What Are The Common Problems A Water Test Can Detect In Tap Water?
Have you ever wondered why your tap water smells like rotten eggs, sewage, or chlorine? Because of that, you don’t want to drink your water as you are afraid that the water is contaminated & you or your family might get sick.
Whatever the case is, it is important to have your tap water tested regularly to ensure your safety by looking for alternative sources or using water filters. There are a series of tests that can be conducted to find chemicals, bacteria and other contaminants in your tap water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while tap water is considered one of the safest water sources in America, water testing should be done frequently as it can warn the community about possible contaminants, such as:
- Releases from sewages
- Chemicals & minerals from natural sources
- Fertilizers & pesticides used on land
- Livestock
- Manufacturing processes
- Malfunctioning water distribution & treatment systems.
Potential Problems Found In Tap Water
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may say that tap water is safe, “it’s better to be safe than to be sorry”. If you want to be certain if your tap water is safe for drinking, it’s best to have yours tested.
High Lead Content
Lead contamination usually occurs when the parts of a water distribution system corrode, such as the faucets, pipes, and fixtures. If a distribution system is poorly maintained, the water that flows within is at high risk for lead contamination.
Both high & low lead exposures can be life-threatening. Ingestion of lead can cause the functional disruption of our bodies’ organ system as lead can travel to our bones, brains, liver, & other organs. As for the children, it could cause drastic weight loss, seizures, & vomiting.
The Natural Resources Defense Council says that high levels of lead have been in some states, such as Chicago & Washington D.C. They have conducted a study between 2018 and 2020 and found out that over 56% of the U.S. Population consumed leaded water.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, the “Safe Drinking Water Act” states that the maximum allowable lead content present in the pipes and fixtures is only on the average weight of 0.25% & 0.2% for solder and flux.
Lead is notorious for not being easily detected, especially in tap water. You cannot see, smell or taste lead when you drink tap water. The best way to determine if the tap water you’re drinking is lead-free is to conduct a water test using a home-test kit or with the help of the experts.
Water filters can be installed in your entire home to avoid the contamination of lead and other contaminants in your tap water. That way, you won’t have to worry about your life and the lives of your family and friends.
Acidity and Alkalinity
The pH level of your tap water should be monitored regularly. If your tap water’s pH level is low, it means it is “acidic.” Acidic water can “eat away” the plumbing as it could travel to faucets, leaving the pipes & fixtures prone to leaks.
Acidic water can cause blue-green algae or rust stains on the faucets, fixtures, drains, bathtubs and sinks. It also tastes metallic & unpleasant because of the pollutants and bacteria that might be present which can harm you when used or drunk.
On the other hand, alkaline water has a pH level of more than 7. This usually carries a load of minerals which restricts the water flow in the pipes of the distribution system. It creates more extensive problems when not treated properly.
For instance, when alkaline water is used in dishwashing, it could leave white residues on your kitchenware which could impose health-related problems. It can also cause clogging on your showerheads because of the collected residues in its holes.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, the pH level of the drinking water suppliers should be maintained between 6.5 to 8.5 to ensure the safety of its drinkers and users.
The municipal drinking water suppliers are also required to test their water regularly so that when acidity or alkalinity is present, it could be treated immediately by using disinfection filters so that the water becomes safe to drink and use again.
High Hardness Level
This problem is often caused by excessive amounts of magnesium & calcium that are present in the water. This looks like white, chalky residues present on your showerheads, faucets, toilets, & pipes.
While these are not harmful when ingested, these chalky residues could destroy the appliances where you have been using the tap water, like water heaters for example. They could block the water flow which clogs the parts and eventually damage the appliances.
Dr. Sam Bunting emphasized during her talk with Vogue that for some people, hard tap water can also cause dryness as the minerals can clog your pores which could trigger breakouts & irritations, like eczema & psoriasis.
If you notice that your hair becomes lifeless and your scalp feels itchy & flaky, Trichologist Ricardo Vila Nova says that the hard tap water you’ve been using to bathe your hair can be blamed too.
To solve this problem, a water softener should be used to treat hard tap water through a process of ion exchange. That way, you wouldn’t be having a hard time using tap water on yourself, your family, and your household items.
How to Solve These Problems?
When left untreated, these problems detected in your tap water could lead to serious problems which could cause chaos in your household and your community. Above all, the ultimate goal is to have clean water to use and to stay healthy.
You can choose a water filtration system that best solves your problem and suits your needs. AquaOx provides a variety of solutions that can solve such problems! Our products are proven and tested by our users across the country.
Share this article with your family and friends to raise awareness about the problems that can be detected by water testing and how they can solve these. Feel free to contact us with any questions! We would love to assist you in knowing more about water filtration.
