Despite living in an age of such advanced technology, water contamination continues to be a significant problem around the world. Even in some of the richest nations on Earth, there are a number of infrastructure related issues that can lead to large sources of contaminated drinking water that is capable of causing serious illness. Different viruses, bacteria, and parasites can find their way into surrounding rivers, lakes, and streams. As a result, these contaminants feed into the sources of water that we use every day and can cause serious harm.
Which is why it is so important to continue following the best water purification practices including the use of filters and water softener, and investing in water treatment processes that help to ensure everyone is receiving the safest water from our water well installation or every time we turn on the faucet. If we fail to watch for these contaminants in the supply of our water, they can likely bring on illness, or even worse, life-threatening conditions.
Here’s how the contamination process could work: take a rainy day for example. The rain pouring down from the sky can wash fecal matter from surrounding farm areas and push it into nearby rivers or streams. These bodies of water could then become infected with E.coli, which is a bacteria that causes unpleasant symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea in those affected. Another example of possible contamination comes from air conditioners and sprinkler systems that are not properly maintained. If not monitored closely, these two systems are optimal places for the Legionella bacteria to fester. This bacteria is commonly known to enter the respiratory system and lead to Legionnaires’ disease, which is a condition characterized by shortness of breath and severe fits of coughing.
Other forms of bacteria also have the chance of creeping through your home’s water systems if not properly managed. Salmonella, for instance. This bacteria is often known to elicit severe gastrointestinal symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even stomach cramps. What’s worse is that this bacteria has the chance to be spread from your home’s pets to your family members. In addition to Salmonella, another common household bacteria is known as Pseudomonas. This is a highly contagious pathogen that has been known to cause a wide range of illnesses. Most commonly pneumonia, but ranging all the way to UTIs and sepsis, it is responsible for more than 50,000 documented infections in the United States every year. This is a result of how common this bacteria is in contaminated water sources such as your home’s plumbing systems. Contact Kellie Plumbing to check your plumbing system for water contamination.
For more information on what types of bacteria could be invading your home, in addition to strategies to combat these contaminants, take a look at the accompanying infographic, What May Be Lurking In Your Water.
Chris Ebener is a mechanical engineer for LiquiTech, with a proven track record of diagnosing and remediating public water system issues of various sizes and complexity. Ebener is an expert on the biochemical makeup of facility water systems, system architecture and various methodologies of public drinking water treatment.