ANIMAL RESOURCE WATER QUALITY:  The NIH Guide (ILAR 1996) recommends that laboratory animals should have access to potable, uncontaminated drinking water.  Water quality testing of the Rochester water supply includes periodic monitoring for pH, hardness, and microbial or chemical contamination.  The most recent report ( http://www.mcwa.com/watqual.htm ) indicates that Rochester drinking water meets all New York State and USEPA drinking water standards.  Please refer to the web site link above for more details about detected contaminants and a water quality summary.  Supplemental treatment (e.g. autoclaving, acidification, hyperchlorination) of water provided to the University's laboratory animals is available by special request.  All water provided to animals housed in the KMRB and CVRI facilities is treated by reverse osmosis.