How to Avoid Contaminated Water Risks

Clean drinkable water is essential for the safety and wellbeing of everyone, but health risks from contaminated water are still quite common. Depending on the country you live in, your water supply may be contaminated and it’s difficult to notice by the look or taste of it.

The drinking water that households have comes from an underground or a surface water source, both of which can be subjected to any type of contamination. If you want to ensure the safety and health of your family, read on to learn about the ways you can avoid water pollution.

Chlorine Treatment

If your water supply comes from an underground well, then the source can be treated with chlorine. The process is called shock chlorination and it’s one of the common methods of disinfecting and treating bacterial contamination in well water, cisterns, or springs. Chlorine is a common and major disinfectant that can purify the public water system, killing parasites, viruses, and bacteria. The process is a little tricky but it is possible to achieve healthy levels of chlorine in drinking water with minimal risks. The treatment is crucial because it prevents waterborne disease outbreaks that can be extremely difficult to manage if the source is left unchecked. The taste and smell of the water will change, but it’s normal and shouldn’t cause any health issues. Consider hiring a specialized plumber or your water company to test the water levels and start the adequate treatment process according to the pollutant type.

Investing in a Water Softener and Filtration System

If you suspect that your water supply is contaminated, investing in a water softener and filtration system will provide you with clean drinkable water. Water softeners are designed to change hard water to soft water, and the mechanism can remove certain types of contaminants. The filter is designed to flush out all the defiled or tainted substances in the water, keeping it healthy and safe for consumption. Several reviews recommend that homeowners get the DIY friendly models that come with an installation kit. Further, the water specialists and reviewers at Water Tech Advice suggest that water softeners with a filtration system can prevent appliances from deteriorating or breaking down. It’s an added perk that comes with the system along with purifying the water from hazardous contaminants. More reviews recommend the four-stage filter with the premium coconut carbon filtration system because it removes pesticides, heavy metals, halo-acetic acids, and organic chemicals.

Managing the Agricultural Runoffs

If households are near a farm, managing the runoffs will need more work. Farms and agriculture solutions are one of the biggest reasons why public water supply may get contaminated. Livestock and crop production normally generate large amounts of waste and runoff every day, increasing the risk of having it seep into the main water source in the area. Contamination comes in different forms depending on the cause, whether it’s from fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, animal fecal waste, hormones, or antibiotics. These pollutants should not reach the public water supply and if they do, then the poor management of the runoffs must be dealt with. Homeowners can talk with the farmers in charge to try and fix the issue or they can contact the local health department, county officials, water companies, or the department of agriculture. Consider waiting for them to send in an inspection specialist to come up with a new system for the local farms to manage the runoffs properly.

Regular Inspections

Even if your water is safe, there must be regular inspections to ensure the quality of the water source. The supply system must be inspected every 6 months or at least once a year to check if it meets the health requirements for proper drinking water. In addition, these tests should check for every type of pollutant, including nitrates, solid contaminants, bacteria, organic chemicals, and pH levels. Your region must have a water monitoring system to guarantee compliance with the standards of drinkable water. County health departments can send in a specialist to test it for you or you can contact a certified government lab that can check the quality of your supply.

Subscribing to a Water Delivery Service

Subscribing to a water delivery service can solve many problems regarding the condition of your water supply. Some regions can take months for the supply to get treated or they may not have a reliable source of drinkable water. To avoid the risk of infection, consider investing in a water dispenser, or subscribe to a water delivery service.

Wholesalers, water companies, or supermarkets can send a truck every few days to your home and deliver gallons at a time. This option is cheaper than buying water bottles every week, especially if you recycle. Subscriptions with recurring payment methods also lower the price significantly as well.

Helpful Tips

Homeowners can follow some helpful tips that can reduce water pollution in their area. Consider composting your solid food scraps in a compost pile instead of using a garbage disposal. Never flush powder medication, pills, liquid medicine, or chemicals down the toilet. Try to use the minimum amount of bleach and detergent for washing the dishes or clothes. You should also invest in some phosphate-free detergents and soaps to minimize contamination. If your house has a cellar drain or a sump pump, check where it drains the water because letting it drain into the sanitary sewer system will risk contaminating the main water source. Contact the local pollution control center for more information and advice on how to avoid any risks.

People shouldn’t underestimate the seriousness of contaminated water because it can cause a lot of health issues. Even though some of the contaminants may be harmless, regular consumption can lead to detrimental outcomes. Familiarizing yourself with different pollutants can help you fix the issue and purify your supply accordingly. Whether it’s a physical, biological, chemical, or radiological contaminant, figuring out the type will always save you time, effort, and money in purifying polluted water. Consider hiring a plumber or contact your county official to fix the problem for you.