Clean, easily accessible water is necessary to health. Water that’s full of contaminants, including pathogens and toxins, puts your health and that of your household at risk. Because of this, it’s important to notice the signs that your water treatment system is becoming unsafe. Here are a few ways to do it.
You Can See, Taste or Smell a Change
Water should be colorless and odorless. If it has any taste, it should be subtle and pleasant. Consider that something is wrong if you sense the following.
- A bad taste. Water that tastes bitter, salty or metallic is a sign that dissolved solids or heavy metals have leached into it. These metals can include lead, which is toxic. Bad taste can also indicate that the plumbing pipes are corroded.
- Water that’s not perfectly clear. Turbid water is full of rust, toxic metals or pathogens. This is a strong sign that the filtration system has failed.
- An oily sheen. If you look in your toilet bowl or a sink or tub full of water and see an oily sheen, this means that fats or oils have contaminated your fresh water.
- A bad smell. The famous rotten egg smell in your drinking water is a sign that your system is contaminated with sewage or bacteria that eat sulfur. While these bacteria are usually not harmful, the smell they cause makes your water unpalatable.
If any of the above are true, stop drinking the water. Call in a plumber, and drink bottled water until the problem is fixed.
Low Water Pressure
A sudden drop in the water pressure in your system may be a sign of a leak in a pipe. It can also signal membranes that have failed or filters that are too clogged to do their job. In such an event, it would be advisable to call a plumber.
Odd Noises
Water treatment systems should be relatively quiet. If you hear clanks, hisses or gurgling, it may be a sign that the water pressure isn’t where it ought to be, that air is somewhere in the system, or the pump has failed altogether. The assistance of a plumber might be necessary here.
Stains
Stains on your plumbing fixtures are also signs that your water treatment system needs replacement or repair. If the stains are reddish brown, they’re from iron. If they’re greenish or black, they’re from leached copper or manganese.
You Have to Keep Changing the Filter
You may notice that you have to change the filter in your water treatment system more frequently. This can mean that there’s a lot of sediment in your system or that the pre-treatment stage isn’t working the way it should. If you have concerns or require water treatment services, contact Always Plumbing in Spring, TX.