Factors That Affect Your Home’s Water Quality And How A Plumber Can Help | Mesa, AZ
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Do you sometimes find that your home’s water has a nasty taste? Perhaps it smells very chlorinated or has a slight brown tinge. Many things affect the water quality in your home. These include the water source, the collection area, and perhaps more importantly, how your water is treated. The main water source can vary slightly from day today. A plumber can help you figure all of this out.
If you are continually having problems with your water, you may like to contact Schroeder Plumbing’s plumbers if you live in the area. The company can install a water filter or water softener in your home to improve your water quality. They are also available for all types of plumbing jobs, from new build installation to leak detection and everything in between.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s affecting your home’s water quality, read on. This article will look at why your water may sometimes have a slight taste or odor.
Water Quality
In America, we take it for granted that we have access to good quality drinking water. We can open the faucet, and water is available in a seemingly never-ending stream. While most homeowners don’t give their water supply much thought until something goes wrong, a lot of effort and research have provided us with clean water. Water treatment plants have been set up all over the country to collect and treat the water we drink and wash in. Water goes through a long process from its source to your faucets to ensure it’s not going to make you ill. Plumbers play a huge part in this.
Water Source
Your water will come from one of many different sources, depending on which state you live in. Some water comes from surface water, which includes rivers and streams, or a lake or reservoir. Other water sources include groundwater from aquifers such as bores or wells or a natural spring. Rainwater can also be collected and treated to be used to supply homes.
Many Americans like to use water for recreational activities such as swimming and water sports. Rivers, beaches, and lakes are often called recreational water.
The Environment
Your water will also be affected by the surrounding environment. Water is collected from an area known as a watershed or catchment area; this can be a lake, river, stream, or reservoir. These are all interconnected as water runs from one to the other as it drains from the surrounding land.
Small streams run into larger lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. The total catchment area can span hundreds of miles. Water will travel a long way before it enters your local lake. The environment that the water has traveled through will contribute to the water quality of your local lake or river.
Many catchment areas include farmlands, and this can have a big impact on water quality, especially if cattle have been grazing on the water’s edge. Water quality can be affected by factors such as the sediment being stirred up, as well as by cattle feces causing contamination.
Contaminants may also end up in the water due to farmers using pesticides and fertilizers. If the catchment area runs through more densely populated areas, such as a town or city, sewage could get into the water supply from leaky pipes, or septic tank overflows. Many homeowners use chemical cleaners that can contaminate the water sources. It’s smart to talk to a plumber if you have any questions or concerns about your water supply.
Sediment affects water quality, as the microorganisms in the water can survive for longer in the sediment. During periods of heavy rainfall, the sediment will be stirred up, and this can make the water harder to treat.
Many industries also affect the quality of the water supply. Although factories must follow strict guidelines when disposing of wastewater, sometimes accidental spillages occur.
Soil composition and the chemical make-up of rocks will also affect the water quality. Some areas have hard water, while others have water that’s described as soft. Whether water is considered hard or soft depends on the minerals present.
Water Treatment
Water treatment plants make water suitable for human consumption. The water goes through a filtration process to remove any contamination, chemicals, and mineral deposits. The treatment that your water has received will depend on where it’s been collected from and how it has been affected on route. The water will be tested several times before it reaches your home to ensure that it’s safe.
Water treatment plants have several barriers in place to ensure that your home is supplied with safe drinking water. There are barriers in place to protect the water at its source. This consists of fences that keep cattle away from the water source, as well as laws about spraying crops and industries disposing of wastewater. People could also be kept away from lakes and rivers for recreational purposes.
The second step in the treatment process is set up to remove particles from the water. A treatment is used that causes sediment and other debris to stick together in clumps, which can then be filtered out more easily.
The next step in the process is to disinfect the water to kill any bacteria in the water. This is generally done by adding chemicals to the water, most commonly chlorine or ozone. Sometimes UV light is used to disinfect the water supply.
The last step is a post-treatment step and involves the maintenance of pipes that travel to homes and tanks that store water. Great care is taken by plumbers in this step of the process so that that water doesn’t become recontaminated.
Schroeder Plumbing, Plumber, Mesa, AZ
Need a plumber? If you live in Mesa, AZ, and are looking for a plumber, don’t hesitate to contact Schroeder Plumbing. The company has been in operation since 1971 and provides excellent customer service. They also offer a 24/7 emergency call-out service.
Whether you’re looking to install a water softener or filter, have a plumbing emergency, or a dripping faucet or blocked toilet that needs repairing, Schroeder Plumbing can help.
Call a plumber today on 480-424-4970 for a free no-obligation quote!
