Most people are always skeptical about whether or not to use tap water. While many feel no worry while using tap water in everyday use, others believe it isn’t safe. The tap water you utilize for cooking, bathing, and drinking comes from water sources like streams, rivers, or reservoirs. The safety of your water usually depends on the area you live in and how effectively the relevant authorities do their job. If neglected, a wide range of pollutants can enter this water, including bacteria, algae, iron, sulfur, and dirt. These pollutants may cause several health issues and gastrointestinal problems.
In some cases, polluted water can also lead to neurological disorders and reproductive problems. So how do you determine if the tap water in your homes is contaminated or not? Let’s discuss some simple things to look out for when determining the purity of tap water.
Firstly, you need to determine if the water is clear or not. You can fill up a glass with tap water and see if it is cloudy or has some unusual color. Water that’s safe to drink is clear. However, cloudiness indicates impurities and chemicals. If your tap water is yellow or brown-tinged, it indicates the presence of chromium-6. It is a chemical notorious for causing cancer. It can also indicate the presence of excessive iron, copper, or lead.
Blue-green tint in water indicates that your water pipes have probably corroded and are causing elevated levels of copper. High copper levels can cause anemia and kidney problems.
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Sometimes, the water may smell of chlorine or bleach. Chlorine is a chemical frequently added to the water supply to kill pathogens, but it may leave harmful by-products like trihalomethanes. These toxins cause kidney problems, skin irritation, and even cancer. Chlorinated water is also detrimental to dyed hair and eyes. Improperly chlorinated water can contaminate it with a parasite called giardia. This parasite causes diarrhea and cramps. Water may also smell like sewage or rotten eggs due to hydrogen sulfide that causes dehydration. So, if your water smells, don’t drink it!
The last strategy to see if tap water is trustworthy is to taste it. Rusty water pipes can leave a metallic taste in the water. Sometimes it may be due to low pH. Even though these methods rule out some of the possible contaminants of tap water, there are many you cannot see with the help of the naked eye. Even if the water seems normal, it may be unhealthy for use. The best way to ensure that the tap water in your house is safe is to know your water source and get water quality reports.
You can also use some precautions while using seemingly safe water to reduce the risk of infections and diseases. These include using bottled water from trusted sources for drinking purposes. Disinfecting the water at home can be helpful for everyday use. Getting a water filter installed into your house can remove some parasites and dirt. However, they don’t remove the bacteria. You can boil the filtered water to kill off the bacteria for drinking purposes. While most healthy adults can drink tap water in some areas directly, using precautions is the best way to ensure optimum health. So, do you trust your tap water?
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!