Home Water Supplies - Have you tested yours?

Is Home Water Testing Important?

Potable water should be clean and free of harmful particles and chemicals. But this is always not the case. There are many ways toxic chemicals can infiltrate tap water. Experts reveal that there are over 2000 different types of toxic chemicals harbored in tap water. Hence the need to sufficiently purify water before use in offices and homes. Water purification remains the best way to rid harmful agents off water and maintain its natural stability and safety.

CHEMICAL SOURCES

There are different ways through which tap water can be contaminated by chemicals. Pollution is a leading source. Addition of chlorine and other chemicals to public water are also well known to contribute to the overall concentration of chemicals in water supplies.

HEALTH RISKS FROM CHEMICALS

While chemicals are usually added to purify water for domestic use, attendant health risks from this practice cannot be ignored. In truth, chlorine can be as potent to unwanted contaminants as it is to us. And consumed excessively for an extended period of time, this chemical can increase the chances of developing heart disease, cancers and other debilitating conditions. The need to monitor chlorine is critical given that most public drinking water systems, if not all, are purified using chlorine. But other chemicals can be just as harmful too. For instance, fertilizers and pesticides can trigger birth defects. Striking the right balance in controlling harmful parasites, while also keeping users safe from these chemicals therefore remains a key concern for authorities and water purification bodies. It is also believed that harmful microorganisms in water have developed resistance to these chemicals, remaining active even after treatment. This increases the chances of coming down with digestive problems since they are unfriendly to our gut.

HOW DANGEROUS IS TAP WATER?

With brewing concerns over the potability of water and the health effects of consuming it from unhealthy sources, it might just as important to know how dangerous tap water really is to our health. To check drinking water quality, government agencies such as FDA and EPA have actively introduced control measures. However, these standards do not stipulate that water be absolutely free of contaminants. Limits are placed instead, meaning that toxins might still be present in the water gushing from our faucets. Reports have also established that a link between chronic conditions like cancers and places with poor water purification systems exists.

SOME TOXINS IN DRINKING WATER

A wide range of toxic agents have been found in unhealthful drinking water. Some of these include:

1.     Chlorine – Chlorine is routinely used in water purification systems. However, it has also been linked to a host of conditions including asthma, bladder cancer and rectal cancer. Recent studies have also suggested possible relationships between the chemical and breast cancer.

2.     Lead – Corroded pipes are primarily responsible for lead contamination of tap water. Lead is a known toxin that can cause learning disorders, poor development and a host of other problems for children and pregnant mothers.

3.     Giardia and Cryptosporidium – These protozoan organisms are known causes of gastrointestinal diseases. They are usually present following sanitation breakdown in water system facilities.

NATIONWIDE CONCERN over LEAD IN DRINKING WATER

While the United States has high standards of drinking water quality, lead remains a source of concern. This metal contaminates water through corroded plumbing materials, particularly in water with low mineral content or high acidity that hastens corrosion of pipes and fixtures. Lead fixtures, pipes and solder are common in homes built before 1986. But that’s not to mean a safety net for new homes, though, as legally “lead-free” plumbing may not be entirely free of the metal, with some containing as high as 8% lead.

To control lead contamination of water, the Safe Drinking Water Act was amended January 2014, when the maximum allowable lead content of plumbing fittings, pipe fittings, pipes and fixtures further was dropped to 0.25 percent. The major concern involves brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and  lead-soldered fixtures, from which massive contamination of water can occur, especially when it is hot.

A best practice would be to have your domestic water tested for lead. Thankfully, most water systems conduct lead testing in many homes during scheduled water monitoring. However, these tests all too often give a broad overview of the extent of corrosion and not the specific condition that prevails in the homes served. It’s also important to note that each home will have varying plumbing pipes and materials, and so a one-size-fits-all test result can only be unreliable.