The water that flows in your house is highly crucial for routine life, from drinking to cooking and bathing to cleaning. It is used in almost every aspect. However, it is also true that the water we rely on can pose serious health impacts if it becomes contaminated.
Due to this reason, it is crucial to understand different ways through which house water can make you sick. So that, you can then take the necessary steps in order to resolve this issue. In this Frizzlife blog, we will cover those ways in detail.
Also, read our blog post about Is RO Water Safe for Kids?
How House Water Can Make You Fell Ill – Different Ways
Below are some of the most common ways through which house water can make you feel ill.
1. Through Bacterial Contamination:
It has been observed that regular tap water running into the homes is most likely to get contaminated with bacteria like e-coli, coliform bacteria, and many more. These get their way into house water through different sources such as improperly sealed or well casings, leaky septic systems, wastewater lines, etc.
Bacteria like e-coli, and coliform can pose a number of negative health impacts on the human body. For instance, it can lead to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc. If not taken seriously, continuous exposure to bacteria can also result in result in severe health issues that can be vulnerable for populations like the elderly, young, or even children with weak immune systems.
2. Through Chemical Contaminants:
Apart from bacteria, your house water can also be polluted with different chemicals that can be hazardous to human health. For instance, lead is a toxic chemical that can get into through old pipes, faucets, or other plumbing components.
Continuous exposure to lead can result in severe neurological and developmental issues, this can be especially true for children. Moreover, it can also result in impaired cognitive function, behavior problems, etc.
Furthermore, nitrate and nitrites are also chemicals that are usually found in house water. These can get their way due to agricultural runoff and leaking septic systems. Both these chemicals can be really dangerous for kids and can be a cause of a special disease named “Blue Baby Syndrome.”
In the end, arsenic is another hazardous chemical that will not only make you feel sick but will also increase the overall risk of cancer.
3. Disinfection By-products:
We all know that water has been specially treated by municipalities before being dispatched to public households. The treatment is usually done by the addition of chlorine, however, sometimes this addition can lead to the formation of trihalomethans.
According to medical experts, continuous exposure to trihalomethanes can increase the overall risk of certain types of cancer, as well as reproductive and development issues. Experts also suggest that consuming by-products affected water for a long time can also lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, and congenital abnormalities.
3. Through Aesthetic Issues:
This is the final possible way through which your house water might be making you sick. Even if your tap water is not contaminated by impurities, it still may have aesthetic issues such as bad taste or odor. These can also indirectly impact your overall well-being.
This is because, when the water tastes or smells bad, you will not consume it in a maximum amount, increasing the overall risk of dehydration.
So, these are some of the most common ways through which house water might be making you sick. Now, let’s understand some preventative methods for treating regular water.
Some Preventative Methods That You Can Consider Trying
If you are feeling sick after drinking your home, then there are some preventative methods that you can consider trying.
1. Test Water Quality:
First of all, perform a quality test on your house water to determine what kind of contaminants and impurities it contains. Now, you may be wondering how to perform testing. You have two options.
One is to use water testing kits that are easily available in the local market at affordable prices. These can help in assessing water quality. However, it is important to note that, the results they will provide may not be 100% accurate.
Another option is to take some samples of your house water to a certified laboratory for testing. They will provide you with details about what kind of contaminants your water contains.
2. Install a Water Filtration System:
Once you have an efficient idea about the impurities in water, you can invest in a water filtration system that is highly effective are removing those impurities. There are a number of types of systems available in the market such as reverse osmosis, undersink, etc.
3. Do not Forget Regular Maintenance is Necessary
In order to make your filtration system work properly, it is highly crucial to maintain it on a regular basis. The maintenance includes cleaning, dusting, replacement of filters, etc. Keep in mind that, the timeframe for maintenance may vary depending on the system type or manufacturer.
That’s why, it is recommended to read the manufacturer's instruction manual to determine the required timeframe for the maintenance of your filtration systems.
These are a few proven preventative tips that you can consider trying in order to make your house water clean and safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I start feeling sick after drinking house water?
The most common reason for feeling ill after consuming home water is the presence of toxic contaminants and impurities such as bacteria, chemicals, sediment, and many more.
What health issues can I face after consuming contaminated water?
There are numerous health problems that may have to face due to the consumption of polluted water. Some of the commons ones include gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, digestive issues, and many more like these.
Final Words
The water we usually use in our homes is contaminated with numerous contaminants and impurities that can make you feel ill. That is why, it is important to understand all those ways that can contribute to sickness. In this blog post, we have covered them in detail.