Often, people assume the public water they consume is safe to drink. Though we wish this was the case, it’s not usually true.
Take, for instance, the pipes that carry your city’s water. Over time, these pipes can corrode. When that happens, toxins are able to sneak into the water that comes into your home.
In 2014, about 10,000 Michigan residents had poisoned water due to this exact situation.
Scary to think about? Absolutely! That’s why EcoWater of Central Florida believes water education is so important, to help protect the families in our Plant City area.
The most effective way to determine if your water is safe to drink (or use at home) is by having a professional test your water! Here are some clear signs you can look for yourself, while you’re at home:
1 – Discoloration or cloudiness in the water
Safe drinking water should be clear and should not have an odor or a weird taste either.
2 – Dry skin after hand washing
Do you ever feel like your hands are dry after you wash them – like you need to put lotion on right away? Or do you find yourself dumping more laundry detergent into the washer to get your clothes cleaned? This can be caused by hard water, which is a buildup of different kinds of deposits (such as calcium and magnesium).
This issue is usually what causes the hard water stains you might find on your dishes or the deposits found on the faucet and/or sink.
3 – Water with a yellow, brown, or orange tint or tinge
If your water is yellow, there’s a chance your water could have one or more of the following:
- Chromium-6
- Manganese
- Lead
- Copper
- Iron
It could also be a sign that the pipes are being cleared out, which is why a professional test is more beneficial (we offer these for FREE by the way! Click here for more information.)
Orange or brown colored water could be a sign your water has an excessive amount of the following:
- Iron
- Manganese
- Lead
- Rust
4 – Water that looks slightly blue or green
Elevated copper levels are usually indicated by water that is blue or green. This happens when the pipes are corroded and can be damaging to your health.
5 – Bleach or chlorine smell
Your water contains chlorine, because it’s used to kill the germs and bacteria in the water you drink. Too much or not enough chlorine added to the water could have harmful repercussions physically, ranging from diarrhea and cramps to increased cancer risk and more.
6 – Water that smells like rotten eggs or sewage
No one likes to drink water that smells like this. It’s typically a sign of the presence of hydrogen sulfide. If you’ve ever consumed water that smells like this, beware of dehydration and possible diarrhea, which can happen if the gas turns into sulfate.
7 – Fishy water smell
If you live near a lake full of fish, it’s probably just the fish. However, a fishy water smell can also be a symptom of barium or cadmium chemicals, which can create all kinds of damage to your body, including (but not limited to) your kidneys and liver.
8 – Metallic taste
Ever feel like you’re drinking a penny? You might have rusty pipes, which can be signaled by the metallic taste. That taste could be metal like iron, copper, lead, manganese, or zinc. Sometimes the taste is salty, but take it as a sign that your water may need to be tested.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, a whole home filtration system might be the best thing for your home. Give us a call today at (813) 491-9518 and schedule your free water test to find out what’s in your water!
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