Most of us take it for granted that our household water is safe to drink. But what if it isn’t? What if contaminants lurking in your taps and pipes could harm you, your family, or your pets? It’s important to understand what might be found in your water and how to protect yourself from potential health risks. This article will discuss common water contaminants and the potential risks they pose.
Hydrogen Sulfide
Water tainted with hydrogen sulfide is effortless to notice as it smells like rotten eggs as soon as you turn your faucet on. The smell comes from a chemical reaction that happens when there is sulfur in the water. If the odor is only present when you use hot water, there could be an issue with the anode rod in the water heater. When the anode rod is damaged, it reacts with the water’s sulfur content and creates a hydrogen sulfide smell. In this case, you will need a professional plumber to replace the rod so the smell can ease.
However, if the smell occurs when you use cold water, that is a more significant issue. This usually occurs in homes that use private wells. The smell could be from water that has picked up sulfur from rocks and soil. When your water is contaminated with hydrogen sulfide, your copper pipes are at higher risk of corroding. The best way to deal with hydrogen sulfide is to hire a plumber to do comprehensive water treatment or install a water treatment system.
Arsenic
Arsenic is a known carcinogen more common in private water supplies than municipal systems. The widespread application of pesticides or mining activities triggers this contaminant. Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water can lead to skin lesions and various cancers. To know if there is arsenic in your water, call a plumbing company to test your water. If your plumber finds the contaminant present, they will advise you to install a water filter under the sink of every faucet used for drinking water. This will help reduce the contaminant in your water and make your water safe for drinking.
Chlorine
Chlorine is used to disinfect public drinking water systems from bacteria and other pathogens. While chlorine itself isn’t necessarily harmful, it can react with organic compounds found in natural sources to form carcinogenic byproducts known as trihalomethanes (THMs). Installing a carbon filter will help minimize chlorine exposure while reducing THM levels in your drinking water supply. Hire a professional plumber in Callahan, FL to test your water’s chlorine levels and suggest the right filter.
Lead
Lead is one of the more serious water contaminants because it can cause developmental issues in children and other long-term health problems. Lead contamination usually occurs when lead pipes are used in plumbing systems or when lead-based solder is used to join copper pipes. The best way to get rid of lead from your water is to install a reverse osmosis system. These systems use specialized filters to remove harmful contaminants from your drinking water, including lead. Therefore, if you think your water might be contaminated with lead, call a plumber to test it and provide the best solution.
Nitrates/Nitrites
Nitrates and nitrites are naturally found in soil but can also enter drinking water due to runoff from fertilizer or animal waste products. High nitrate levels can cause serious health problems for infants and pregnant women, so it’s important to ensure that a plumber regularly tests your home’s water for these contaminants if you have any concerns about their presence. If needed, a reverse osmosis or distillation system will help reduce nitrate/nitrite levels.
Hardness Minerals
Hardness minerals—such as magnesium and calcium—are responsible for making tap water “hard,” meaning that it has high concentrations of dissolved minerals, which give it a noticeable taste and texture. While hardness minerals aren’t harmful on their own, they contribute to mineral build-up on fixtures and appliances over time, which can significantly affect performance and efficiency if left untreated. Installing a whole-house softening system will help reduce hardness mineral content drastically without affecting the treated water supply’s taste or texture. Therefore, if you have hard water, it’s best to contact a plumber to install a softening system and ensure that your home receives quality drinking water.
Microbes
Microbes are tiny organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can contaminate drinking water sources if they come into contact with organic material like sewage or animal waste products near the source of the water supply line. These can cause illnesses like dysentery or typhoid fever if ingested through contaminated drinking water. If you suspect your drinking water might be contaminated with microbes, contact a plumber in Callahan, FL to test your water and install the right filtration system to remove these contaminants.
Radon
Radon is an invisible gas released from underground rocks containing uranium deposits; this gas often finds its way into groundwater sources due to natural seepage from the ground into aquifers beneath the surface of the earth where our drinking supplies are drawn from. Long-term exposure to radon through drinking contaminated tap water has been linked with an increased risk of developing lung cancer later in life. You should have your home’s water tested to ensure there are no radon traces. If any is found, you should immediately contact a plumber to install the right filtration system to remove it from your drinking water.
Want to Improve the Water Quality in Your Home? Give Us a Call!
While you may not control the activities that bring contaminants into your water, there are helpful measures you can take to ensure your water is contamination-free. One of the steps you can take is hiring Bert Norman’s Plumbing in Callahan, FL to install a water filtration system to help reduce contamination. Besides installing water filters in your home, we can handle other plumbing needs. Contact us today, and we will ensure your water is safe.