Most homeowners first thought when they think about water quality is the health and safety of their loved ones. And that is always the primary concern. The water quality in your home will have a significant impact on your health, especially the health of children or seniors living in your home and consuming the water. But what many of us fail to consider is that poor water quality also takes its toll on your home’s plumbing system and any appliances that use the water.

Health Concerns Related To Poor Water Quality

First, let’s take a look at some of the health concerns you could face if the water quality in your home is poor. According to the CDC, several common health problems are often caused by drinking contaminated water. Those maladies include:

• Hepatitis A- a severe and contagious liver infection caused by a virus contaminating some water supplies
• Norovirus- a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea and often results in dehydration
• Shigellosis- one of the most contagious diarrhea-causing bacterial infections that can lead to a variety of health issues
• Giardiasis- a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites found in some water supplies
• E. coli- a bacterium that releases a potent toxin causing diarrhea, intestinal cramping, and in severe cases, life-threatening kidney failure

How Low-Quality Water Can Damage Your Plumbing

Corrosion and mineral build-up are the most common issues that will damage your home’s plumbing due to poor water quality. You could begin to notice white corrosion on the outside of your water heater fittings or on the water lines running throughout your home. In addition, the mineral build-up can be found on the screens of many water fixtures and inside the water lines of your home. While the build-up is not something that you can see inside the pipes, the result will be noticeable. Lower water pressure, white grit in your water, and reoccurring leaks indicate mineral and corrosion issues.

Unlike the health issues that you and your loved ones could be facing from contaminated water, the problems related to your home’s fixtures and water lines might seem somewhat minor. But understand that these problems can create significant and costly damage to your home’s plumbing system over time.

How To Recognize Common Water Quality Problems

• Hard water is water with high mineral content. While it is not considered a health risk, it does dry your skin and hair. But the damage it causes to your home’s plumbing system is far more concerning. The chalky white deposits clog the filters on faucets, appliances, and build-up inside water lines and your water heater. The best resolution to hard water is installing a water softening system to reduce the mineral content of the water and improve its quality substantially.
• Bitter-tasting water typically has a pH of less than seven and is considered to be acidic. The cause of the acidic nature is usually a high metal content in the water. The high mineral content will lead to damage and blockages of your home’s plumbing fixtures, pipes, and appliances. However, it is not considered to be a significant health risk unless the pH is outside the EPAs safe range of 6.5 to 8.5. Water filtration systems can remove the offending metal particles and restore the taste and quality of your home’s water.

If you have concerns about the quality of your home’s water, call (512) 233-6308. The water experts at Parobek Water will perform an in-home water test to determine any issues with the water quality and explain to you how the problems can be resolved using water filtration, softening, or other water treatment methods.