Holly S. Anthony
If all the earth’s water - an estimated 325 trillion gallons - were squeezed into a gallon jug and you poured of what was not drinkable (too salty, frozen or polluted) you would be left with one drop. And even that might not pass United States water quality standards. Some causes for this pollution include acid rain, wind-borne pesticides, oil spills, garbage, raw sewage, radioactive wastes, ash, medical debris, agricultural runoff, excessive chlorination, and corrosion of lead pipes. (Naar, 1990)
How can you find out if your water is safe? Here is how you can find out what your own situation may be at home:
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a. Look for the signs of orange-red or brown color in water or the sink resulting from iron by rusting pipes. A greenish stain could mean copper rust.
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b. A foamy appearance could be detergent residue.
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c. Cloudy water might indicate minerals, heavy metals, or other contaminants.
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d. Sniff the water to detect an odor of rotten eggs indicating sulfur or decaying bacteria. Candylike aroma might be vinyl chloride or other chemicals. Gasoline or oil smell could be caused by a defective water pump. Swimming pool odor is probably pointing to too much chlorine.
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e. Get the water tested for drinking-water quality including criteria of coliform bacteria count, hardness / softness, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals. (Naar, 1990)
What can you do to reduce contaminants in your drinking water? Here are some easy tips to help. First, let cold water run for at least three minutes before using. Even for hot beverages and infant formulas, draw cold water because hot water dissolves lead and copper more readily. Second, use cold water primarily and let it boil for 20 minutes or whip the water for 15 minutes in a blender with the top off to get rid of bacteria and chemicals. Third, add a pinch of powdered vitamin C to a glass of water just before drinking to lower chlorine’s effects. Fourth, buy a purifier to disinfect water. And lastly, use a filter to screen water. (Naar, 1990)