How To Know if Your Home Has Contaminated Water

Water is a vital resource we all need to drink more often. Whether y’all are running water for a shower, drinking from the faucet, or cooking, y’all should know that water may be contaminated. Now, you might wonder how you’d know. I have documented all the ways to tell if your home has contaminated water; take a look below.

The Water Has an Orange or Brown Tint

That brown or orange tint you notice in your glass of water isn’t food dye. I didn’t realize what it was until I began to look into the pigment more. Recently, I learned that these two hues denoted a strong presence of iron and manganese.

I was shocked. I had no idea I had high amounts of manganese or iron in my water! I brought in a local plumber who informed me that the reason for brown or orange-tinted water is from mining and excavation sites or rusty water pipes. After learning about that, I made haste and got my water tested.

The Water Tastes Metallic

Sometimes, I’d have a glass of water, and it would taste metallic. It was bitter, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut at the awful taste that flooded my mouth. I knew there was a problem with my water supply; after speaking with another water specialist, I learned my supply likely contained harmful substances.

Luckily, the taste doesn’t hurt, but it is bitter. To remedy the situation, my first solution was to run the tap for several minutes until fresh water sprung out. Aside from running the water, I chose to chew a piece of sugar-free gum after, and let me tell y’all, it worked wonders!

The Water Appears Cloudy

Something that I didn’t know was what caused cloudy water. Now, this was an insanely interesting fact; one of the water specialists I spoke with a while ago informed me that air bubbles cause cloudy water. These air bubbles rise to the surface, and the pipes don’t require much pressure to form bubbles.

The thing is, my cloudy water came from a cold tap. I didn’t know if there was a solution, but I did learn how to handle the situation. First, I removed the aerator and cleaned it with a mix of water and vinegar. That did the trick for me, but I was also told to contact my local water department if it’s still occurring twenty-four hours later and inquire about a leak or maintenance status.

It could be sediments in the water. Sediments come from wells, water tables, and reservoirs. To fix this issue, I found the perfect water treatment system for my home that works wonders! Before pouring your next glass of water, make sure y’all know how to tell if your home has contaminated water.