Here’s How to Find Out!
Tap water is an essential part of our daily lives. We use it for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and drinking. But sometimes, tap water can be polluted with harmful chemicals like arsenic and lead. If you’re worried that your tap water is a concern for your health, don’t worry, this article will help you learn how to know if your tap water is safe to drink.
1) Where Is The Source?
The first step to knowing if your tap water is safe for drinking is learning where your tap water comes from. Most tap water in the United States comes from reservoirs, rivers, lakes, and wells. In order to come to your faucet, tap water first goes through a complex purification process called the Water Cycle. It is then treated with chlorine to keep it free from harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. If your water source is near a landfill site, or a place where there are pesticides sprayed, it could be polluted. On the other hand, if your water source is a clean river or lake, then it’s probably pretty safe.
2) Can I Get My Tap Water Tested?
In the United States, tap water is tested for harmful chemicals and pollutants four times a year. The EPA requires that any community with more than 10,000 people have to test its water twice a year. If you want to Find Out What’s In Your Water at home, there are companies that offer consultations and water testing. This way you can learn what’s in your tap and decide whether or not it’s safe for drinking. Professionals will analyze your water for chemicals, metals, bacteria, and viruses and based on results will give you recommendations on how to keep your water clean.
3) What Are the Pollutants?
You might be surprised to learn what can make your tap water unsafe. Tap water contains many contaminants, including PFAS, chlorine, lead, arsenic, copper, nitrates, dissolved solids such as potassium, sodium, and chloride which affect the smell and taste of the water. These contaminants can come from your water source and/or the pipes that transport the tap water. Water pipes can act as a pathway for contaminants to be absorbed into your tap water. That’s why it’s important to check your pipes and faucet regularly for signs of corrosion, leaks, and cracks. If your pipes are damaged, it’s time to call a professional plumber to avoid contaminating your water any further. Your pipes and faucets should be changed every 10 or 20 years depending on the quality of your water.
4) What About Fluoride?
Many communities put fluoride in their tap water to reduce tooth decay. But some people believe that there can be negative health effects from too much fluoride, so it might not be the best idea to drink fluoridated tap water. If you live in a community that puts fluoride in their tap water, ask your water utility for more information. Too much fluoride can lead to discoloration of teeth and bones. So, if you have young children or are considering having children, then you might want to avoid drinking the tap water in your community. On the other hand, adults can usually handle small amounts of fluoride without problems, although this is also up for debate.
5) What Are the Health Risks?
If your tap water is not safe, you might experience certain health issues. Tap water that contains harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramps. High levels of lead can lead to diseases of the brain and nervous system such as anemia and cancer of the bladder. Many chemicals found in tap water are carcinogens and can increase the risk of diseases like tumors or cancer. Over a lifetime, drinking water contaminated by arsenic can result in skin damage and as well as bladder, lung, kidney, liver, and prostate damages.
6) What Can I Do?
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to check if your tap water is safe for drinking. First off, invest in a quality filtration system. Filtration systems remove most harmful chemicals and move the contaminants to the water’s edge where they can be easily extracted from your tap with a simple drain. A filtration system is especially important for homes located in areas near decaying matter, landfills, or any other location that could contaminate your water source. Filtration systems come in several different forms, so choose one that fits your water needs. For example, under-the-sink filtration systems make use of a faucet and attach to the water coming out of your sink. Second, you can buy bottled water to drink. Always check the label to see if it’s purified or spring water and not just tap water in a bottle! Lastly, an even better alternative is to invest in a water purification system that allows you to store purified water there. Water purifiers come in several different designs like countertop units, urns, or pitchers.
7) What Are Some Benefits of Filtered and Purified Water?
There are a lot of benefits to drinking filtered and purified water. With a filtration system, you have the power to choose what chemicals go in your water so you don’t have to worry about ingesting harmful toxins. Filtering your tap water is also more cost-effective than buying bottles of water every week. Water purifiers and filtration systems ensure that your water is free of viruses, bacteria, and parasites so you don’t have to worry about getting sick. Finally, you can feel confident knowing that you are getting clean water with a system like this. If your tap water is not safe, it’s time to do some research into finding the best solution for you.
If you want to ensure that your tap water is safe for drinking, there are a few steps you need to take. First off, invest in a quality filtration system and ask your local plumber about any pipes or faucets that may be leaking contaminants into the water supply. If it’s not possible for you to change these things yourself, then hire someone who knows what they’re doing! This will help protect your family from harmful chemicals like lead which could end up causing diseases of the brain and nervous systems if ingested over time.
