How To Know If Your Water Is Safe To Drink

When moving into a new home, it’s important to make sure your water is safe to drink. Most homes in the United States have access to safe, clean tap water, but contamination is still possible. In many cases, you’ll be able to determine if your water is safe to drink just by looking at it and smelling it. However, a professional test will give you more detailed information about what’s in your water and whether or not it’s safe to consume. Here’s how to determine if your tap water is safe to drink.

Look for a completely clear appearance

Water that is safe to drink is clear and colorless. If your water has even a slightly cloudy look, it’s often a sign of minerals or contaminants inside. Cloudy water isn’t always unsafe to drink, but it’s important to get a test first to confirm what’s causing the problem.

If your water has a yellow, orange, or brown color, that’s also a sign that it might not be safe to drink. These colors are often caused by contaminants like iron, copper, lead, or chromium-6, which are not safe to drink. These colors can also be indicative of rust in your pipes.

Water with a blue or green tinge should also be approached with caution. This can happen when water has high concentrations of copper. Consuming large volumes of copper in your water may cause long-term health problems.

Smell for unusual odors

An unusual or unpleasant smell coming from your water is another indicator that something might be amiss. Clean, uncontaminated water should be totally odorless, but certain gases, chemicals, and other contaminants can result in unpleasant smells. If you notice that your water smells funky, avoid drinking it until it’s been professionally tested for safety.

Pay attention to exactly what your water smells like, as this will give you more information about the problem. For example, if your water smells like bleach, it might contain excess amounts of chlorine, a chemical often used in water treatment. If your water smells like rotten eggs, it probably contains hydrogen sulfide, which is often naturally present in groundwater. A fishy smell usually reflects an excess of barium or cadmium, which are byproducts of industrial activities like drilling.

Check With The EPA

An easy way to learn more about your tap water is through the EPA’s Drinking Water Watch database. This online tool provides a wealth of information about your local drinking water sources and treatment plants, and it even tracks reports and violations.

If you suspect there might be an issue with your drinking water, this is a great place to go to get more information.

If you suspect your drinking water may be contaminated, don’t worry. Installing filters and other water treatment solutions will help you enjoy fresh drinking water safely.

Be sure to have your water professionally tested to determine what’s causing the problem and find the right solution. Atlantic Coast Water Clinic offers professional water testing and treatment solutions throughout south Florida. Give us a call at 772-283-4767 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.