Staying hydrated is vital for our health. We need to drink as much water as the body needs. However, this does not mean we can drink any water. Unfortunately, there are many parts of the world where tap water is might not be safe to drink. It can actually be very dangerous.
The big problem is that we naturally assume tap water is safe to drink. We do not contact companies like Fix It Right Plumbers Queanbeyan to check the water quality but this should actually be something to do. Contact your plumber whenever you doubt the quality of the tap water. But how do you tell if tap water is not safe? Here are some signs to remember. Also, always use your instinct. If you believe your tap water is not safe to drink, do not drink it.
Signs Your Tap Water Might Not Be Safe To Drink
Check How Cloudy The Water Is
Safe water has no funny taste, no odor and is clear. When you see cloudiness or turbidity, it is a sign that water might be contaminated. This is not necessarily dangerous for your health but it might mean there are some chemicals or pathogens present.
Check Your Hands After You Wash Them
The presence of hard water is another sign that the tap water supply was contaminated. Usually, hard water is characterized by buildups of different substances, like magnesium or calcium. If you see deposits left on your drinking glass, faucet or sink, it is a clear sign water is hard. It can also be why hands feel slimy after you wash them with the use of your regular soap and water. Alternatively, you might notice that you need to use a lot more laundry detergent than in the past to clean clothes.
When hard water is present, it does not necessarily mean contamination is present. However, it is possibly an indicator that metals like lead, manganese, and aluminum are present.
Water That Is Brown, Orange Or Yellow
When your water is yellow, it is possible that there is chromium-6 in it, which is a cancer-causing chemical. It can also mean that there is a buildup of lead, copper, manganese or iron. When the water is offered by the public system, look at when the yellow tint appears. If it is only present when you run cold water, the utility used might simply clear its pipes.
When you see that the water is brown or orange, it usually means an excess of lead, manganese or iron. There is a big possibility that rust is present somewhere.
Bleach Smell
If your water smells like bleach, it is possible that excess chlorine is present. This is deliberately added to tap water supplies in order to kill pathogens and germs. However, when mixed with other organic compounds, it is possible that dangerous byproducts appear.
The most common example of a harmful byproduct is THMs (trihalomethanes), which includes different chemicals and was connected with increased cancer risk and kidney problems. Another byproduct is HAA (haloacetic acid), which also increases the risk of having cancer and causes skin irritation.
I normally don’t drink tap but bottled water and during the lockdown, we are boiling water to drink. An interesting and well-researched post on the various water colors that can have health hazards. Something I never thought while washing hands and will check the colors. Thanks, Corinne for writing about it.
Yes, that’s something we don’t really realize.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Stop Being Obsessed with Making the Right Decision
I normally use bottled water but during lockdown, the scarcity of bottled water had driven me into boiling water. It is hard water. It does leave white deposits, but I had no option. Since then I’ve decided to invest in a water purifier. Drinking water is very important indeed.
Glad you’ve invested in a water purifier. We really don’t have many choices in India.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Stop Competing And Set Yourself Free