Tips to Check Whether You are Drinking Safe Water

Water Contaminants

In the United States, there are over 150, 000 public water systems and more than 286 million people get their tap water from a community system. Here we’ve listed a few common water contaminants that could affect your health.

• Giardia
• Legionella
• Norovirus
• Shigella
• Campylobacter
• Copper
• Salmonella
• Hepatitis A
• Cryptospordium
• Coli / Excess Flouride

Where Your Water Comes From?

In most places, water is provided by a local water system and you can contact your water provider to know where your water comes from. Water typically comes from a surface source like a river, lake, or reservoir, or from groundwater through an aquifer. Natural contaminants in water are unavoidable and occur from the environment. The common reasons for natural contaminants in water are,

• Farming
• Manufacturing
• Sewer system malfunction and more

How It Is Tested?

According to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the right to establish safety levels for contaminants in public water supplies. The CDC and EPA require your local water agency to regularly test water for safety. Depending on the size of the population using the system, the frequency and type of testing varies. You can also purchase a home test kit, if you are more concerned about the safety of drinking water. The color, odor, and taste of the water are the signs that your water may be unsafe to drink.

Tips to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water

Lead exposure in drinking water can be minimized by the following methods.

• Install faucets and pitcher filters that remove lead from drinking water.
• Clean your faucet’s screen where minerals can build up.
• Run your tap before drinking for 15 to 30 seconds especially if it hasn’t been used for more than six hours.
• Use a home testing kit to measure the lead exposure in water.

If you doubt lead exposure in drinking water, consider replacing fixtures and pipes that can cause lead contamination. Contact local plumbers in San Fernando Valley CA to help you with pipe replacement and re-piping.