Residential Plumbing 101: Is My Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Clean water is a necessity. But what happens when residential plumbing problems occur, causing your tap water to become contaminated? The answer – not good. Most homes across the country have access to reliable, clean drinking water from the tap and it should come as no surprise that this type of convenience has greatly benefited our lives.

Unfortunately, there are still instances when those residential plumbing problems can rear their ugly head in and taint our source of clean water. According to the CDC, over 19 million Americans get sick from drinking contaminated water every year. At the risk of sounding like a fear-monger, we do recommend always examining the water from your tap from time to time.

To help alert you of signs of contamination in your tap water, we’ve outlined a few warning signs to be aware of. Some might seem obvious (discolor), while others might be harder to notice (smell). Should you notice any of these signs in your tap water contact the professional team at Hulsey, as we pride ourselves in the ability to tackle any residential plumbing problem.

1. Odd Taste

Water is often joked about as being tasteless, but if your tap water is slightly off, your taste buds will be the first to know. Some of the most common tastes that occur when water goes bad include: oily, bitter, fishy, or metallic.

2. No Water Pressure

More often than not when any faucet is lacking water pressure, it’s typically because of clogged pipes. This is a common residential plumbing problem since all pipes start to corrode and then slowly fill up with sediment. It’s wise to keep your pipes clean and not allow any serious clogging to occur, as the only way to solve a large obstruction is a very expensive endeavor.

3. Chlorine Smell

To anyone who likes to spend their summers poolside all day, this smell is very familiar. Chlorine is added to pools to destroy bacteria and unhealthy microorganisms and while accidentally swallowing a bit of pool water isn’t cause for immediate concern, it should not be in your tap water. Even with the chemicals being diluted in the water, it is still not safe for being inngested regularly.

4. Cloudy & Murky Water

It’s actually quite common that most municipal water systems don’t completely filter out their towns water supply. Most tap water still has plenty of harmless minerals and other natural substances that are completely safe, though occasionally it might appear slightly cloudy. Again, that’s normal and safe, but if these clouds don’t initially disappear or appear to be getting thicker it could be caused by a type of bacteria, at which time you should contact a locally trusted plumber to have your water tested for contamination.

5. Sulfur Smell

If you turn your sink on and there’s a stench of rotten eggs, sulfur sediments are the likely culprit. Despite the awful smell, sulfur is a natural mineral that can occasionally be prevalent in water systems and is not considered overtly harmful. Similar to if you smell chlorine coming from your tap water, both smells can be removed by installing a water filter.

6. Dirt, Clay, and Sediment

Noticing dirt, clay, and other sediments in your tap water seems like it’d be obvious and in some cases it is, but often, very small unnoticeable specs get through. Check the bottom of your sink or even a water filter if you have one installed for any sediment residue. Frequently, these small sediments aren’t a major concern, but they should be addressed before it leads to a bigger issue. A point-of-use sediment filter can help combat this residential plumbing problem.

A Thirst for More

If at any point you notice any of these warning signs within your tap water, be sure to contact your locally trusted plumber and alert your public water system should the problem persist. Likewise, if you have any additional questions or are curious as to what other residential plumbing problems to be on the lookout for, contact the expert team at Hulsey (a Blue Flow Company) today!