Health Considerations
of the 450-650 Mineral Blend Decision
Water and Public Health
Tucson Water is committed to delivering safe, quality water every day to all 700,000 of its customers. To ensure our water is safe, Tucson Water regularly samples, analyzes, and reports on the quality of the water it delivers. Samples are taken from wells, distribution lines, reservoirs, and customer taps.
We test for 150 different organic and inorganic compounds. All testing and reporting is based on U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regulations and standards.
Water samples are analyzed at Tucson Water's state certified laboratory and other certified labs under methods approved by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The results are reported to ADEQ.Tucson Water's water quality professionals conduct between 8,000 and 10,000 tests on your water every year.
To see Tucson Water's Annual Water Quality Report and to view a map showing the latest water quality information for your neighborhood, click here.
Hard Water and Heath Q and A
Q. Can I get kidney stones from drinking hard water?
A. Medical experts say there is no proven connection between drinking hard water and the formation of kidney or any other kind of urinary tract stones. In fact, the World Journal of Urology has said that "low fluid intake greatly increases the risk of developing virtually all types of stones" in the human urinary system. Not drinking enough water, regardless of mineral content, can increase the risk, especially for those living or working in a hot, dry climate.
Q. What about skin irritations?
A. Since soap and shampoo do not lather as well in hard water as they do in soft water, there's a tendency to use more soaps, and this can result in some drying of the skin. However, there is no medical evidence that hard water creates any skin problems or exacerbates conditions like eczema.
Q. I've heard that hard water can affect the heart. What's the story?
A. A number of medical studies have suggested that cases of heart disease and the number of heart attacks are lower in areas where the water is hard than in areas with softer water. However, there is no confirmed medical recommendation on this issue.
Q. Won't sodium levels be higher in harder water?
A. Most of the 'salt' in Colorado River water is calcium carbonate - classified as a salt, but not the same salt you have on the dinner table. However, sodium levels in both the 450 and 650 blends will be higher than in the average water delivered today by Tucson Water. This level is still lower than that found in an equivalent amount of other common drinks. For example, two liters of the 650 blend would have about 220 milligrams of sodium while the same amount of whole milk has 1,034 milligrams. There are no State or Federal standards for sodium in drinking water, but the levels in either blend should pose no health concern for the average water customer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Recommended Daily Allowance for sodium is 2,400 mg per day. If you are on a restricted diet or are concerned about the sodium content of your water, you may want to contact your physician.
Tucson Water thanks the Pima County Health Department for information and assistance in producing this fact sheet.
