By Amari Collins
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News)--- What's in our water? The Starkville Water Department explained what precautions they are taking daily for the water system in order to prevent Starkville from having a water crisis like Flint, Michigan.
Water, an essential part of our daily life. We know it is always there so we don't quite often think of the process it takes to clean it before it comes through our fountains and sinks.
Nick Fiorentino, a water operator for the water division says the water is filtered constantly to keep us protected from harmful bacteria.
"This filter is one of two at this location we pump water from our well into here and it strains it takes out any of the iron, silt, dirt, whatever it needs to and then we chlorinate it after that."
Fiorentino stated that the Water Department has made changes to make sure Starkville water is thriving and there will not be an incident like Flint, Michigan.
"We've taken steps already as a city for example we have in the codes for new construction any professional business or any place that would need some water there are backflow preventers required to be installed,"
Fiorentino says that backflow was one of the main problems during the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
"Once water has already passed through their water meter it cannot come back through which is kind of like what happened with Flint, Michigan and the chemicals went back into their water system."
The water department undergoes a series of water test on a day to day basis to make sure our water is safe for all daily purposes.
The testing process includes taking samples of the water and placing reagent packs into the water to test the fluorine and chlorine levels and watching the water turn a certain color. Pink is the ideal color when testing the water for chlorine. The water turning pink shows that there is a sufficient amount of chlorine in the water to kill bacteria.
Water is pumped through chlorine cylinders to get rid of toxins and determine the quality of water.
"It's very safe I drink it everyday," Fiorentino said.