You turn on the tap and water comes out; it’s that simple and something that many of us take for granted. But the fact is that not all countries benefit from this ease of water availability.
However, just because the water is ready whenever you want it does not automatically mean that it’s safe. There are a number of potential issues with your tap water:
- Debris
Massive filtration systems capture the debris at the water treatment works and prevent it from being piped to your home.
Unfortunately this doesn’t help with any debris that is collected from inside the pipe. Indeed there can even be a tiny split in one of the hundreds of pipes which allows other debris in. It is impossible for the water company to monitor every single supply line.
This debris may be microscopic but it could be harmful.
- Bacteria
This same process applies to bacteria in the water. The chlorine and other chemicals used at the plant should kill most bacteria.
However, some bacteria can survive and others can be introduced while the water travels through the pipes.
The result is you’ll be drinking water with potentially harmful bacteria in.
- Chemicals
The chemicals used to clean the water can actually represent a health risk. Chlorine is one of the worst as it can cause eye irritation, respiratory issues and even heart problems.
But this is not the only chemical, the verdict is still out on fluoride and there are many pesticides used on the fields which could leach into the water supply lines.
In reality your drinking water should be safe but there is no way to guarantee that it really will be; unless you invest in your own water filtration system.
- Heavy Metals
There are various heavy metals which are deemed to be hazardous to your health. Lead is a great example and was actually used to make the pipes that supplied you water. This practice was only stopped at the end of the 1980’s.
Heavy metals are not flushed from your body. Instead they build up until they reach toxic levels when they can make you ill.
How To Check Your Water Supply
The first step is to purchase a home test kit from this supplier. This will tell you if you have an issue that needs looking at. You can then decide whether to contact the water board or simply invest in a water filtration system.
It is also possible to get your local water board out to test your water quality. They will usually charge for his and you may need to wait for a suitable appointment. The advantage of purchasing your own test kit is that you can do it several times to see how the quality changes throughout the day.
The important thing is that you test your water supply as soon as possible; you can then take the necessary steps to ensure your water rally is safe to drink.
