As more and more advancements are made in the way of water filtration and decontamination both locally and globally you’d think that the number of contaminants seeping through would be more limited. Unfortunately, as it stands, more and more families around the world continue to find themselves being exposed to contaminated water. As a result, they become infected with various viruses, bacteria and parasites due to these contaminants infiltrating surrounding bodies of water and those local bodies of water feeding into their home’s water supply. Which is why it’s so important to continue to invest in treatment processes that can guarantee your family is receiving uncontaminated water at home.
More rural parts of the United States are likely to have their water contaminated through something as simple as extended rainfall. Consider this scenario: local forecasts suggest a few days’ worth of rain. The accumulation of that rain can lead to the fecal matter from surrounding farms to be led into nearby rivers and streams. Which could lead to those bodies of water becoming infected with E. coli as a result. Now, how does this impact your family? Those local bodies of water likely feed into your family’s water supply one way or another. In fact, the danger doesn’t stop there. In your family’s home, air conditioning and sprinkler systems that aren’t monitored or maintained regularly can accumulate water that breeds Legionella. The vapors from this water would then emit and flow through your family’s respiratory systems and cause Legionnaires disease.
It’s clear that any one of the situations listed above are dangerous for the health of your family, but these are only a few of the water-based contaminants that could be invading your home. An additional list of contaminants has been included below for your safety:
Pseudomonas: a rather uncommon pathogen, which ironically has become a very common cause of documented infections in the United States each year. This is largely in part due to it being difficult to track. Often found in living soil or most water sources around the world. Typically, symptoms as a result of any form of infection from pseudomonas will include pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sometimes even sepsis. Avoiding this pathogen is done through regular maintenance on a home’s plumbing systems.
Giardia Lamblia: most families will become infected with this parasite if they’re not cautious with their drinking water. The way this parasite operates and benefits from its host is through reproduction in the host’s small intestine. Which will cause the host to become infected with giardiasis. Those infected will face conditions such as diarrhea, stomach cramps and harsh fevers.
Salmonella: most commonly associated with food, families would be surprised to find out that their reptilian pet could be a favorable host for this bacteria. Anytime a family member comes into contact with these pets, they should immediately seek disinfectant for the sake of avoiding this bacteria. Failure to do can lead to symptoms such as severe gastrointestinal issues; with nausea, diarrhea and vomiting being the most common.
These contaminants are nothing to underestimate. For additional information on these contaminants, as well as ways to fight them off from your home, check out the infographic featured alongside this post.
Chris Ebener is a mechanical engineer for LiquiTech, with a proven track record of diagnosing and remediating public water system issues of various sizes and complexity. Ebener is an expert on the biochemical makeup of facility water systems, system architecture and various methodologies of public drinking water treatment.
