Water is part of an everyday life, for drinking , showering, cooking, and more. Most people usually don’t put much thought into drinking tap water besides drinking it because it is water. Unfortunately tap water is not as trustworthy as it may come across.
Most tap water comes from local public water systems. There are over 148,000 public water systems in America, some serving water to as few as 25 people and others millions of people. The same water that comes out of your shower is also from your kitchen sink.
Over 15 million houses in America have well waters. If you have your own private well, it is your responsibility for the water quality. It often needs softening and filtering. Well water should be tested at least once a year.
Outdated infrastructure like old pipes can leach lead and other materials in the water. This is more often a problem in older cities.
Test well water for specific types of bacteria, nitrates, germs and chemicals that are in your area, dissolved solids and pH. Test for total coliforms. If the total coliform count is high in your water there could be harmful germs like certain viruses, bacteria and possible parasites in the water.
Make sure there are no leaks in pipes in your house. Old plumbing can lead to contaminants like lead, pesticides, and natural disasters like floods can raise levels of pollution in public water systems.
Most public water systems collect water from rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Water treatment is completed by removing any dangerous substances that may have negative health effects on people. That process is done by adding disinfectants such as chlorine and chemicals like fluoride to the water.
Chlorine is used for disinfecting properties in water treatment but can give an unpleasant taste or smell. It is a toxic and can cause irritation so it should not be mixed with other household chemicals and handled well.
Public water supplies are often littered with dangerous substances that are called contaminants. Contaminants are the different chemicals that make their way into water supply and can be harmful.
When the environment comes into play with water, it is better to drink tap water than bottled. Tap water costs five cents and an average water bottle cost two dollars. Tap water is environmentally friendly.
