About 95% of all US residences have some degree of contaminated drinking water. The good news is the following:
Still, the very fact that you’re reading this page suggests that you have one or more concerns about what, if anything, might be wrong with your city or well water supply. So let’s get right to it and examine the most common home water quality issues.
Hard water and acidic water are the two most common water contamination issues facing US homeowners and, while not dangerous, both can wreak havoc with your plumbing while causing additional problems.
Take hard water, for example, the result of high levels of calcium, magnesium and, in some cases, iron. Large amounts of these minerals can cause sediment to build up inside your water heater storage tank and eventually cause internal corrosion. Mineral deposits can also form on plumbing fixtures and inside your pipes, eventually leading to repair and replacement issues. Other symptoms of hard water are dry skin and hair, clothes that are hard to get clean, spotting on glasses and dishes in your dish washer, and more.
Chlorine is effectively used by municipal water companies to kill off microorganisms. On the other hand, and as rare as they might be, there are occasions when microorganisms still make their way into your drinking water bringing with them the risk of e-col, coliform, and other bacterial infections.
And then there’s the problem of too much chlorine in your water which has been linked to various forms cancer, kidney and liver damage, immune system dysfunction. If your water smells even a little of chlorine, do the safe thing and have it tested.
Acidic water has a pH of less than 7 can cause discoloration on porcelain or reduced water pressure. Other signs of acidic water include a metallic taste, a red or green tint to your water, and accelerate pipe deterioration.
Murky or grayish water, also known as turbidity, is generally caused by dissolved or suspended solids in your water supply. Water can become turbid when construction is going on in your area or from storms or urban runoff.
Clearwater, by the way, does not necessarily equate with the absence of turbidity.
