There are many different ways that tap water can get contaminated. As a result, water quality issues can vary greatly from city to city and even from home to home. One of the most prominent factors that plays into the quality of your home’s tap water is where that water originates from. Today we’re going to talk about the various sources of tap water and the types of contaminants that are commonly found in each one!
Tap water source: Underground well
Well water comes from water supplies underground. As a result, it is susceptible to contamination from the elements and minerals that exist in the bedrock surrounding the well, including contaminants like iron, sulfur, manganese and arsenic.
Many private wells are located in rural areas that are near farms or industrial plants. When it rains, water runoff can pick up contaminants from agricultural and industrial activities and carry them to the ground above water wells, allowing them to seep underground and contaminate the water below. Contaminants from rural runoff include nitrates, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria from animal waste and more.
Tap water source: Lakes and rivers
If you get your water from a municipal supply rather than a private well, it likely comes from a nearby lake or river. These water supplies can get contaminated by things like cryptosporidium that are difficult to disinfect and can sneak their way past water treatment plants and all the way to your home. In addition, lakes and rivers often have seasonal algae blooms, which give off contaminants that can affect the taste and smell of your home’s water.
Tap water source: Municipal supply in bigger cities
If you live in a larger metropolitan area, there is an elevated risk of your water being contaminated by your city’s wastewater. That’s because it’s harder to find a place to dispose of waste water in bigger cities, so the water often ends up in rivers or streams that connect to water supplies. Contaminants from wastewater include bacteria, chemicals from personal hygiene products and pharmaceutical drugs.
In addition, bigger cities have their own issues with water runoff. When it rains in urban areas, the water flows over streets and sidewalks, where it picks up contaminants from the ground. This water flows into the nearest water supply that it can find, which sometimes ends up being drinking water supplies.
Install a filtration system to protect your water no matter where it comes from
EPA Water offers a wide-range of water treatment systems that can remove contaminants from all of the above sources of tap water. Contact us to have your water tested for free so that we can show you exactly what’s in your water and make recommendations for the best types of systems that can address your home’s particular problems.
If you have any questions about the source of your home’s tap water, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in y our home, contact EPA Water, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We provide service all over Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including towns like Buckingham, Lansdale and Chalfont, PA.
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