See All Drinking and Residential Water
See All Drinking and Residential Water
Articles Lower fuel prices may cause homeowners to consider storing extra fuel at home. Be sure to research all of the ramifications and pitfalls before proceeding. More
Articles Drinking Water Interpretation Tool (DWIT)
Bryan Swistock
Use this online tool to create a customized interpretation of complex data found on any water test report. More
Articles Most health risks in water and taste or odor can be resolved with home water treatment. However, treatment systems only work if properly maintained! More
Articles How to Store Water for Drinking or Cooking
Cathy F. Bowen, Ph.D., Bryan Swistock, William Sharpe, Ph.D.
Storing water for an emergency is simple, especially when the water is not contaminated. Here are some guidelines for storing water. More
Articles Coliform Bacteria
Bryan Swistock, William Sharpe, Ph.D.
This article describes what coliform bacteria are, where they come from and how to remove them from drinking water. More
Iron and Manganese in Private Water Systems
Bryan Swistock, William Sharpe, Ph.D.
Iron and manganese cause stains and tastes in water. They can be removed with several treatment processes described in this article. More
Hydrogen Sulfide (Rotten Egg Odor) in Water Wells
Bryan Swistock
Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that gives water a distinctive “rotten egg” odor. Various treatment options are discussed in this article. More
Articles Roof-catchment cisterns are systems used to collect and store rainwater for household and other uses. More
Articles Shock Chlorination of Wells and Springs
Bryan Swistock, William Sharpe, Ph.D.
Shock chlorination can be used to disinfect water supplies that have been contaminated as a result of a contamination incident. More
Articles Common Water Test Parameters Related to Natural Gas Drilling
Bryan Swistock, James Andrew Clark
Water test reports of water near gas drilling activity generally have these common parameters. More
Articles Interpreting Irrigation Water Tests
Bryan Swistock
Basic interpretation of how various water quality parameters can influence plant growth during irrigation. More
Articles Chain of Custody Water Testing
Bryan Swistock
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has a laboratory accreditation program for water testing labs to ensure data accuracy. More
Articles Cisterns for Capturing and Reusing Stormwater
Albert Jarrett, Ph.D.
Guidance provided on how to develop effective runoff capture and reuse systems as part of a stormwater management plan. More
Articles Water Conservation - How Much Water and Money Can You Save?
Bryan Swistock
Determine how much water you currently use and the amount of water and money you could save by installing water-conserving devices. More
Articles Testing Your Drinking Water
Bryan Swistock
Homeowners using wells, springs or cisterns as their water supply should consider having their water tested routinely. More
Articles Frequently asked questions about private wells, cisterns and springs. More
Articles How to Interpret a Water Analysis Report
Bryan Swistock
This article outlines some of the major parameters you may see on the analysis and assists you in understanding the numbers on a water test report. More
Articles Lead in Drinking Water
Bryan Swistock, William Sharpe, Ph.D., Amy Galford
Learn how to determine if your drinking water contains too much lead, and discover ways to reduce lead in your water. More
Articles Consumers should use caution when considering water treatment devices that claim to use electromagnetic fields to change the molecular makeup of water problems. More
Articles Corrosive Water Problems
Bryan Swistock
Corrosive water can dissolve metal plumbing components causing unsafe levels of copper and lead and pinhole leaks. More
Articles Private Water System Management
Bryan Swistock
Penn State recommendations. A guide for private water system owners throughout Pennsylvania More
Articles Best Management Practices for Private Water Wells
Bryan Swistock
A guide to proper maintenance of private water wells. More
Articles Water System Planning: Estimating Water Needs
Bryan Swistock, William Sharpe, Ph.D.
Find out how to estimate homeowner or farmer water needs and calculate how much water must be delivered from a private water supply to meet these needs. More
Articles Common Drinking Water Problems and Solutions
Bryan Swistock, James Andrew Clark
A listing of symptoms in water (color, smell, taste), the common causes, and possible solutions to common drinking water problems. More
Articles The Water We Drink
Jennifer R Fetter, James Andrew Clark
Written for youth in grades 6-12, this tool introduces public and private water systems and includes an activity on how to read a water quality test report. More