Although drinking water in the United States is generally safe, water supplies can become contaminated and harm people’s health. If your water has an unusual taste, smell, or color, Tri-County Water Services can test your drinking water, identify the source of the problem, and figure out the best way to address it.
How Drinking Water Can Become Contaminated
There are several ways that unsafe substances can contaminate water supplies. Sometimes contamination is the result of a single event, while in other cases, it occurs gradually over time.
A septic tank or sewage treatment system can leak or malfunction and release waste into a river, lake, or other body of water that provides drinking water for the local community. Drinking water can get contaminated by fertilizer, chemicals from a manufacturing facility, or another type of hazardous substance. It’s also possible for water to get contaminated with sediment, bacteria, parasites, or viruses. In some cases, high concentrations of certain minerals are the source of an unusual color, odor, or taste.
How Contaminated Water Can Affect Your Family’s Health
The effects of contamination can vary depending on the type of substance, its concentration, and the age and overall health of people who consume the water. Gastrointestinal problems, neurological damage, and other serious health issues can occur. Infants, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are most likely to suffer ill effects.
What to Do If You Suspect That Your Drinking Water Is Contaminated
If something doesn’t seem right with the water coming out of your faucet, don’t take any chances. There are a lot of things that can be causing your water to look, smell, or taste funny, and the only way to figure out what’s to blame is to test your drinking water.
Tri-County Water Services can collect a sample and send it to a laboratory to be analyzed. Once we have determined what’s affecting your water supply, we can recommend the best way to handle it. Our team can install a filtration system and perform regular maintenance to make sure that your family will always have access to safe drinking water. Contact us today at (610) 857-1740 to learn more.
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