Tips to help you protect your household water

The water that enters your home has a long journey from start to finish, and along the way, it can pick up a lot of contaminants. Once it reaches your municipal water treatment facility it is treated and distributed to the public. During this process chemical and physical processes are used to filter and disinfect harmful micro-organisms.


Quality water helps prevent waterborne illness. A 2009 University of California, Berkeley study found that participants who used a reverse osmosis/UV filter suffered about 12 per cent fewer gastrointestinal illnesses than participants who drank unfiltered water.


Good water quality leads to a longer life for your appliances and fixtures, sparing you the cost of constant replacement.

Ever wonder why water from the tap sometimes smells like rotten eggs or tastes metallic? Hydrogen sulphide gas can cause water to give off an unpleasant odour (and damages plumbing). The presence of iron or manganese in water could lead to a metallic taste. This can happen due to a number of reasons in the overall journey water has to take to get to your home. But rest assured the water that comes from the tap is safe to drink.


Water impurities may lead to an abundance of mineral deposits that are typically found in hard water (for example, lime). This hard-to-remove buildup can be frustrating to clean. Harsh scrubbing can wear away porcelain enamel if your bathtub or sink are made of porcelain. Using a water softener to purify the water means you can clean your plumbing fixtures and appliances less often while simultaneously increasing their lifespan.


Now that we know the importance of water quality for use and consumption, it is time to take action. The following three simple tips can help you achieve and maintain good water quality:

If you have a water softener, make sure to regularly check on its salt levels. Lift up the softener tank lid — if the lid is less than half full, it needs salt. Pour some salt into it to replenish the levels to maximum functionality.


If you have a water filter, follow the filter manufacturer’s instructions on how often to replace and/or clean the filter. If not regularly maintained, it may not be as effective at trapping water contaminants.


Even the cleanest tap water can be contaminated if its storage container is dirty. Make sure to regularly wash your household pitchers, water bottles, and other containers with dish detergent. If the container is especially dirty, you can use unscented bleach and water to wash it out.


For more information on improving and maintaining the water quality for your home, go to the Water Quality Association website at www.wqa.org.