Are you wondering, “is my tank water safe to drink?” We’re here to help you learn about the contaminants that can be found in your drinking water and take a look at what filtration systems are available for cleaning up your tank water.
A wide variety of contaminants can end up in your home’s plumbing system over time. Some of these come from the water supplied by public utilities, while others come from your household chemicals or even the pipes themselves. While a certain amount of these contaminants will always be present in any home’s tank water, some are more harmful than others, and some can even prove fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.
Before we get started about what should be done to purify your tank water, let’s take a look at some of the contaminants that can be found in your household water supply.
Pesticides: Some pesticides and herbicides have been linked to significant health problems, including birth defects and cancer. As if this weren’t enough reason to keep them from contaminating your drinking water, many pesticides are also highly toxic when consumed by humans. Chlorine: Chlorine is one of the most commonly used chemicals for disinfecting drinking water and works to remove harmful bacteria from your tank water. Unfortunately, chlorine reacts with organic contaminants in your system (such as decaying leaves or vegetation), forming new compounds known as trihalomethanes (THMs). These THM’s are linked to cancer and other serious health problems.
Lead: Everyone knows that lead is poisonous but did you know that it can also cause brain damage? Lead in household drinking water is primarily a concern for city dwellers, as the pipes leading into your home are often made of metal. It’s not uncommon for these pipes to corrode over time, releasing lead into the water supply.
The pH Level: The pH level of your water supply is extremely important, as it can affect how well you can absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. If the pH level of your drinking water is too low (acidic), it can cause severe health problems ranging from bad breath and nausea to kidney stones and cancer.
The answer to the question, “is my tank water safe to drink?” is usually no. Many of these contaminants are extremely harmful when consumed, and several pose serious health risks even in very small quantities. Luckily, there are many effective filtration systems available to cleanse your household water supply.