How Safe Is My Home’s Water Supply?
What are Water Safety Regulations?
The safety of our drinking water has been a topic in the US since 1948 when the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was enacted. By 1972 it was significantly reorganized and expanded to what is now commonly referred to as the “Clean Water Act” The effectiveness of the CWA along with EPA is eliminating point source pollution (PSP) from factories and sewage treatment plants that discharge pollutants into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. The CWA and EPA are ineffective when it comes to non-point source pollution (NPS) which is caused when rainfall or snowmelt, moving over and through the ground, picking up natural and human-made pollutants, contaminating lakes, rivers, ground waters and other bodies of water. In 1974 the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was established along with the EPA to protect the quality of drinking water in the U.S but was seriously weakened in 1996 Amendments that have made establishments of protective standards very unlikely.
How safe is tap water?
Today, almost 1/3 of the US water systems are known to contain lead service lines. Combine that with a failing infrastructure, corroded pipes release toxic lead into our drinking water supply. Chronic exposure to lead can cause a number of health risks in adults such as nausea, seizures and reproductive issues. This does not include the number of dangerous chemicals found naturally or used when treating our water supply line such as chlorine, arsenic, chloroform & uranium.
You may be thinking to yourself, I am safe since I don’t consume tap water. Unfortunately, the dangers extend beyond just consumption. Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies. Every time we bathe, shower, or rinse our mouths, our bodies absorb the chemicals into our body.
When we wash our organic produce, it can no longer be considered organic as fruits and vegetables absorb the water along with any other chemicals. Boiling water doesn’t always produce the expected results. Some chemicals such as arsenic aren’t removed by simply boiling water as water evaporates during the process, slightly increasing the arsenic concentration in some cases.
What can be done to make our homes’ water supply safe?
How do we make our homes’ water supply safe?
When it comes to improving your home’s water supply, there are two ways of treating it.
“Conditioning” your water by installing a water softener in your home helps treat mineral deposits naturally contained in our water supply. By treating hard water, it helps your skin retain its natural oils eliminating dry skin and other skin related issues attributed by hard water. Outside the health benefits, removing minerals deposits that cause hard water will improve the lifespan of your plumbing and water appliances. This will save you money on costly repairs over time.
“Filtering” kills bacteria and pathogens along with chemicals and pollutants that may be present in our water supply making it not only safer to drink but improving the overall taste. In fact, the presence of different types of chemicals may alter the smell and taste of your water.
For example: Water that smells like bleach may have been treated with too much chlorine. Chlorine is used to treat bacteria in our water. Not enough chlorine can expose people to a parasite called giardia that causes diarrhea, cramps and nausea. The smell of sewage or rotten eggs coming from your water supply may signal the presence of hydrogen sulfide. This is a colorless gas naturally found in groundwater making it harmful when exposed to certain bacteria creating sulfate, which can cause dehydration and diarrhea. A metallic taste can be a sign of excess iron or copper in the water supply. Rusty pipes release metals into the water supply such as zinc, iron, copper, manganese and lead giving a metallic or salty flavor to the water. Water that’s safe to drink should ideally be clear with no odor or funny taste.
Installing a whole house water filtration system will eliminate bacteria, algae, fungi, parasites, chemical pollutants and metals such as copper and lead, effectively treating and purifying your home’s water supply. Access to clean water is vital to health.
At Option One Plumbing we are committed to the improvement of your quality of life. We offer free complimentary water hardness inspection free with every service. If you would like to hear how you can improve the water quality in your home give us a call today.
For further information regarding the water quality and complete list of contaminants in your area, please click on the link below and enter your zip code: