Ensuring water quality is highly important for staying healthy and for maintaining the life of your plumbing systems and fixtures. It is important to identify water issues early on and take preventive actions to ensure a clear and pure supply of water.
Rotten Egg Smell
If the water coming out of your taps is starting to smell like rotten eggs, it could be due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide. This colorless gas is the byproduct of decaying organic matter, pollution from surface drainage, and insufficient chlorine being used to disinfect water. At high enough concentration, this gas could render your water unsafe for drinking and may also corrode Iron, steel, or copper parts of pumps, pipes, and fixtures, if left unchecked. Not only that, your dishes and clothes may start to develop black stains if you keep using this contaminated water. The best way to remove hydrogen sulfide from water is to chlorinate the contaminated water, followed by filtration through a sand filter. Activated carbon filtration may be used for less severe cases.
Contamination with sewage water
Human wastes from sewage and septic systems can sometimes mix in with the portable water supply due to a malfunctioning backflow preventer valve. Sewage water is a pothole of detrimental microbes, such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and E. coli. In rare cases, these microbes can lead to life-threatening waterborne diseases, such as typhoid and hepatitis. The more common illnesses caused by microbes include gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and kidney failure. If you notice water discoloration or an off-smell, have your water supplies tested for possible contamination. If it is not already present, install backflow devices at plumbing cross connections, and also check existing devices for any failure.
Hard Water
Hard water pertains to water that has an excess amount of minerals in it, for instance magnesium or calcium. Having hard water can be detrimental due to the fact that it can cause buildup in your pipes and reduce water pressure in your taps. The ions in hard water can also corrode metal pipes and water heating systems through galvanic corrosion. The presence of hard water can be detected by greasy, grimy rings in tubs and sinks. Hard water also leaves streaks on your laundry and gives them a rough feel. soap doesn’t lather in hard water as well. Hardwater leads to buildup of scale on plumbing fixtures, kitchen utensils, and appliances. The most effective way to address hard water is with a water softener. Through a process known as ion exchange, dissolved mineral ions are collected by tiny resin beads. As a home remedy, you can use non-precipitating water conditioners to soften water in your basins and tubs. Also always go for the latest manufacturing technology to give you the finest products.
Metallic Taste
If the water coming out of your taps has a characteristic metallic taste or odor, it indicates the presence of metals such as iron, copper, manganese or zinc. Iron and manganese are predominately found in groundwater and an overabundance of these minerals can give water a metallic taste. Not to mention, if you having an aging water distribution system, metals from brass fittings and copper pipes can leech into your water as the water makes it way to your taps. It is also common to see rust particles or brown sediment in standing water. Not to mention, presence of these metals leaves reddish-brown stains on sinks, toilets, tubs, dishwashers, and dishes. The only remedy to this issue is to install a whole house filtration system at the water’s entry point to your home, that filters out these metals and makes the water safe for consumption. A high-capacity water softener or manganese green sand filter works best for removing iron from portable water supply.
Cloudy Water
The presence of silt, sediment, small organisms or organic matter, suspended in the water, can lead to a cloudy or murky appearance in your portable water supply. Water can become turbid naturally or this can happen due to land disturbances such as construction, storms and urban runoff. Even if your water is only slightly cloudy, it is better to get it tested. If you want clear water that is devoid of excess solids, be sure to install a fiber or sand filter at home.
Presence of Chloride and Manganese
Manganese and chloride can dissolve in water from bedrock or from nearby disturbances such as mining activities, gas drilling brines, and road salt. If you notice a salty taste in your water or a greyish appearance of standing water, it could indicate the presence of either of these substances. A water softener or an oxidizing filter can be implemented to get rid of manganese from water, while chloride removal may require more challenging methods such as reverse osmosis or distillation systems.
