How to Ensure That Your Home Has Safe Drinking Water

An estimated 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.

You may think that the water that comes out of your faucet is safe to drink, but there’s a chance it could be contaminated with chemicals, microplastics, or pathogens.

To ensure your family has access to safe tap water, you should test your water and consider installing a water filter.

The Dangers of Consuming Unsafe Drinking Water

The health effects of drinking contaminated water may or may not present themselves immediately. Factors like a person’s overall health, age, and physical condition can also impact the effects of drinking dirty water.

Water can be tainted with lead, nitrates, arsenic, radon, herbicides, pesticides, parasites, petrochemicals, and more.

Short-term or long-term exposure to unclean tap water can lead to the following problems:

  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach cramping
  • Dehydration
  • Intestinal aches and pains

In the most severe cases, waterborne illnesses can be fatal. If you suspect you’ve fallen ill from unsafe water, promptly seek medical attention.

How to Test for Safe Drinking Water in Your Home

Finding out if the water coming from your sink is safe to drink can take some time and effort, but it’s worth doing so.

If you pay a water bill to a local water authority, you may receive a Consumer Confidence Report once a year. If you don’t, you can call your local water supplier to request a copy. Also, the government requires systems with 100,000 or more people must post safety reports online.

On the report, look for a summary that shows the presence of contaminants, the potential health risk, and what is being done to remedy the situation. If you’re unsure of what to do in the meantime, you can contact your water provider.

If you don’t have a water bill but instead access drinking water from a well, get your water tested. Do-it-yourself kits are readily available online and cost between $20 to $100 on average.

Once you know what’s in your water, you can take steps to protect your family.

How a Hard Water Filter Can Help

If you’re looking to purchase a water filter, you need to know if you have soft or hard water. Soft water is rainwater that’s free from dissolved minerals. It turns to hard water as it makes its way through rocks, rivers, and streams, picking up minerals.

More issues are associated with hard water than soft, so you’ll want to make sure you find the best hard water filter for your family’s needs.

Traditionally, water softeners are used in homes with hard water. However, there are filters on the market that work just as well, if not better.

There are numerous filters to choose from. The most advanced filters offer natural filtration by removing contaminants. Having a filter can also protect your appliances, pipes, and plumbing.

Learn More About Your Family’s Health

A hard water filter could significantly improve your home’s water quality and provide safe drinking water. That could lead to healthier, happier lives.

If you found this article useful, you may be interested in our other blogs. Check out our health and wellness and home improvement articles to learn more.

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