Water Quality Report

WQ

Cranberry Township’s commitment to ensuring clean water is as clear as the water itself.

In 2022 Cranberry continued efforts to provide the best quality water to residents and businesses, with state-mandated testing once again confirming those efforts have been a success.

Cranberry Township’s water meets state and federal standards. That has been and will be the goal as staff works to set the bar for the groundbreaking ways we distribute water to the community from our supplier. These include reviewing our water distribution system to identify future infrastructure needs and projects. This thorough process will not only address current needs but also evaluate the long-term productivity and success of the water distribution system. It’s just another example of the township’s commitment to providing the best product to consumers. It will also provide our team of dedicated experts with vital information that will help improve our processes even more. They share our mission of presenting a superior product and take great pride in delivering safe, high-quality water to the community.

The township also works closely with our water supplier, West View Water Authority. Through regular communication anda long-running partnership, we are able to work together to ensure clean, clear water is conveyed through our systems. The entire team is proud to serve you and embraces the opportunity to work hard to ensure water service remains safe, clean, and reliable.

Read the 2022 Consumer Confidence Report.

Review Water Quality Reports from past years

For questions relating to your drinking water, call Michael Sedon, Cranberry Township Manager of Plant Operations, at 724-776-4806 x 1300. 

Printed copies of this report are available upon request from our Customer Service Center.

Dependable Water from the Tap 

Cranberry Township’s drinking water is safe and meets all federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) safety standards. 

If you have aquariums or special health concerns, please consider taking extra precautions such as

  • Customers using tap water for at-home kidney dialysis should consult with their doctor to determine if any changes are necessary in their residual disinfectant neutralization procedures. 
  • Customers using the water for aquariums should monitor both free and combined chlorine residuals.

drinking waterHow do I know our drinking water is safe?

We work to ensure that our treatment plant is producing water in compliance with all existing regulations and that we’re positioned to address forthcoming regulations. Starting in 2000, there has been significant improvement in water quality due to replacing the disinfectant-free chlorine with chloramine. This change resulted in significant reductions in disinfection byproduct formation.

If you have concerns or questions, regarding the quality of our water, 
Please explain by using this form: Water Quality Inquiry

What is the disinfectant switch?

Between early June and November, the West View Water Authority changes the disinfectant used from chlorine to chloramines. This change benefits our customers by reducing the levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in the system, while still providing protection from waterborne disease. This change will have no noticeable effect on most customers. 

However, for those persons dependent on dialysis machines the new chloramines disinfectant should be completely removed from the water that is used for the dialysate. Consequently, the pretreatment scheme used for the dialysis units must include some means, such as a charcoal filter, for removing the chloramine prior to this date. Medical facilities should also determine if additional precautions are required for other medical equipment.

If you have a fish tank, please make sure that the chemicals or filters that you are using are designed for use in water that has been treated with chloramines. You may also need to change the type of filter that you use for the fish tank.

Between November and June, the West View Water Authority switches from chloramines to free chlorine for the disinfection of drinking water. Free chlorine is a stronger and faster-acting disinfectant. Customers may notice a slight difference in the taste and odor of their drinking water while chlorine is in use.

  • My water appears white, cloudy, or milky-colored or has air bubbles and seems to fizz. What should I do? It is not uncommon to see this trend in the winter months. Most likely, this is air in the line and is no cause for alarm. If you run your water for a short time, it should clear. Here are some other possible explanations:
  • A shut down of water mains or low main pressure. Air bubbles may be present in water after there has been a break or draining of a water main. 
  • Water can absorb more air at higher water pressures. When this water that is under pressure experiences a reduction in pressure (when water leaves a spigot to fill a glass) it releases air bubbles and that results in a milky appearance.
  • Temperature changes.  Cold water can hold greater amounts of air than warm water. Therefore, air is released upon warming cold water saturated with air. The air released is the form of small air bubbles, which gives the water a milky or carbonated appearance.
  • Hot water tank malfunction or when thermostat is set higher than 140 F. Water releases air bubbles when heated. For this reason hot water usually contains some air bubbles. This condition is most noticeable in the winter months. It is also noticeable in the first water drawn from a hot water tank after the tank has been idle overnight.
  • Warming of cold water lines.  Cold water lines in basements, above the ground or attached to sides of buildings when warmed by internal home heat or exposed to the sun. 
  • Zinc  can be dissolved from galvanized piping and form bluish -white deposits in water. Since distribution piping is not made of zinc, this usually is caused by galvanized pipes within the residence. Restaurants are sometimes the source of milky water caused by zinc where water passes through coils of galvanized pipe surrounded by ice. If you still feel there is a concern, please contact us at  Ph: 724-776-4806. 
  • My water has a reddish and/or rusty tint. I have a discolored load of laundry. What can I do? Each year, we conduct an annual hydrant flushing program. This is routine maintenance to flush sediment from the water system, check the fire hydrant operation, and test chlorine levels in the water lines. Discolored water and fluctuations in water line pressure are normal during flushing. The reddish tint is caused by the fast flowing water stirring up the iron oxide sediments from the water distribution piping.  If you run your water for a short time, it should clear. Customers should delay washing laundry when discolored water is present.  However, if a load of laundry is discolored, keep the clothes wet. When the water runs clear, rewash the wet clothes along with your detergent and stain remover and rewash according to clothing label directions.  If you still feel there is a concern, please contact us at Ph: 724-776-4806.