City of Minnetonka: 'Beware of Door-to-Door Water Testers'

The following was released by the city of Minnetonka:

Residents in some metro area communities recently have been approached by private companies offering to test their tap water in order to sell costly and often unnecessary water filtrations systems to the homeowner.

Minnetonka residents receive water from a public water supply, which is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA sets standards for public water supplies that limit the level of contaminants, and the water is tested regularly to ensure those standards are being met. No contaminants have been found in Minnetonka’s water that exceed levels set by the EPA for safe drinking water.

Minnetonka Public Works performs weekly water quality tests at several specific sites throughout its water system in order to establish expected outcomes and to understand the quality of the system as a whole. Each spring, the city publishes a water quality report in the Minnetonka Memo with testing results.

It’s important to distinguish between home water treatment for health protection and home water treatment for aesthetic reasons. Water treatment units are most appropriately used for the removal of substances that affect the physical or aesthetic quality of water—taste, color and odor.

The use of home water treatment units for reduction of health- related substances should be done only under emergency conditions or in situations where other alternatives do not exist. In Minnetonka, where water is tested weekly and in compliance with EPA requirements, it’s unnecessary for homeowners to install home water treatment units for the reduction of health-related substances.

If you would like to perform your own home water tests, or if you have a private well you would like tested, there are many qualified, local test facilities that can be found in the phone book under “water analysis.”

For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Health.

Licensing of door-to-door sales

Solicitors, peddlers and canvassers are allowed in Minnetonka, but for-profit sale of products or services requires a license from the city. Only licensed peddlers and solicitors will have a photo ID issued by the city. The city does not endorse any specific product or service by the issuing of this license.

Charitable organizations conducting door-to-door sales or solicitations do not need a license, unless they pay their solicitors. However, the city does request that charitable organizations register.

The city regularly posts an online list of licensed and registered solicitors, peddlers and canvassers.

Every resident and business has the right to prohibit peddlers and solicitors from their property. If you post a sign on your home or business that prohibits solicitors, they are not permitted to approach your property.

If you have a complaint about a door-to-door salesperson or soliciting party, immediately contact the Minnetonka Police Department at (952)939-8500 or call 9-1-1.

Has a salesperson been at your door offering a water test?