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Look for These Signs of Contaminated Water

You can mostly count on getting clear-looking water every time you turn on a faucet.  But not always. Because depending on what’s coming into your home or what happens when it gets there, your water might not look, smell, or taste clean at all.

Instead of getting a part-time job to pay for cases and cases of bottled water, do some investigating to see if your home has contaminated tap water and what you can do to remedy the situation.

Here are 7 signs to look for:

Cloudy Water – Numerous harmless compounds and minerals can give tap water a cloudy appearance when first poured. But if the cloudiness doesn’t disappear within a few seconds, it could be due to bacteria. Have your water tested for unusually high levels of contaminants.

Spots and Stains on Dishes – Are your glasses and dishes looking worse after vs. before running them through the dishwasher? If so, you could have hard water. While hard water is common in many areas and generally not a danger, it can reduce the effectiveness of detergents, soaps, and shampoos. Even worse, it can shorten the life span of your water-using appliances. Have your home’s water tested for hardness and consider installing a whole-house water softener if needed.

Sediment – If you see tiny particles floating around in your glass of water, it could be due to sediment. While generally not dangerous, it doesn’t make that glass of water very appealing to drink. A sediment filter can remedy the problem.

Rotten Egg Smell – That odor is probably caused by high amounts of sulfur in your water supply. This naturally occurring mineral can leave water smelling less-than-appetizing but can easily be fixed with a water filtration system.

Chlorine Smell – Public water supplies commonly contain chlorine to aid in removing harmful microorganisms and bacteria. And while chlorine levels are rarely dangerously high, this caustic chemical can make your water taste like a swimming pool.

Odd Taste – Clean drinking water tastes like, well, nothing – except cool and refreshing. If yours has a bitter, metallic, or oily taste, have it tested and consider installing an area-specific or whole-house water filtration system.

Low Water Pressure – If there is a decrease in water pressure in one or more areas of your home that can’t be attributed to work on the public water supply, you might have a clogged water pipe. Over time, pipes can corrode and fill with sediment and mineral content. That, in turn, shrinks the space water must go through to reach your faucet or appliance. This is a problem that a water filtration system can’t fix.

Before a solution can be recommended, the problem with less-than-clean water first must be determined. Messmer Mechanical specializes and identifying and correcting water quality problems for city and well water users alike. Contact us today to schedule a test of your water supply to see what that might turn up.