Water Quality FAQs
Working under the regulations of the North Dakota Department of Health, an annual CCR is conducted that tests for all pertinent and potential sources of contaminants in our water supply. This report provides full disclosure for customers or other interested parties about the quality of our drinking water.
A CCR contains a table of water quality data, definitions of terms, specific language requirements, and other source and treatment information to illustrate testing and compliance with all drinking water regulations established by the state and federal government. We hope you will find the information useful and educational so that you can be confident the quality water supplied to you by the Southwest Water Authority.
These reports are posted on our website under the Consumer Confidence page. It is also mailed to customers annually.
Absolutely! In order to allow individuals who consume our drinking water, but who do not receive water bills to learn about our water system, we would appreciate it if our large volume water customers would post copies of the most recent annual CCR report in visible locations.
If you have any questions about this report, know of non-English speaking individuals who need assistance with translation, or have any other concerns, please contact us by calling 888-425-0241 or e-mail us at: swa@swwater.com.
Naturally found in water sources, Fluoride is derived from Fluorine, the thirteenth most common element in the Earth’s crust. Fluoride compounds are salts that form when the element, Fluorine, combines with minerals in soil or rocks.
The Southwest Water Authority adds Fluoride to the drinking water to help prevent tooth decay and promote dental health.
Yes, that is something SWA takes very seriously. Also, the North Dakota Department of Health continues to recognize SWA with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Water Fluoridation Quality Award.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The proper amount of fluoride from infancy through old age helps prevent and control tooth decay. Community water fluoridation is a widely accepted practice for preventing and controlling tooth decay by adjusting the concentration of fluoride in the public water supply.” Read more: http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/cwf_qa.htm
Yes, the amount of Fluoride used in your drinking water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can read more by going to EPA.gov or reviewing SWA’s Water Quality Report Consumer Confidence Report – (CCR).
Fluoride prevents the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving tooth enamel, which is the hard and shiny substance that protects the teeth. Fluoride also allows teeth damaged by acid to repair themselves.
Unfortunately, Fluoride cannot repair cavities, but it can reverse low levels of tooth decay and thus prevent new cavities from forming.
The story of how dental science discovered and ultimately proved to the world that fluoride prevent tooth decay can be found on the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s website: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/Fluoride/TheStoryofFluoridation.htm