Water Quality Problems

Water quality problems can be an important health issue, and anyone who is buying a home or is worried about the quality of the water in their home should have water testing done to make sure there are no harmful components in the water. Water quality problems can be present in many different forms, including bacteria and other organisms, excess minerals and salts, and others. Hard water is water that contains a high amount of dissolved minerals like magnesium and calcium, and this water problem is not dangerous to your health but can be very unpleasant, and cause hard water stains and prevent soaps and detergents from being as effective. This type of water may even feel hard and abrasive against your skin. Hard water can also decrease the amount and pressure of water that moves through the pipes, because the minerals can cause a build up of the water pipes.

Water quality problems can also be caused by bacteria and other organisms, and some of these organisms may cause serious health problems that can even be fatal. Things like intestinal illnesses, diarrhea, hepatitis, cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and many other serious diseases and symptoms. The water quality can be affected by things like the inclusion of animal and human wastes, insect or rodent infestations, and by flooding and standing water that seeps into the water supply. Water testing can be a great way to determine whether the drinking water in your home is safe for you and your family or not. Contaminated water is not usually noticeable, and there is no smell, taste, or visual indication that the water is unsafe. In fact, water that smells is normally not unsafe simply because of the smell, because this is caused by minerals and other components that have dissolved. The only way to determine the water quality is to have a water sample thoroughly tested for any foreign or pathogenic substances and organisms. If your are hooked up to the public water supply, such as city water, there is a requirement by the EPA that this water is tested and that it must be safe to drink with no bacteria or other organisms or contamination. Private wells and other water sources do not have this requirement though, and these should be tested regularly, at least once a year, to prevent health problems. Many mortgage companies will not approve a home loan until the water quality is tested and verified.

Bacteria can be a major concern when it comes to water quality, and there are numerous bacteria species that can invade the water supply and then multiply. One bacteria, called Coliform, usually does not cause diseases in humans, but if this bacteria is present then it can indicate other organisms are also present that do cause illnesses and diseases in people. There are two standards set by the EPA for drinking water, primary standards and secondary standards. The primary standards for water quality include all health considerations, and there are three toxic pollutant classes used. These are toxic chemicals, pathogens, and radioactive elements. Bacteria is considered a pathogen, and the acceptable level for coliform bacteria is zero per one hundred milliliters of water, which means no amount is acceptable. If your water source is contaminated with bacteria, use an alternative source of water until the water quality is acceptable again.

Water quality testing would be impractical and prohibitively expensive if every single pathogen was tested for, and this is why the EPA has a standard for total coliform bacteria levels, and this determines the safety of the drinking water and the water quality relating to bacterial contamination. Water testing can also check for other organisms that are not bacterial in nature, such as protozoa like Cryptosporidium, which can result in an infection from this parasite called cryptosporidiosis. There are different species of this protozoa, and they can exist in both a dormant and active state. These organisms infect the intestines of many animals and humans, and can cause diarrhea and other intestinal problems. These infections are mainly caused by drinking water that has either stage of protozoa in it, but can also be transmitted from one person to another, by touching infected animals, and from eating infected food. Water quality testing can determine if your drinking water is infected with these organisms.

Water quality problems can be caused by corrosion in the water, and testing will usually reveal the level of corrosiveness that the water contains. Corrosion occurs because of complex reactions between metal materials and surfaces and the water itself when the water is stored or transported. The biggest concern with water corrosion and water quality level is that toxic metals can be dissolved into the water, like lead and copper. These can cause serious health problems if there are high levels in the water, and testing for the pH level and a high content of dissolves metals will determine how corrosive your drinking water really is.

Water quality testing is an important step in ensuring that you and your family are drinking safe water, and are not exposed to the many things that can contaminate the drinking water and make you sick or harm your health. Water quality testing is not difficult, and can be done by a government agency or a private water quality testing company or facility. Contact the agency or laboratory that you have decided on and obtain the necessary testing kit. This kit will usually contain a sterile bottle to use for the water sample, and no other container should be used instead because of the chance for bacterial contamination of the container before the water sample is added. Follow the enclosed instructions on how to collect the water sample, and then send the sample to the water quality testing facility immediately, to prevent any delays. The water quality sample only has forty eight hours from the time it is taken to be tested, or else the test results may not be accurate. The results of the water testing will be sent to you as soon as possible, so you are aware of any water quality problems.

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