El Pasoans have high-quality drinking water that goes beyond state and federal standards for safety, taste, odor and appearance — straight from the tap.
Some people, for various reasons, may choose to treat their water with a water softener. That’s a personal choice. But no customer of El Paso Water should feel a need to buy a water softener because of false information about the quality of local drinking water.
Unnecessary filtration systems
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous businesses are preying on residents, using fabrications and fear to coerce people into buying water filtration systems that simply aren’t needed. They use financing schemes that may make these systems seem affordable, but that, in fact, lock buyers into costly, long-term contracts. And they frequently target elderly residents on fixed incomes and others who don’t have the means to fight back once they’ve realized the mistake they’ve made.
Let’s be clear — EPWater provides drinking water that is completely safe. The water you drink goes through a cleaning and disinfection process before it ever reaches your tap. EPWater tests its water hundreds of times daily at multiple locations.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates EPWater to ensure the water you drink is safe. EPWater just issued its annual Drinking Water Report, that found our drinking water met state and federal standards for every monitored contaminant, including lead, E. coli bacteria, mercury, arsenic and more than a dozen other substances.
What you should know
El Paso does have moderately hard water, which refers to trace amounts of naturally occurring minerals — calcium and magnesium — that are safe to consume. In fact, there is increasing evidence that hard water may have a positive impact on human health, including reducing the mortality rate for cardiovascular disease.
Yes, harder water does not lather as easily as soft water and does not form as many suds when using soap or detergent. Additionally, during summer months when we utilize river water, you may notice a different taste and odor because of the presence of trace amounts of microscopic algae that grow in the New Mexico reservoirs in hot weather. The presence of this algae does not impact the safety of the water, and EPWater uses activated carbon and other processes to reduce algae-related tastes and odors.
If these issues are deciding factors, then a home water treatment system may be appropriate for you. Many respectable local businesses sell these systems. Do your research, and if you feel pressured or coerced into purchasing something or suspect you may be a victim of fraud, please report it to the Better Business Bureau.
Some scammers use deceptive flyers or mailings, claiming to work for EPWater or the city of El Paso and request to conduct a home water test. They may even threaten to cut off water service unless immediate payment is made.
EPWater will never perform water tests at your home and will never demand immediate payment. If you suspect you are the victim of a scam, contact the El Paso Police Department at 915-832-4400. County residents should contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at 915-832-4408.
Most important, if you have questions or concerns about your water or you need to verify a contact or communication claiming to be from EPWater, please contact the utility at 915-594-5500 or customer.service@epwater.org. Be an informed consumer. Don’t let scammers take advantage of you.
Ed Archuleta is a former president and CEO of El Paso Water.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Get the facts on your water before falling for filtration scams: Ed Archuleta
Reporting by Ed Archuleta / El Paso Times
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