A basic household essential, water can become contaminated, and that can happen in many ways. This article highlights how water gets contaminated and what you can do to avoid experiencing its negative consequences in your St. Louis, MO, home.
Common Ways Water Gets Contaminated in Homes
One of the most common water contaminants in homes is lead. This chemical element can corrode pipes. This happens when you use old materials to build certain things in your house.
Not everyone is at risk for lead pipes. However, if you are a resident of St. Louis, MO, living in a house or apartment built before 1978, then you might be at risk of lead exposure.
Another type of contamination comes from bacteria from outdated appliances or equipment related to heating systems associated with hot water tanks. Bacteria can grow in these appliances and contaminate the water.
Other substances that can contaminate water include chemicals, like pesticides, herbicides, chlorine and fluoride. The water supply itself might receive treatment to eliminate any chemical contamination that may happen during the process of purification.
Other Common Contaminants in Public Water and Well Water
Other common contaminants in public water are nitrates and arsenic. Nitrate occurs naturally in the soil, and arsenic is a heavy metal that is present in the earth’s crust. Both of them can find their way into the water.
Contamination of well water may not have the same causes as those that affect public water, but it can lead to similar symptoms and conditions. The EPA lists some of the most common contaminants in well water, which include nitrates and microorganisms.
However, their concentration may be lower than what you’d find in your public sources of drinking water. To check whether your well water is safe for consumption, you can obtain a test from a local laboratory.
How Dangerous Is Contaminated Water?
This is a serious issue, and it’s important to know how dangerous it can be. The most common impact of contaminated water is gastrointestinal disease. This can happen because of bacteria and viruses that may occur in water, like E. coli, Salmonella or Giardia lamblia.
It may also affect your respiratory system in different ways, especially if you have asthma or other chronic breathing problems. Some contaminants can cause airway resistance, which means that it will be more difficult for the body to get enough oxygen into blood cells. This can lead to serious health issues.
People who have chemical sensitivities may also experience health problems related to contaminated water because of the chemicals and toxic agents it contains. The substances found in this toxic water can cause a wide range of symptoms including breathing difficulties and nausea.
How Can You Avoid It?
First of all, you need to make sure that your home’s plumbing system doesn’t contain any lead since this can cause serious health problems in the long term. You can have your water tested for lead, and if it’s present in the pipes, you should arrange to replace them.
In addition, you should have your water tested regularly for different kinds of contaminants because substances added to it during purification and treatment processes may affect it. Having a good water filtration system in your home is also a good idea. There are many affordable purification systems that can filter out contaminants effectively and provide safe drinking water.
A modern water filtration system usually uses activated carbon or reverse osmosis to purify water and remove chemical agents, bacteria and other contaminants. A good water filtration system is a great investment for your home and health because it will help you avoid contaminated drinking water.
Are you ready to improve the quality of your water? Let us help you out! Give Indoor Comfort Team a call today, and we’ll be happy to offer you high-quality water filtration services to suit your needs and budget.
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