Drinking Water Quality: What You Need to Know
Water is one of the essential parts of our lives. It’s safe to say that we wouldn’t be able to live without it. Yet, many people don’t know how important water quality is for their health and are unaware of what they drink daily. In this blog post, I will be discussing drinking water quality in detail so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next bottle. To know more, visit www.e-architect.com.
Is Tap Water Safe?
The answer to this question is “yes” in most parts of the United States. Municipal water treatment plants provide Americans with treated drinking water safe for human consumption. Chlorine and fluoride are added during processing, while natural minerals like calcium remain in your tap after it’s filtered through sand or charcoal filters. The EPA provides over 90 contaminants it deems as “regulated” and states the maximum limits for each contaminant in your drinking water. However, not all of these contaminants are harmful to human health. For example, nitrogen is a primary nutrient used by plants and algae that may end up in tap water at low concentrations (EPA).
What Contaminants Are in Water?
Nitrates and nitrites are chemical compounds that can be harmful to human health. They occur naturally in water due to nitrogen-containing chemicals from agriculture, industry, or sewer systems (EPA). Nitrite is used as an additive for curing meat and fish to prevent botulism poisoning and has been linked with stomach cancer if consumed at high enough concentrations (EPA). Lead is another chemical found in tap water if the pipes are made of lead. It’s not harmful to adults, but it can cause dangerous health risks for pregnant women and children since it damages brain development at young ages. The best way to reduce exposure is through filters with activated carbon or reverse osmosis (EPA).
Benefits of Using Water Filters
Water filters are used to improve the quality of your tap water by reducing contaminants. Using a filter also reduces lead, mercury, chlorine taste and odor, sediment, agricultural chemicals like nitrates or pesticides (NSF). There are many different filters on the market depending on what you need for your home, including carbon filters with KDF/GAC (granulated activated carbon), reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light. If you are unsure which filter is best for your needs, consult a water specialist to help you make the right decision. Filters can be installed under your sink or on the countertop and should be replaced every six months to one year, depending on use.
You need to be concerned with the quality of your water. If you are not sure how clean it is, there are ways to measure its purity and report any issues. These tests can give you peace of mind knowing what could happen if bacteria or other contaminants are introduced into your home’s supply. We recommend regular testing to make sure everything is safe for consumption. What else should we keep in mind when considering our drinking water?…