Everyone deserves contaminant-free water. However, oftentimes there are impurities lurking. Installing a whole-house system allows you to rest assured that water concerns are being addressed at the point of entry and that the water coming out of each faucet in your home is providing your family with high-quality water.
Identifying Water Source
Though there is a preconceived notion that because municipal water is provided by the city, there is nothing that could be concerning. However, that is not always the case. While municipal water does not typically contain anything detrimental to your health, the contaminants hiding are often less than ideal.
Well water, however, can be much more complicated and frequently requires a filtration system to avoid serious health problems.
Knowing your water’s composition can only be discovered through water testing and will allow you to know which filtration system is best for your specific water. No matter if you are on city water or well water, if you have any concerns about your water quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests you have your water tested.
Municipal Water
Municipalities often use chlorine or chloramine to disinfect water and kill harmful bacteria and viruses. While essential for water safety, these chemicals can create an unpleasant taste and odor in the water and are not ideal to consume and expose your skin and hair to daily.
Beyond that, your water is only as good as the pipes it passes through. Depending on the age of your home, your pipes may contain heavy metals and microorganisms that have formed and are entering your water. These microorganisms can include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. As a result, you could, unknowingly, have water that would otherwise be safe.
Well Water
If your water source is from a well, more serious concerns arise. Well water frequently contains sediments such as silt, dirt, and sand. Because well water does not undergo any sort of treatment, it is also likely nitrates and nitrites are present as they will often enter water supplies from runoff and are found in chemical fertilizers, human sewage, and animal waste and fertilizers.
Heavy metals such as lead, iron, and manganese are also common in well water which can be dangerous for your health. According to the EPA, “People that consume high levels of heavy metals risk acute and chronic toxicity, liver, kidney, and intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer.” There are also frequently high levels of fluoride in well water.
Each of these are concerns that should be addressed to ensure you and your loved ones avoid the worry of developing health problems due to poor water quality. (Learn how to test your water quality from our previous blog here.)