Getting Water Wiser...

It's seems appropriate to write about water on a wet day in Seattle with this hot cup of tea next to me. I have been kind of researching water in Seattle, because I'm curious about what I continue to drink from the tap, and what extent the claim that Seattle boasts some of the safest drinking water in the nation, is real. The city is legally mandated to annually report on the state of Seattle's water and the latest report available online is from 2009... In addition to this you can find tips for keeping water clean, information on the RainWise program (residential stormwater pollution prevention), and smart watering tips for the yard. Another resource is the Saving Water Partnership. The West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at Discovery Park, offers free public tours. I can't believe, despite having volunteered there, I haven't been yet. Some "conservationist" I am. I'm totally finally doing that. Information on the public tours can be found here.

I recently purchased a pH Tester from Swansons to get a better sense of the water I am feeding this garden. The results are photographed below. The lighting is not superb.

The jar on the left is a water sample from our kitchen sink, reflecting the water I constantly obtain from the tap. According to the chart it's pH falls somewhere around 6.5, so is slightly acidic. The jar on the right is from the outdoor spigot we attach the hoses to. It's obviously a bit closer to 7, which is encouraging, because the plants are atleast obtaining a relatively balanced, happy water source. I'm curious what is causing the discrepancy. I'm not sure if I may obtain further plumbing information about this house. I should probably consider getting my drinking water from another source.