Living in the U.S., you have the privilege and luck to be able to turn on your faucet and have instant access to water. If you’re like most people, you assume that the water that comes into your home is safe and clean.
If events from the past few years have shown you anything, it’s that this assumption might not be true. Thus, you need to find a way to protect your family from drinking dirty water. Some suggestions are listed below.
Filter Your Water
If you already know or suspect that there might be harmful substances in your water, then you might consider adding a filtration system. You have many options to choose from, including pitchers or attachments that you add to your faucet that you can buy online or at the store. Click here for more information about the importance of water consumption.
When it comes to filters, you need to check their specifications to see exactly what they remove from your water. Some are capable of getting rid of metals, including lead, while others excel at trapping bacteria and chlorine. Make sure you get the filter that you want and need to keep your family safe and healthy while drinking the water in your home.
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You also have the ability to add a sophisticated filtration system that can only be installed by a professional. While this can help clean your water, it can also be a costly option to add to your home.
If you don’t want to invest any money in a filtration system, then it’s advised that you boil water before consuming it, as this will remove harmful substances, including bacteria. You can then place the boiled water into containers and put them in your fridge so that you have cold, clean water to drink and cook with. Keep in mind that if you boil water, it will remove a lot of harmful elements, but it won’t get rid of nitrates and lead.
Test Your Water
If you’re unsure what types of harmful substances you have in your water, you always have the option of getting it tested. The city in which you live should do this on a frequent basis, and you should be able to access the information by going online or writing to the department and requesting a copy.
However, if you don’t want to take their word for it, then you can find water testing kits online and at the store. You may even be able to hire a professional to test the water directly from your tap. Once you have this information, you’ll be able to find the filter that will ensure your water is safe and clean for everyone in your family to drink.
Watch What You Throw Away
The items that you throw into your trash could have an impact on your water quality. Thus, you need to be aware of what is being sent to the landfill. Certain products such as used batteries and paint should be recycled. If they aren’t, they could get into the water supply and make the water unsafe for consumption.
Some other products that need to be disposed of properly so that they don’t pollute the water include motor oil and medications. Throwing these in the trash or flushing them down the toilet increases the chances of them getting into streams and rivers, which are often sources of city water supplies. They can then make the water dirty and unsafe to drink.
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Take an Active Role
In addition to watching what you throw away and recycling when you can, you might also talk to your local community and see what they are doing to take care of their local water source. If they have an organized clean-up day around the river or stream, consider volunteering your time to help. If they don’t have a day when they head out and clean up around the water source, you might consider organizing one so that you can ensure the water you, your family and your community drinks is safe.
Water Is Necessary
Water is one of the most basic elements of life, and you need to ensure that you and your family are drinking water that is clean and safe. You have very little control over what substances are in the water that comes from your tap, but by filtering your water, you can remove a lot of elements that might be harmful. Taking this step ensures that you and your family are ingesting clean, healthy water and enjoy life that is free from harmful elements.