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Safe Water for Fairfield County: Ridgefield, Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan & Fairfield | Free Testing
Concerned About Your Water?
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Whether you live in Ridgefield's historic Main Street area, Greenwich's bustling downtown, Stamford's vibrant waterfront, New Canaan's scenic countryside, or Fairfield's charming beach community, we all share something in common: we want the best for our families, and that includes clean, safe drinking water. This page is specifically for residents of Ridgefield, Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, and Fairfield. We'll explore our shared water source, potential water quality concerns, the importance of in-home testing, and how Aerus of West Hartford can help you protect your family's health.
One Water Company, Five Towns: Understanding Aquarion in Fairfield County
These five towns share a common water supplier: Aquarion Water Company. Aquarion is a large, reputable company that serves many communities in Connecticut, and they must meet all federal and state drinking water standards.
However, it's important to understand a few key points:
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Surface Water Sources: Aquarion primarily relies on surface water sources – reservoirs – in this part of Fairfield County. While these reservoirs are generally well-protected, surface water is inherently more susceptible to certain types of contamination than groundwater.
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The Disinfection Dilemma: Like all public water systems, Aquarion must disinfect the water to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. This is absolutely essential for public health. The most common disinfection method involves chlorine (or a related compound, chloramine). But, as we've discussed before, this process can create Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) when the chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in the water.
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Aging Infrastructure – A Regional Reality: While Aquarion continually invests in infrastructure upgrades, Fairfield County, with its rich history and many older homes, has a significant amount of aging plumbing – both in the public distribution system and within individual homes.
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Well Water In CT. some homes may have, private wells, but a small percentage. It is crucial for owners, to be safe and complete frequent checks, as discussed before.
Beyond the Averages: What Could Be in Your Water?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database provides independent assessments of public water systems. It's essential to reiterate: Aquarion meets all federal legal limits for contaminants. But the EWG often sets stricter health guidelines, and their data can help us understand potential areas for extra caution. Let's look at some of the common unsafe level’s they found:
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Chloroform
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Bromodichloromethane-TTHM
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Dichloroacetic acid
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Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
The Main Concerns in our Towns are Disinfection byproducts.
What are DBPs, and why are they an issue? They're a byproduct of the necessary disinfection process. Long-term exposure to elevated levels of some DBPs has been linked to increased risks of certain cancers and other health problems. It is a note, the company supplying this water is within regulations, but depending on comfort, families frequently choose for more.
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Your Home Factors: Why In-Home Testing Matters
Even with one water company serving all these towns, a general water quality report cannot tell you the exact condition of the water coming from your faucets. Here's what makes your home unique:
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Your Plumbing: The age and materials of your home's plumbing are critical. If your home was built before 1986 (when lead solder in plumbing was banned), there's a significant risk of lead or copper leaching into your water, regardless of what Aquarion does at the treatment plant. But even newer homes can have variations in plumbing materials that influence water quality.
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Your Location: Even within a town, factors like your home's distance from the main water lines, water pressure, and even how long water sits stagnant in your pipes can play a role.
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More suburban area It does not seem that many residents use well water in our towns.
That's why in-home water testing, conducted by a trained professional, is so essential.
How Often to Test Your Water?
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General Guideline: Annual testing is a good practice, especially for monitoring those disinfection byproduct levels.
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Older Homes: If you live in one of Ridgefield's antique colonials, a classic Greenwich estate, a pre-war home in Stamford, a mid-century modern in New Canaan, or a charming older home in Fairfield – and your house was built before 1986 – prioritize testing for lead and copper.
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After Plumbing Work: Always retest after any plumbing repairs or renovations.
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Changes in your Water Testing will tell you all.
Aerus of West Hartford: Serving Lower Fairfield County
Aerus of West Hartford understands the specific concerns of families in Ridgefield, Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, and Fairfield. We're part of this community, and we're here to help.
We provide free, in-home water testing. A certified technician will come to your home, at your convenience, and conduct a thorough analysis, testing for contaminants relevant to our area. You'll get a clear, easy-to-understand report, and we'll explain the results without any pressure or obligation. If any issues are identified, we'll recommend the most effective filtration system for your specific needs and budget. And our expert technicians will install it properly.
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems effectively remove PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates from drinking water. These systems use a multi-stage filtration process to deliver ultra-pure water. Reverse osmosis filtration removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates, providing ultra-clean drinking water. RO systems use a high-pressure membrane to eliminate microscopic contaminants at a molecular level.
Whole Home Filtration for Municipal Water Users
A whole-home water filtration system reduces chlorine, disinfection byproducts, and heavy metals, improving both drinking and bathing water quality while enhancing overall water safety. For municipal water users, whole-home filtration helps reduce chlorine, disinfection byproducts, and heavy metals, improving both drinking and bathing water quality.
For well water users, UV purification neutralizes bacteria and viruses without adding chemicals, providing an extra layer of protection against microbial contaminants.
Well water users benefit from UV purification, which neutralizes bacteria and viruses without using chemicals. This is ideal for homeowners concerned about coliform or E. coli contamination.
Many homes in Connecticut experience hard water due to mineral buildup. A water softener system helps prevent scale buildup in pipes, appliances, and fixtures, extending their lifespan and improving efficiency.
Windsor and Enfield’s water sources contain high mineral content, leading to hard water issues. Water softeners help reduce scale buildup, protect plumbing, and extend the life of appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Aquarion meets all the regulations, so is my water safe?
Aquarion does meet all federal and state drinking water standards. However, some contaminants, primarily disinfection byproducts, can be present at levels that exceed stricter health guidelines based on the latest scientific research. Also, your home's plumbing can impact water quality after it leaves the treatment plant. Many families in our area choose additional filtration for extra peace of mind.
How often should Connecticut water be tested?
Annual testing is a good baseline, especially for DBPs (municipal water) and bacteria/nitrates (wells). More frequent testing is a good idea for older homes (to check for lead/copper) or if you have any specific concerns. Well owners should always follow Connecticut DPH recommendations, at a minimum.
What are some warning signs of water problems?
While they're not proof of contamination, sudden changes in your water's color, taste, or odor could be a sign of an issue. If you notice anything unusual, get your water tested.
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