Is Your Tap Water Safe? 8 Common Contaminants

Have you ever wondered what’s going on with your water quality? Sometimes water can smell bad and have sediment when your water heater needs maintenance or you need professional drain cleaning. But you may also have harmful chemicals and contaminants that local water treatment centers can’t always filter. The results could negatively impact you and your family’s health.

Call Mark Lindsay and Son Plumbing & Heating to check your tap water for any pollutants or contaminants. We offer water testing in West Milford, NJ, and the surrounding area as well as a wide range of water treatment solutions, so our licensed West Milford plumbers can recommend water filtration systems, UV water purifier systems, and more.

8 Common Contaminants You Should Be Aware Of

1) Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that can wreak havoc on your plumbing and health. Lead is often a result of poor plumbing materials that lead to corrosion from a combination of high acidity and low mineral content. Even low doses can cause pipe corrosion and leave behind deposits in your drinking water. The results could lead to increased blood pressure or hypertension, organ toxicity, hearing loss, immune dysfunction, and anemia, to name a few issues.

2) Radon

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking and is naturally found in the ground when uranium, cadmium, and thorium break down and contaminate the water. You can disturb the impacted water source when showering or doing laundry, release radon gas into the air, and breathe it in which coil. Dealing with radon requires a West Milford, NJ, plumber to dispose of the chemicals and get your water and air quality clean again.

3) Chlorine

Municipal water systems may use chlorine as an oxidant to control harmful microbes. Chlorine can help get a handle on your water quality, but they’re also absorbed by our bodies when drinking it or bathing. Despite some of the benefits, chlorine can also dry out your skin, hair, and nails, irritating your eyes. If you have asthma, chlorine can be especially aggravating to your respiratory system.

4) Copper

It’s common to find copper pipes in old homes, mines, and farms. Too much copper can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, you need a certified plumber to check for copper and recommend improving water quality. Flushing your pipes with water for at least fifteen seconds before drinking or cooking can help reduce these contaminants.

If you suffer from frequent diarrhea and gastrointestinal issues, you may need a reverse osmosis system.

5) Mercury

Mercury is a liquidated metal found in natural deposits, such as natural deposits fromerosion. Sometimes mercury can get into our tap water from landfill runoff, refineries, and factories. A little mercury won’t do much harm, but it can lead to serious health consequences over time, including kidney damage.

6) VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are types of chemicals that emit into our air or water as glasses. Unfortunately, endless products on the market contain VOCs, including paints, cleaners, perfume, make-up, furniture, building materials, and more all contain VOCs. When vaporized in water, they’re eventually absorbed by our bodies, increase the risk of cancer, and impair your kidneys and liver.

7) MTBE

Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether is used for positive purposes and helps reduce carbon monoxide and ozone levels from auto emissions. But there are downsides. MTBE can eventually seep into groundwater, pipelines, spills, ponds, lakes, and rivers that ultimately make their way into our faucets. When exposed to MTBE over time, you may experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, throat irritation, and possibly cancer.

8) Non-Source Point Pollution

Sometimes water contaminants and pollutants can’t be traced to a specific source or nutrient. Instead, herbicides, pesticides, and pet waste that make their way into Northern New Jersey’s streams and rivers can cause issues with your plumbing and health. You may experience headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Contact Mark Lindsay & Son to Keep Your Tap Water Safe

Don’t leave your water quality up to chance! Contact our team of experienced plumbers to assess the problem and help restore the quality of your water. We offer water testing systems, water filtration systems, UV water purifying systems, and more. Call us today to schedule an appointment!