Can You Hear Me Now..

Hello, Iowa Public Health

Hi, quick question if you'd be so kind...the water standards they're reporting upon in New Orleans, could you tell me what reference standard is being used to determine the 10 times as bacteria-laden as fresh water number that's being bandied about? What exactly IS fresh water?

Hold on sir, I'll connect you...

Music. Elton John. Butterflies Are Free. Someone saved, someone saved, someone saved my life toniiiiiiiiiight...some...

Hello sir?

Cough, hi, yes.

I understand you'd like to know the reference standard for determining bacterial contamination in potable water?

Oh, I suppose there is a difference in potable versus bathing-quality water, sure, but is the standard similar? What water is the reference?

Normal tap water is what is commonly used, sir.

Normal tap water? Normal as in West-Virginian well water, California well-water, New York well...

No sir, well water is not considered to be potable. The standard is in reference to chlorinated water from a non freestanding body of water.

Chlorinated, ah, okay. Are chlorine standards universal throughout the country then?

No sir. Each state has it's standards of acceptable and not acceptable levels of chlorination.

But it has to fall within a range, correct?

Yes, sir, it does.

Would the top of the level provide more protection than say, the entry level?

Yes, sir. All states monitor the levels of available bacteria and will add or subtract chlorination as necessary to fall within the reference standard.

Okay. And you said well water isn't acceptable or can be considered potable water?

That is correct for our determinations, yes sir. Local wells can contain many times the acceptable level of bacteria as compared to city-provided tap water.

Many times? Wow. Ten times?

Oh, easily. Certain areas surrounding farms have levels of contamination over 100 times the acceptable level.

Wow. Has FEMA ever shut down, say, an abattoir because of the bacterial runoff or asked people to leave a city when the levels get that high?

No sir. High elevations of bacterial contamination are not cause for evacuation, but they do call for a warning.

So the cops can't force me to leave my house if it rains real hard and the runoff passes by huh...

Beg pardon sir, I didn't catch your last...

Wasn't worth repeating, believe me. Tell me though, have you seen any of these insider reports on the really high levels of bad stuff in the New Orleans water?

No sir. Probably just what you've seen, on TV I mean.

But ten-times the acceptable level is not all that strange huh.

Well.

Come on, I'm not recording this and won't tell anybody.

Between me and you sir, ten times is what SOME towns would love to have.

Well thank you very much. And not for nothing, Miss, but you have one heavenly voice to listen to.

(laughing, pause) Thank you sir. And thanks for calling. You too