Bacteria are everywhere in our environment, including our tap water. However, some bacteria are particularly harmful to human health, causing illnesses such as flu and diarrhea. The EPA has set limits on the levels of bacteria in the public water supply. If your water is contaminated with pathogens, you should consider switching to purified water.
Your taste buds are also important, and can detect toxins in your water. If you notice a metallic taste, this is a sign of excess iron or copper. Rusty pipes can release these metals into your water supply. Another warning sign is water with a low pH.
You should contact your local health department if you suspect that your water is making you sick. By reporting your illness, you will help public health officials identify outbreaks of waterborne diseases. This will prevent other people from becoming ill. The health department can also provide you with tips on how to prevent your water from making you sick.
Many contaminants are not tested for in public water, which can cause health problems. While the Environmental Protection Agency has set limits for over 90 potential chemicals, many of these go undetected and can cause serious illness. They can enter your water through faucets and pipes, so you should be careful where you get your water from.
Heavy metals in your water are another concern. While traces of these are harmless, large amounts can cause metal poisoning. The symptoms of this illness vary depending on the type of metal. To protect yourself from these harmful metals, consider installing a reverse osmosis filter or a whole-house filtration system.
If you feel nausea after drinking water, you should consult a doctor. You may have an undiagnosed disease that causes the symptoms. You may also want to consider consuming healthy foods and drinking plenty of water. You can also make lifestyle changes to prevent the nausea from happening again.
There are many tests available to determine if your tap water is safe to drink. In addition to lead contamination, some chemicals in your tap water can affect your kidneys and cause cancer. Some of these tests are free or extremely inexpensive. Contact the local water authority to request a free lead test kit and analysis of your water.
Drinking purified water can reduce the amount of bacteria in your tap water. There are other contaminants, such as pesticides and herbicides, that can be harmful. If your water contains these chemicals, it may also be best to consult a doctor. It’s important to avoid drinking contaminated water if you want to prevent long-term health problems.
If you have a private well, you should also test it for contaminants. You may want to boil it for a minute or two to kill any active bacteria. If you think your well is contaminated, you should consult a water quality expert immediately.