• Our newest water tower was constructed in 1996 and is located near Willow Creek Middle School
• Owatonna uses 3.3 million gallons of water each day
• Owatonna residents use about 70 gallons of water per day. Americans on average use about 100 gallons of water per day. Europeans use half that amount and residents of sub-Saharan Africa use only 2 to 5 gallons per day.