Water Quality
Overview
Water quality is becoming more and more emphasized by health regulations and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Recently, promulgated rules make it harder for water systems to maintain compliance. However, new regulations don't necessarily mean that the water quality has changed.- Nitrate in excess of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/1) (as Nitrate-Nitrogen) is a health concern to infants. High nitrate water should not be used in formula for infants under six months of age. Kearney's water contains on average 1 mg/1 nitrate.
- Fluoride is important in the development of teeth in children. The optimum fluoride concentration is 0.9 to 1.5 mg/1. Kearney's water contains 0.5 mg/1 naturally and 0.5 mg/1 is injected to achieve a target of 1.0 mg/1.
- Chlorine is added to the water to insure that it is free of bacteria. Kearney's water contains between 0.2 and 0.6 mg/1. The maximum contaminant level for chlorine is 4.0 mg/1. Most swimming pools maintain a level of 1 mg/1 to 5 mg/1.
- Hardness Kearney's water averages about 320 mg/L or 19 grains per gallon.
Hardness Ranges
The following chart shows hardness ranges, describes each range, and indicates the percentage of Nebraska communities that fall in each range:| Hardness Range |
Water Description |
Percentage of Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 100 mg/1 |
Soft Water | 4% |
| 100 - 200 mg/1 | Reasonably Soft Water | 16% |
| 200 - 300 mg/1 | Average Hardness | 40% |
| 300 - 400 mg/1 | Very Hard | 23% |
| Over 400 mg/1 | Extremely Hard | 17% |
Other water quality characteristics of the City of Kearney water include:
| Quality Characteristics |
Ranges |
|---|---|
| PH | 7.9 PH |
| Iron | .12 mg/1 |
| Maganese | .14 mg/1 |
| Total Solids | 575 mg/1 |
Kearney's water quality surpasses every Federal and State requirement.