| | Water is one of our most basic needs. We use water to clean our clothes, grow our food and to produce electricity. We swim in water, shower in water, and give our children water to drink. Because water plays such a vital role in our lives, it is important to ensure the water coming into our homes is clean and safe. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. has one of the  safest water supplies in the world. National statistics, however, do not cover everything you need to know. We get our water from many different places, and the quality of our water varies depending on the source of the water and the treatment the water receives.
Where does our water come from?
The water we use every day to cook with and clean with and the water we drink can come from many different places. The two main sources of drinking water are surface water and ground water. Surface water sources include lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Ground water is pumped from wells. When considering where your drinking water comes from it is important to remember not just the river, or lake where the water originates, but the entire watershed. The watershed is the area that drains into a river or lake. Wells get their water from aquifers, natural reservoirs under the earth’s surface.
What is in our drinking water?
All water naturally contains impurities. Water absorbs the substances it touches as it flows through rivers and sits in lakes. Many of the substances water absorbs are harmless. However, once some minerals reach certain levels, they become harmful. It is, therefore, important to be aware of contaminants that may affect our water quality. The EPA lists six types of possible contaminants: microorganisms, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, radionuclides, disinfectants, and disinfection byproducts. Some of these contaminants cause illness and some contaminants indicate that there are harmful bacteria present in the water. Some contaminants are not dangerous, but affect the taste or appearance of the water.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure about your drinking water? Have it checked by the
best Click here Olympian Water Testing Inspection and Laboratory Analysis
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where do contaminants come from?
Some contaminants come from human and animal fecal waste; others come from minerals naturally found in the soil. The contaminants that affect our water quality come from many other places. Some harmful chemicals get into the water because of corrosion of pipes. Others make their way into the water through discharge from metal refineries and oil refineries. Some contaminants come from chemicals used in agriculture. Some of the contaminants that affect water quality are deliberately put into the water to treat other contaminants.
What are the health effects of these contaminants?
At very low levels, some of the minerals found in water are harmless. At higher levels however, they become dangerous. Microorganism contaminants such as cryptosporidium and giardia lamblia can cause gastrointestinal illness resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps. Inorganic chemicals such as antimony and barium can increase blood pressure and other inorganic chemicals can cause kidney damage, nerve damage, or thyroid problems. Organic chemicals can cause liver problems, reproductive difficulties, and increase the risk of cancer. Radionuclides also increase the risk of cancer. Even some of the chemicals we put in our water to get rid of harmful contaminants can have health risks. Disinfectants such as chlorine can cause eye, nose, and skin irritation, as well as stomach discomfort.
How is our water treated?
There are many different processes used to improve our water quality and to make sure that the water we drink every day is safe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists five ways water can be treated: flocculation/sedimentation, filtration, ion exchange, absorption, and disinfection (chlorination/ozonation). These treatments are sometimes used together to ensure high water quality.
Flocculation/Sedimentation
Flocculation is sometimes called coagulation. Alum and iron salts or synthetic organic polymers are added to form sticky particles called “floc”. The “floc” sticks to the dirt and the small particles combine into larger particles. These larger particles are now heavy enough to sink to the bottom during sedimentation.
Filtration
During filtration water passes through filters made of sand, gravel, and charcoal. This helps to remove smaller particles that may not have sunk to the bottom during sedimentation.
Ion Exchange
Ion exchange is used to remove inorganic contaminants that are not removed through sedimentation and filtration. Ion exchange is also used to treat hard water and to remove arsenic, chromium, excess fluoride, nitrates, radium, and uranium.
Absorption
Absorption is used to get rid of organic contaminants. Compounds that cause strange color, odor and taste stick to the surface of granular or powder activated carbon.
Disinfection
Disinfection is one of the most common water treatments. Water suppliers add chlorine or other disinfectants to kill bacteria and other dangerous germs. Chlorine is used most often because it is effective in the treatment plant as well as in the pipes that distribute the water to homes and businesses.
How can we make sure our water is safe?
If your water comes from a public water system it will be tested for contaminants and regulated by federal and state laws. If your water supply is private, you will be responsible for making sure it is safe.
One way to make sure your water is safe is to test your water for contaminants. There are many possible contaminants so you probably do not want to test for all of them. If you have a private water supply it is wise to test regularly for the most common contaminants. Another way to make sure your water is safe is to get involved in protecting your water quality. Individuals can help clean up the watershed area, get involved in their communities land decisions, dispose properly of household chemicals, and conserve water on their own.
We use water every single day. Water helps us power our appliances, heat our homes, clean our clothes and feed our families. Our water in the United States is very safe, but it is important for us to do our part to make sure that our water quality is protected. Back To The
Home Remodeling, Home Improvement, Home Inspection article library Back To Water Quality Articles Water Testing Services Home and Building Inspection Services 
| |
Mold Test Kits - Order the Olympian FREE professional black mold test kits