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Why You Should Test Your Water Once a Year

Cities use an intricate network of pipes, sewers and water tanks to deliver water to our homes. Our domestic plumbing systems also consist of a range of pipes and fixtures, made up of a variety of materials. While the municipality takes every precaution to ensure that the water leaves their water treatment plants as clean and free of contaminants as possible, there are many ways in which the water can be contaminated along the way.

These contaminants can cause disease and problems in your water, which is why annual water testing is important.

Testing Private Water Systems

You should have your water tested if you have a private water system and you notice the following:

● There is a nearby oil or gas drilling company, a heavily salted roadway, a junkyard, dry-cleaners, a landfill, mine or gas station.
● There is increased turbidity in your water.
● There are stains on your fixtures or laundry.
● Chemicals or pesticides may have entered your well.
● Livestock is kept nearby.
● There's a leaking gas tank near the well.
● There is an underground storage tank near the well.
● You are concerned about the proximity of the septic tank to the well.
● You have a new well and want to test the purity of your water.
● You are expecting a child, or have a child younger than 6 months living in the home.
● Your family or guests are experiencing recurring gastrointestinal distress.

Testing Public or Private Water Systems

Both public and private water systems should be tested if...

● There are lead pipes, brass fixtures or lead soldered joints in the plumbing system.
● The water has a strange odor or taste.
● You have hard water that leaves soap scum on fixtures and a powdery residue on dishes.
● There has been a flood and you are concerned about contamination from nearby farms that keep livestock and other types of pollution.

Other reasons to test your water would include if you're buying a new home, and you want to test whether the current water treatment setup is efficient, or if you want to find out if there are existing problems in your supply before buying a water treatment setup.

Annual testing should be done, even if you feel that your water is safe, as it will help you record your the history of your water in the event that a change occurs. Also, if anyone damages your water supply, you will be able to proof that your water was of better quality before.

Home use water testing kits are not very accurate, but private testing labs as well as departments of health, local environmental consulting companies, plumbing companies and state health labs offer water testing. They will check for any chemicals or bacteria such as e. coli and coliform, present in your water supply, and if they find any, that may be a clue as to how you can begin a treatment system to solve the problem.

Water testing is a great way to ensure that your family's drinking water is clean and safe. Anta Plumbing can do a preliminary diagnosis of potential contaminants in your water. Call us today.

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Written by Anta

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