Home is where the heart is. Once you move into a new house, you think about upgrading the kitchen because you don’t like the layout, or painting the living room a bright and refreshing color.
Most people don’t think about the water supply or how dangerous it could be if the water is bad.
The only time most people would notice if the water is bad is if it changes to an off color and it isn’t clear anymore. There are so many health consequences of drinking, bathing, or just washing your dishes in bad water while you are at home.
THESE HEALTH HAZARDS ARE OUTLINED BELOW:
First of all, what could be possibly in your water at home that could make you sick? There are multiple contaminants to be concerned about actually: bacteria, total coliforms, E. coli, nitrates, as well as herbicides and pesticides.
- If the water at your home tests positive for bacteria it is not safe to drink until the issue is fixed and the well is disinfected. If your water has no bacteria measured, it still may not be safe to drink. Total coliform bacteria, if present, indicate that disease-causing organisms (such as bacteria, viruses, parasites) could potentially be present in your water supply.
- If E. coli is found in your water supply, this indicates that human sewage or animal feces are contaminating your water supply. Nitrates are most commonly found in rural areas where farming is present; it is most damaging to infants to be contaminated by this.
- Lastly, herbicides and pesticides can be present in your water supply from agricultural reasons or general household use.
Most homeowners think that if their water is clear and quenches thirst that the supply is just fine.
You could not be more wrong. In fact, most of the time when your water is contaminated it is clear, tasteless and odorless. If you do notice a small change in the water, it could be a cause for concern.
So what are the health consequences if you, your family and friends drink water that is contaminated? There are plenty.
The health effects can range anywhere from nothing to mild stomach pain to even death. The side effects could not even be brought on for years, take immediate effect, or they could not be noticed at all.
Some illnesses that are caused by contaminated water include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Others illnesses include skin rashes, cancer (such as leukemia), reproduction issues (such as infertility), and developmental issues can occur if someone is exposed to the contaminated water for an extended period of time.
The true life story turned into a movie, about the effects of a bad drinking water supply is the Oscar Winning film “Erin Brockovich” where Erin’s investigation uncovered that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG & E) had been poisoning the small town of Hinkley’s Water supply for over 30 years. PG & E had been found for leaking toxic Chromium 6 into the ground water. This poison affected the health of the entire population of Hinkley, California.
Members of this community suffered from cancer, birth defects, and other such medical issues. In 1996, as a result of the largest direct action lawsuit of its kind, spearheaded by Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry, PG & E was forced to pay out the largest toxic tort injury settlement in US history: $333 million in damages to more than 600 Hinkley residents.
There are lots of factors as to how hard the effects of drinking contaminated water will affect your overall health.
How old someone is, the contamination level, overall health of a person, the type of contaminant, and how long the person has been drinking the contaminated water for.
If you suspect that your water is contaminated who is responsible for fixing it? If the well your water comes from is privately owned, you are responsible for taking care of the issue on your own.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that protect public drinking water systems are not responsible for the maintenance of private wells. It is recommended that owners of private wells should check every year for mechanical problems, cleanliness, and the presence of coliform bacteria, nitrates, and any other contaminants of local concern.
A local health department or water well systems professional can help ensure delivery of high-quality water from an existing well or if needed, help locate and construct a new well in a safer area.
If you are concerned about the safety of the water in your home after reading this article, there is no harm in checking if your water is safe.
To do so, you can contact your local health department. If they cannot assist you, you can contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 for a state certified laboratory to find out the next steps in your area.
Ozone Pure Water filtering systems can provide you with cleaner and healthier drinking water in your home, building or office.
At Ozone Pure Water, we are offering our customers an extensive inventory of filtration systems that are ready for immediate delivery to our clients.
To find the most efficient methods of water filtration for you, Ozone Pure Water is constantly investing in research and development. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-633-8469 today!