Since it is the life-blood of the home, it is important to ensure the water coming out of the taps is top-quality. Not only are there the obvious health detriments associated with dirty water, but, aside from drinking water, you want to have relatively clean and clear water feeding into appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.
Most urban dwellers think they have little to fear of outside sources of water contamination because most cities have elaborate and advanced water filtration facilities. However, the quality of a water source may change over time, and sometimes suddenly all at once due to some new contaminant that has been introduced into the system. Many changes can go undetected and the water may look, smell and taste the same as it always had. Moreover, harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses are invisible to the human eye, so water that looks and tastes clean may not necessarily be safe to drink. Harmful micro organisms can exist in all types of water supplies, including city reservoirs. These types of contaminants can cause immediate health effects if not properly treated for.
In cities, frequent water quality tests can ensure that the treatment system in the city is functioning effectively and providing the home with the best quality water possible. Some water quality problems, however, are obvious and easily observed. For example, high concentrations of iron and manganese will cause ugly stains on pots, pans, dishes and clothes that have been washed in the contaminated water. Also, cloudy or frothy water calls for immediate treatment measures. These types of mineral contamination can be from a pollutant at the water source itself, or it could be the result of faulty materials somewhere along the plumbing system. Particularly in older urban homes, lead pipes or decaying joints and connections could all be sources of mineral contaminants.
Proper sampling, testing and interpretation of the test results are needed to accurately determine the quality of the water supply and find any problems before someone gets sick. If you do not monitor your water quality by having it tested at an accredited laboratory, you cannot tell whether your drinking water is safe or not. In addition, just because nobody has gotten sick does not mean that the water is definitely safe. Some chemical contaminants commonly found in an unclean water supply will cause long term health problems. These health problems may take years to develop and this demonstrates the importance of testing effectiveness of the treatment system in your area. There are store bought do it yourself tests available, as well as inspection companies that will usually offer different water quality testing packages that are aimed to assess water quality and cleanliness, as well as the presence of any harmful bacteria.
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