What does your drinking water have to do with your health?

Everything!  Your water can contain things like harmful bacteria, nitrates and lead.  Possible health hazards from drinking contaminated water are:

• Tiredness

• Apathy

• Anemia

• Diarrhea

• Shortness of breath

• Blue Baby Syndrome

• Reduced oxygen carrying capacity

Water becomes contaminated when sewage and other organic contamination like fertilizers (Anhydrous ammonia, etc.) leak into the water supply.  Older plumbing such as solder, galvanized pipes and industrial waste can also contaminate drinking water.

You may have water samples tested by the Hancock Regional Hospital Lab.  Pick-up service in the county include:

• Parkway Medical Building, Greenfield

• New Palestine Family Medicine, New Palestine

• Fortville Family Practice, Fortville

• Knightstown Health Care Center, Knightstown

• Oaklandon

• Rushville

• Pendleton

Key features of Hancock Water Lab:

• Hancock County’s only state certified laboratory for water coliform testing and pool water testing.

• Processing available after hours and on weekends for fastest possible reporting of results.

• Directed by a clinical microbiology technologist.

• Committed to surveillance and education to assure a safe community drinking water supply.

• Convenient locations to pick up sample materials and drop off samples.

• Swimming pool testing for pool season.

If you have questions about the safety of your drinking water, please call 317-468-4424.