It’s a question that many of us have asked at one time or another – is it safe to drink kitchen tap water? The answer, as with most things in life, is “it depends.” In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the factors that play into whether or not your tap water is safe to drink. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make sure your water is as safe as possible.
Is it safe to drink kitchen tap water?
Tap water from your kitchen faucet is generally safe to drink and should not cause any issues for healthy individuals, as long as the local water supply meets federal and state standards. In the case of contamination in your area’s water supply, rest assured that suppliers are required by law to inform customers right away.
Pay close attention to any warnings your drinking water provider gives you regarding the safety of your tap water; don’t drink it until they give you the go-ahead.
Although some cities boast excellent tap water, others may have less desirable supplies that contain higher levels of contaminants. Fortunately, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets rigorous standards and regulations for all public water systems to abide by – so if your drinking supply is approved, you can be sure it meets stringent requirements.
Furthermore, should your provider detect any contamination in the source at any time they must notify you immediately. By following this process diligently we can ensure our drinking water remains safe and clean!
What If I Have A Well System?
Well, systems are commonplace in the United States, especially for those living in rural areas with no access to public water. Therefore, if your home operates on a private well, you must be certain that your tap water is safe to drink. Unlike public sources of water, there isn’t anyone responsible for supplying information about any possible contaminants present in your tap water – so it’s up to you!
To ensure the water you are consuming is safe, be sure to test your private well regularly.
What Happens If You Drink Unclean Water?
Although the majority of Americans have access to clean water, there are certain circumstances where it is not safe for consumption. Unsafe drinking water can lead to a range of illnesses such as Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery, and Guinea Worm. We must take steps toward ensuring everyone has access to clean and healthy sources of water to prevent these conditions from occurring.
In light of the dangerous effects these diseases can have on your health, it’s essential to drink water that is free from contamination. If you think the tap water in your home might be polluted, consume water from a safe source until you are certain it is permissible for consumption.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to the Dangers of Consuming Contaminated Tap Water?
If you are a part of a vulnerable group, drinking your tap water may bring about health concerns. To stay safe, consult with your physician before consuming it and decide what’s best for you. In the meantime, choose either filtered or bottled water to drink – both provide superior safety compared to untreated tap water.
These groups include:
- Pregnant women
- Very young children
- Elderly folks
- People with chronic illnesses
- People with weakened immune systems
What Kind Of Contaminants Are In Tap Water?
Tap water may contain some trace minerals, impurities, and contaminants; however, these amounts should remain low. Ideally speaking, tap water would be completely devoid of any pollutants or environmental hazards – but that is not always the case. While it isn’t perfect in its entirety, with careful monitoring you can ensure your drinking water remains safe for consumption!
Fluoride
In the USA, tap water is enriched with fluoride to keep your teeth healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that by drinking fluorinated water you can fortify your pearly whites against cavities – a reduction of up to 35%!
Minerals
It’s no surprise that water is often teeming with minerals, many of which are essential for a healthy lifestyle. Tap water can contain multiple natural and man-made minerals, including:
- Potassium
- Copper
- Calcium
- Sodium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Phosphorous
- Zinc
Every water supply is unique, comprising a mixture of minerals in different ratios. Harder waters are abundant with magnesium and calcium which leave behind chalky residues upon evaporation. Furthermore, the mineral content influences its taste as well – for example, if iron levels are elevated it may give your tap water a metallic flavor.
Chlorine And Chloramine
To protect us from harmful germs and pathogens, water providers introduce small quantities of disinfectants such as chlorine or chloramine into our current tap water. However, the amounts used are so minute that they have not been discovered to cause any negative health effects on humans.
The CDC has announced that chlorine levels of up to 4 parts per million are permissible for safe human consumption. Though higher concentrations could be potentially hazardous, these disinfectants can remain secure and harmless if the content remains under this threshold.
Other Contaminants
Although tap water may contain trace amounts of contaminants, these levels are usually considered harmless to humans and are not likely to cause any health complications. Nonetheless, we need to be aware of the potential risks when ingesting tap water to stay safe and healthy.
Not only are soil, sediment, and arsenic found in tap water, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than ninety contaminants can be present as well. In particular, if there are more than 10 parts per billion of arsenic detected by testing – it exceeds the EPA’s limit and isn’t fit for human consumption. As such, we all must familiarize ourselves with their specific limits and guidelines so that our loved ones are protected from these dangerous pollutants lurking beneath the surface.
What is the best way to determine whether my tap water is safe to drink?
If you are in doubt about the safety of your tap water, have it tested. Testing is especially recommended if you live in a small area or use well water at home. If less than 100,000 households inhabit your locality, then it would be prudent to get a test done for peace of mind!
If your abode was constructed before 1986, it’s a good idea to check the quality of your tap water – even if you receive routine tests from your provider. This is because older dwellings might still have lead pipes that could taint their supply with hazardous levels of lead in comparison to adjacent newly-built homes. Therefore, although the assessments offered by providers may suggest cleanliness, there’s an excellent chance that your home’s plumbing system could be affecting its purity negatively.
If you want to ensure the most accurate results, then obtaining a tap water testing kit online or bringing samples of your water to a local testing facility for review is essential. Even better – reach out to your applicable water supplier and request they provide one! Once that’s done, opt for certified lab analysis as it will give you the most precise outcome. It may take some time until all processes are complete though, but rest assured that these results are highly reliable.
What Unpleasant Pollutants Could Be Lurking In My Tap Water?
Not to mention, tap water harbors a wide range of other hazards that can harm your health. These include bacteria and parasites such as Cryptosporidium, E. Coli, and Giardia which can be introduced by sewage leaks into the drinking supply if it isn’t properly treated. To avoid consuming these impurities in your regular household tap water, make sure you take preventive measures or use an alternative source for safe consumption!
If your tap water contains harmful microorganisms, the local health authority will likely ask you to boil the water to destroy them. Furthermore, chemicals and hazardous metals like uranium, cesium, and plutonium may be present as well. While some of these compounds are naturally occurring in nature, others are man-made pollutants that can have a detrimental impact on human health – potentially even increasing one’s risk of developing cancer! Hence why it is so important to remain vigilant when consuming tap water.
It’s important to be mindful of your water supply since it can contain hazardous heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead. These toxic elements may enter the drinking source through plumbing or natural minerals. High levels of toxins in the body could result in kidney harm, anemia, cancers, and intestinal damage; so if you are supplied by a public provider, they must notify you immediately when these contaminants appear. In contrast to this requirement for public suppliers though that testing responsibility falls on private good users’ shoulders.
Is there a way to improve the quality of my tap water?
Looking for a more economical solution to access clean water than buying bottled drinking water? A great option is to remove contaminants from your home’s tap water and make it perfectly safe to drink.
If you’re looking for a water filtration system, there’s no shortage of options. You can choose between whole home and single sink designs to find something that suits your needs perfectly. Reverse osmosis systems are particularly effective at removing contaminants, but they may be costly and take up lots of space; so make sure it fits the size and budget of your household before investing in one!
Investing in a carbon filter can be beneficial as it improves the flavor of your water. However, keep in mind that this won’t remove all lead from your H2O; so if you’re seeking to eliminate lead, then this might not be the best solution for you.
If you are in search of a reliable water filter, seek out products that meet and exceed the industry standards set by NSF International or ANSI. Alternatively, look for devices with certifications from CSA Group, UL, WQA, or NSF International to ensure quality and safety. If you are unsure about which filter is best suited for your home needs, get advice from an experienced local water expert or contact your current water supplier today!
