Before you choose a water treatment system for your home, you should be aware of all of the potential problems that your water can face. Today we’re going to answer the question, “What is water quality?” and talk about some of the most common issues that plague the water in PA and NJ homes!
Water quality relates to water for every use
Water quality is most often associated with the water you use for drinking because the contaminants you consume can lead to a number of different health issues. In addition to its effects on drinking water, poor water quality can affect the longevity of your plumbing appliances, the cleanliness of your clothes and dishes and even the air that you breathe while you’re taking a shower!
What is water quality?
In general, water quality refers to the presence (or lack thereof) of anything in your water that can have an effect on you or your home, including:
- Contaminants. There are literally thousands of different contaminants that can get into the water in your home. These contaminants can infiltrate your water at many different points in the water delivery system, including at the original source of the water, at your water treatment plant), as water travels through your city’s pipes to your home and even as water travels through your home’s own pipes. Each type of contaminant has different effects on your water, and we discuss many of them individually on this blog.
- Hardness. Hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium minerals in your water. The more minerals that are present, the harder your water is. Hard water generally doesn’t have any health effects, but it can wreak havoc on your plumbing appliances and cause a number of other issues.
- pH levels. Your water’s pH levels refer to how alkaline or acidic your water is. If your water’s pH levels go too far in either direction, it can affect your body, your plumbing system and everything else that your water comes into contact with.
- Aesthetics. Many different water contaminants can alter the way your water looks, tastes and smells. Even if these contaminants don’t cause health issues (although many of them do), it can make your home’s water unpleasant to consume.
If you have any questions about what water quality is, or if you’d like a water treatment system serviced or installed in your home, contact EPA Water Consultants. We are your Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey Hague dealer, providing service in towns like Doylestown, Dresher and Dublin, PA.