Dec 12 , 2022

The Effects of Water Contamination in the Home

You’ve done the research. You’ve put in the time to figure out which filtration system is best for you. And you’re well aware of what the stakes are if your water is unfiltered: contamination. Water contaminants can range from the natural, like certain minerals and causes of turbidity, to the actively dangerous, like bacteria and pharmaceuticals. If you weren’t convinced that a water filtration system is the way to go, consider the effects that common contaminants can have on you, your home and even your furry friends.

The Effects of Contaminated Water on the Body

As we’ve discussed before, contaminants can be harmful to our bodies in the long-term and in the short-term. Organically, you’ll need to worry about waterborne diseases that come from wastewater contamination, like diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. If these diseases sound like something you’d get in The Oregon Trail rather than in reality, consider yourself lucky: Around 7.2 million Americans contract a waterborne disease every year from unfiltered water.

One of the most damaging and dangerous waterborne chemical contaminants is lead. Lead can find its way into your home through the use of antiquated pipes in buildings and water systems, or when the source of water has been poisoned through industrial spillage, like in Flint, MI. It can have devastating effects on health and brain function and cause lifelong impairments in children. Other chemical contaminants, like pharmaceuticals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can be just as harmful, too.

Contamination Impacts Your Home

Thanks to our previous posts, you’re probably familiar with hard water and its effects. If not, here’s a quick explanation: When water has high concentrations of naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium, it can cause buildup, or scale, in your pipes. This buildup can affect the home’s water quality by reducing water pressure and hurting the overall efficiency of your plumbing system, including your faucets and fixtures.

Hard water scale also interferes with soap’s ability to lather, making it difficult to wash anything, including dishes, clothing and you. In fact, hard water can irritate skin and hair in many folks, leaving red, itchy skin and frizziness in its wake. This may not be as pressing an issue as bacterial or chemical contamination, but if left unchecked, hard water scale can lead to costly and preventable repairs down the line, ranging from pipe to full water heater replacements. At best, it’s a nuisance, and at worst, it’s a major headache.

Hazardous Water and its Effects on Your Pets

You read that right, folks: Contaminated water doesn’t just affect humans. While pets are often immune to diseases that affect their owners, some chemical contaminants, like lead, can affect dogs and cats just as much as humans. Contaminants can also affect domesticated reptiles like snakes or bearded dragons that require access to water at all times for drinking and bathing. It can be even worse if you have an amphibian that can absorb chemicals directly through its skin. Don’t forget to consider your animals’ needs into account when you’re deciding on how to correct your water filtration needs.

Prevent Contaminated Water in Your Home

Worried about contaminants in your home? There’s no need to fear. All of the contaminants we’ve discussed here can be stopped with the use of a King Water Filtration system. Whether you’re using well water or are on a municipal system, we’ve got the filtration solution for you to stop hard water scale, pathogens, chemical contaminants and beyond to give you the safest possible drinking water. Contact us at 855-957-2166 or at our contact form here to set up a consultation. Take your home’s and family’s best interest to heart and see what we can do for you.