Water Quality Concerns

It seems that every day we read a story in the newspaper about contaminated water supplies and the health dangers they pose. We have also heard the importance of drinking water every day. It helps to keep your body healthy. But if the water you are drinking to stay healthy is contaminated, what can you do?

First think about the types of water issues you might have in your home. If your home was built before 1986, it may contain lead pipes. Or the pipes may not be lead themselves but maybe soldered together with lead solder. Lead pipes pose a very difficult situation. You might want to call your local water utility to ask for their guidance in dealing with a situation like this.

Next, there is a tremendous amount of controversy regarding fluoride. Many experts believe the fluoride is important for healthy teeth. They advocate and adding fluoride to city water supplies. Others argue that too much fluoride can cause damage to our bodies. They suggest that we should not add fluoride to our drinking supply.

Copper it is another concern in our water system. Many homes have copper pipes and sometimes the chemicals the water company uses to address problems can cause the copper to leech into the water. Some health experts believe that even low concentrations of copper can cause illness.

Nitrates are becoming increasingly concentrated in our water supplies. Runoff from animal farms or fertilizer can dramatically increase nitrate levels in drinking water. Nitrates may pose a special health risk to women and children.

Some the public water systems have issues with viruses and bacteria. These pests grow in the dark and wet water system. They can cause stomach problems and make people sick. Those people who already have health issues may be especially vulnerable. There have been many widely publicized stories about people getting sick in brand new buildings because the water systems were not properly disinfected after the construction process. There also been stories about public water systems becoming infected and people getting sick.

All of these risks are real. Some may have little impact, while others could have serious effects - especially over the long term of drinking water for years and years. What can you do to protect yourself and your family?

First, contact your local water utility and request their water quality report. Most water companies keep a close eye on their water system and produce a formal report every year or so describing the quality of the water as well as projects they are running to improve the overall system.

Next, you might want to consider a home water purification system. This is especially important for the water you drink and for the water used to cook. This can be as simple as a pitcher you buy at a local discount store that has a built in filter. If you are purchasing a new refrigerator, look for one that has a built in water filter so that you know the drinking water in the ice or purified.