One of the most common questions we're asked as water treatment professionals is, "Is my water safe to drink?" The answer usually depends on your definition of 'safe' and the specific situations regarding your environment and location.
If you are asking if the water is potable, meaning it meets all Federal standards for drinking water in the United States, then yes, it probably is safe to drink. However, with more than 2.1 billion people lacking safe drinking water in the world, it's essential to be aware of the common issues you can face in your home and how you can ensure you're drinking safe water.
The Most Common Water Issues In Our Homes
There are many different sources of water issues that can occur at home. While there may be circumstances including broken pipes, leaky faucets, or other severe damages to your plumbing system or appliances, these are not the most concerning problems you might find with the water in your home.
Poor Water Quality
In general, if your home's water smells or tastes bad, poor water quality likely is to blame. Whether you have a private well at home or are on the city system, there are many potential causes of poor water quality.
Bad Tasting Water
One of the more common water issues in many homes is bad-tasting or smelling water. While this might be caused by the build-up of sediment or minerals, it can also be due to levels of chlorine being too high in your home's system. Regardless, bad-tasting water doesn't help to encourage you to drink or use your house water.
Unpleasant Smelling Water
If your water has a foul or unpleasant smell, it usually means something is wrong with the quality of the water. A rotten egg smell might indicate high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in the water, leading to serious health problems if consumed over long periods of time.
Contaminants In The Water
Depending on where your home is located, there may be a lot of different contaminants in your drinking water. Some common pollutants that might affect the quality of your water at home include:
- Lead – While lead contamination has been largely eliminated from our country's drinking water supplies, lead piping and solder remain an issue for many homes. If you have old plumbing or appliances with lead components, it's essential to know that this can cause serious health issues with extended exposure.
- Water Hardness – Many areas of the country have high concentrations of minerals in the water, including calcium and magnesium. This is commonly referred to as 'hard' water, which can cause many different problems, including clogged pipes, soaps not lathering, and spotting on your dishes.
- Iron – Iron is another common water issue and can cause yellow or rusty-looking staining in sinks and tubs as well as a metallic taste to the water. While large concentrations of this mineral might do more damage than good, many people actually prefer drinking 'soft' water, which has a lower concentration of minerals than 'hard' water.
Not Environmentally Friendly To Use Water Bottles
The biggest problem with water bottles is that it takes up to 450 years for a typical disposable plastic bottle to degrade. And while they are usually recycled after use, many of them still end up in landfills across the country. So while you might use water bottles as an alternative to tap water, the truth is that it takes a lot of natural resources to produce these plastic bottles.
Better And New Way To Ensure You Have Safe Drinking Water At Home
If you're worried about the safety of your water, you're not alone. Thankfully, with the iSpring line of water dispensers, you'll never have to worry about the quality of your water again! With our filtration system, you'll not only get high-quality drinking water but also enjoy other benefits such as greater health for your family and better-tasting food. Here are a few of our new favorites:
iSpring DS4B Self-Cleaning Botteless Water Dispenser
Enjoy hot and cold water right at your fingertips with the iSpring DS4B Self-Cleaning Botteless Water Dispenser! This ENERGY STAR-certified dispenser is easy to install and includes everything you need for a quick setup, including pre-installed filters. The 4-stage ultra filter ensures great-tasting water, while the self-cleaning design keeps your dispenser running smoothly.
iSpring DS4S Bottleless Water Filter Dispenser Self Cleaning
Are you looking for a high-quality water filter? Look no further than the iSpring DS4S Bottleless Water Filter Dispenser! This uniquely evolved four-stage filtration system removes contaminants like sediments, dust, and dirt particles and also reduces chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and lead. Plus, it comes with built-in activated carbon filters to remove any foul smell or taste from your water. Compact and long-lasting, this versatile dispenser is perfect for use in any home. Plus, it doesn't leak, so you don't have to worry about spills!
Conclusion
If you truly want to make a difference in your day-to-day life and help protect the environment, there's no better way to do it than by making small changes. Switching out your water bottle for a reusable one or installing a filter on your tap may seem like they're not much, but over time they can genuinely add up to something big! And the iSpring line of water dispensers makes changing your lifestyle easy. With our convenient and stylish design, you'll be enjoying a fresh, clean taste every day with minimal hassles.
