Some areas in Oregon have high levels of boron in the soil. Excess boron exposure is a health risk especially to infants, children and pregnant women. Boron compounds are odorless and tasteless. The only way to know if it is in your drinking water is testing. …Read more »

You turn on your faucet and the water comes out white, milky or cloudy. Should you be alarmed? The Good News Fortunately, the most common cause of cloudy tap water is just extra air trapped in the water. Completely harmless air bubbles dissolve in the water and give it a whitish appearance. You may notice … Read more

Water that looks and tastes good may not necessarily be safe to drink. The only way to know if your drinking water is safe to drink is to have it tested. Here in Southern Oregon, there is local concern about nitrates and arsenic. Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District reports that in some areas of … Read more

While pesticides may be trending safer, they may also appear more frequently in our water sources. Scientists are studying both the acute and chronic effects of ingesting pesticides. Pesticides are being detected at low concentrations, and as such, acute toxic effects (like nausea or chemical burns) are of less concern for most people. Farmworkers and landscapers directly applying herbicides and pesticides are likely most at risk (consider the evolving case of glyphosate). …Read more »

Nitrites and nitrates in your drinking water are completely impossible to see, smell, or taste. But they are associated with serious health risks especially for infants and pregnant women. A total of 2 million people were served water that exceeded public health guidelines for nitrite and nitrate in 2015. …Read more »

Sludge, slime, gunk. Whatever you call it, you probably don’t want it near your drinking water. It’s sticky, it often smells, and it can leave you puzzled. Black residue on faucets and fixtures is a very common problem and we have some answers. …Read more »

Whether it’s salty, moldy, or metallic tasting–the flavor of your water can tell you a lot about what’s in it. The exact cause of water tastes can often be challenging to determine. Therefore, we have created a handy guide to help you identify and treat common causes of household water tastes, as well as what to do about it. …Read more »

Testing your water and detecting arsenic is never good news. But rest assured there are reliable steps you can take to protect your health. If you want to remove arsenic from your tap water, there are a few important things you need to know. …Read more »

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found that 6% of the wells tested in Jackson and Josephine counties show arsenic levels above the maximum safe level of 10 micrograms per liter in a 2017 study. Yet many Rogue Valley home owners have never tested their well. Arsenic has no smell, taste, or color when dissolved in … Read more

As part of a USGS investigation, a review of past groundwater quality studies in the Rogue Basin summarized that arsenic was detected in 19 out of the 52 wells tested (17%), and in 44% of the Jackson County wells tested. The EPA has warned that drinking water containing low levels of arsenic over many years can lead to a multitude of health problems such as skin damage, circulatory system problems, and increased cancer risk. Exposure to high levels can be fatal. …Read more »