Oklahoma DEQ Building. Photo by Coyt Wisdom
By Coyt Wisdom
Reporter
Water quality is quite important for human life. Without good water quality then, one may not be able to drink safe water. According to a report published by Oklahoma State, most of Oklahoma’s water quality is good. But what is typically the cause of water being contaminated?
University of Oklahoma assistant professor Kato Dee who has a doctorate in environmental geochemistry says some of the most common water contaminants in Oklahoma are nutrients and microorganisms.
“One is nutrients, and nutrients include nitrogen and phosphorus and those tend to be found in a lot of excessive levels of water waste in Oklahoma,” Dee said. “Most of those originate from the overuse of fertilizer, and also some can be attributed to agricultural livestock, mainly related to animal waste.”
According to Dee, the microorganisms that can affect the water quality can be traced through animal waste.
“The other type of water containment that is a water quality issue is related to microorganisms, including E. coli which is related to animal waste typically,” Dee said.
Dee says there are some ways to improve water quality in Oklahoma. Such as not using too much fertilizer on the lawn.
“I think if people were more aware of everyone putting fertilizer on their lawn, making sure to put the appropriate amount on your lawn,” Dee said. “Most of it runs off into the roads, and eventually the street.”
Dee also says one of the ways to improve water quality is to properly dispose of fertilizer.
“Don’t just dump them into the street or onto the lawn,” Dee said.
One of the reasons why it is not a good idea to overuse fertilizer on a lawn is because the fertilizer can run down into a storm drain and it can contaminate the water in that area.
The Oklahoma Water Survey website has several interactive maps that show some of the data collected relating to several aspects of water quality in Oklahoma.
When water does become contaminated, it can be disinfected and typically the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) oversees the public water supplies in Oklahoma.
Erin Hatfield, OK DEQ director of communication and education said the OK DEQ oversees at least 1,600 public water supplies in Oklahoma. And those water supplies are routinely sampled.
Hatfield also said OK DEQ is overseeing so many public water supplies to ensure Oklahoma has a safe supply of drinking water.
Karen Steele, OK DEQ assistant division director of water quality says water systems that treat surface water are required to disinfect water.
“They use chlorine as a primary disinfectant, and then there are different residual disinfectants that can be used throughout the system,” Steele said.
Some may wonder how they may be able to test their water.
Steele said if anyone would like to contact the State Environmental Laboratory Services with the Oklahoma DEQ and they can inquire about potentially testing an individual’s water.