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Every consumer should take water quality seriously. There are many ways the quality of drinking water can be compromised. These include water contamination, aging water distribution systems, and the kind of plumbing used.
In public water treatment facilities, water treatment ensures water is safe for consumption. Unfortunately, they may contain contaminants that are hard to detect or treat. And these contaminants may also enter the water system after leaving the treatment plant through infrastructure gaps or old pipes. Meanwhile, private water sources or wells also need extra attention and precautions. The water that comes from these sources can come in contact with contaminants, making regular testing and etude hydrologique necessary.
Common Water Contaminants that Water Testing can Detect
A hydrogeological study can detect the following contaminants in drinking water:
- This groundwater contaminant can enter the water supply through natural earth deposits or from agricultural or industrial pollution. This element cannot be tasted or smelled in drinking water.
- Nitrate is a common groundwater contaminant. High concentrations of nitrate can be dangerous for babies under six months. Because of nitrate, the blood might find it hard to carry oxygen to different body organs.
- This contaminant is often present in older pipes and public water supplies. Treatment plants may ensure the water they provide is free of lead, but this water can encounter lead in service lines during transport.
- Iron. This contaminant makes drinking water unpleasant to the sight and taste. In fact, it can also stain clothes and toilets. Water testing can confirm the presence of iron and the kind of iron in your water. This allows you to pick the proper water treatment system to manage this issue.
- Hard water. When water dissolves rocks and minerals when it moves through the earth, it becomes hard. You will know you have hard water if you see spots on your glasses and silverware.
- Bacteria and viruses. When bacteria, protozoa, and viruses make their way into water supplies, they can cause different illnesses. Groundwater should be tested to ensure water is free of these contaminants.
When to Test Your Well Water
Tests for private well water should be carried at least once every year. But, it is important to test drinking water supplies from shallow wells and surface water sources more frequently because of their susceptibility to contamination. Drinking water must be tested at the tap and at the source to determine if the treatment system is doing its job effectively and efficiently.
