Updated July 13th, 2023

You turn on a faucet and get a trickle instead of a steady stream. Your dishwasher takes forever to fill up and run a cycle. Showering becomes a struggle as there’s barely enough water to rinse the soap and shampoo away. Should you be worried about your water pressure?

While your water pressure could be to blame for many of these undesirable outcomes, low flow issues can occur due to many other factors. Rust could accumulate inside old, galvanized pipes, reducing the pipe’s diameter and restricting water flow; The faucet or faucet aerators could be partially blocked up and need a good cleaning; Who knows? But one thing is sure: whether individually or together, these elements could have a massive impact on your home’s water flow rate.

But what exactly is water flow rate? Isn’t it the same as your water pressure? What is the typical home water flow rate, and how do you measure your household’s water flow rate? Keep reading as we answer all these questions and others, such as what flow rate you should aim for in your home and what you can do to boost your flow rate when it is too low.

Home Water Flow Rate vs. Water Pressure – What is the Difference?

Water flow rate refers to the amount of water being used or coming out of a pipe or faucet in a particular time interval, measured by the gallon used per minute (GPM). It could also be defined as how much water is flowing out of the faucet at any given time. If you have a tap or appliance with a low water flow when activated or want to experiment and find the GPM of your kitchen tap or bathtub, we explain a simple method below to help you measure your home’s water flow rate.

While water flow is how much water comes out of your faucet within a specific period, water pressure is the amount of force or strength used to push the water through the tap. The water pressure is how hard the water moves from one point to another, like from your faucet into your drinking glass or water bottle. Typically, water pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi).

While water pressure can significantly affect your water flow, low water flow does not necessarily mean low pressure. As we mentioned earlier, other factors can influence a home’s water flow rate than just water pressure. A household’s flow rate and water pressure can change depending on the size of the house, the pounds per square inch needed to reach a fixture or appliance, etc. Let us discuss these and other factors in more detail.

Factors That Can Affect Home Water Flow Rate

Your water flow rate depends on various factors, from your household size to buildup in fixtures and pipes. While each may have varying levels of impact on your flow rate, the size of your household is the main culprit behind any low flow issues you may be dealing with, so let us begin there.

Number of Household Members

The average number of people living in a household is around two to four. A household size above four people is considered a “large household.” Living in a large household sometimes sets the stage for water flow problems. Water flow issues in large households often crop up when many people in the house have several intensive, water-using fixtures on simultaneously, causing a pressure drop in your home system, resulting in lower flow rates across the board. However, a large household does not mean you are guaranteed to experience low water flow. Many other factors can hamper your flow rate than just your household size, such as those described below.

The Square Footage of Your Home

Another factor that can make or break your water flow rate is the square footage of your home. Square footage is the amount of space in your home’s living area in square feet (sq. ft.). If your home has square footage above the standard 2,322 sq. ft., the water will need to travel a greater distance to reach your faucets, showerheads, appliances, etc. As a result, you will need longer pipes and a higher pressure to move the water along and ensure it reaches its destination.

The problem with longer pipes is that the flow rate varies inversely to pipe length. If you double the pipe length, you will get half as much water through it per unit time. But couldn’t homeowners with larger households increase the water pressure to make up for the households’ size and pipe length? Yes, but consider that higher water pressure could cause a lot of expensive damage to pipes and water-using appliances, including water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets, causing them to stop working correctly because of the stress on plumbing and other parts. Plumbers suggest a maximum water pressure of 60 psi for average residential households, so homes above the average square footage could experience decreases in flow rates over time.

Low Water Pressure

As mentioned earlier, water pressure problems will affect the flow rate. If most of the fixtures and appliances in your home are experiencing low flow rates, your water pressure is low. Low water pressure can occur due to several factors, including:

• Problems with a water pressure regulator or a partially closed shutoff valve or meter
• Blockages in pipes, fixtures, and appliances
• Interior pipe deterioration
• Mineral buildup in pipes
• Water main breaks, leaks, and other issues in the public water distribution network

Blocked Pipes, Fixtures, Or Appliances

Low water flow rates can still occur even in a regular-sized home with two people and normal pressure. Blockages in pipes or fixtures, often caused by mineral buildup from hard water and constriction due to iron corrosion in pipes, can restrict the water flow, causing low flow rates. Sediment buildup in water heater systems can also cause massive drawdowns in hot water flow. Sediment, including dirt, debris, sand, rust, etc., can accumulate in your hot water tank over time. Eventually, this buildup will disrupt the hot water pressure in your home. So, if your hot water pressure seems abnormally low, sediment may be the issue.

Plumbing Size

The diameter of plumbing pipes can also influence water flow into and throughout a household. The larger the pipe’s diameter, the greater the water flow. For example, the flow rate of a 3/4” pipe is approximately 13.5 gallons per minute, while a 1” pipe flows at a higher rate of 21 gallons per minute.

How To Calculate Your Home Water Flow Rate: A Simple Flow Rate Formula

The easiest way to get a correct measure of your water flow rate is to time how long it takes to fill a container at an individual tap or plumbing fixture. You will need a measuring container for this method, such as a five-gallon bucket, a one-gallon water bottle, or a measuring cup.

Here are the steps to calculating your home water flow rate:

1. Start by placing the empty container under the faucet.
2. Open the tap entirely while starting the stopwatch. Stop the watch time when the container is full and turn off the water.
3. Calculate the flow rate using this simple flow rate formula: 60 ÷ [Seconds to Fill] × [Gallons Measured] = GPM
4. If you measured the water quantity in cups (U.S.), multiply the measured cups of water by six to obtain the total number of cups the faucet would fill up in a minute. Finally, convert the total number of cups filled in a minute to gallons (1 cup equals .0625 gallons).

Check out these examples you could follow to calculate your flow rate using the flow rate formula outlined above:

Example 1: Using a gallon container

If you fill a one-gallon container in 30 seconds, plug the number of gallons measured and the number of seconds it took to fill the container into the flow rate formula above:

You took 30 seconds to fill a one-gallon container, so your flow rate would be:

60 ÷ 30 × 1 = 2 GPM

Example 2: Using a measuring cup

If you filled 8 cups of water in 10 seconds, you would need to convert the cups to gallons first:

8 cups x 6 = 48 cups

Since 1 cup = .0625 gallons, the next formula is 48 x .0625 = 3 gallons.

So, your water flow rate would be 3 gallons per minute (3 GPM).

Once you obtain your water flow rate at a specific faucet, you can then compare it with standard flow rates for various fixtures for the typical home in the U.S.

Calculating your service flow rate

To calculate your service flow rate, add the flow rates for fixtures and appliances that may run longer than 10 minutes. Service flow rate refers to your everyday water flow.

Calculating your peak flow rate

To calculate your peak flow rate, add the flow rates for the maximum number of fixtures and appliances that may run simultaneously or install a water meter at the source to display exactly how much water is flowing per minute. The peak flow rate measures the maximum water flow. If every shower, toilet, or appliance were in use at your home, water would reach its peak flow rate.

If you check your peak flow rate at separate times of the day, especially at times when you think the most amount of water is being used, like first thing in the morning when everyone has a bath or shower, flushes the toilet, and so on, then this will give you the best sign of the peak amounts of water use and the number of liters per minute your household consumes.

How Many Gallons Per Minute Does Your Home Need?

The average flow rates in a standard American household vary based on the fixtures in question. The typical GPM usages of some common household fixtures and appliances are:

• Toilets: 2.0-3.0 gallons per minute
• Shower: 1.5-3.0 GPM
• Bathtubs: 4.0-8.0 GPM
• Bathroom or kitchen faucet: 2.0-3.0 GPM
• Dishwasher: 2.0-4.0 GPM
• Washing machine: 3.0-5.0 GPM

Compare the flow rate you calculated at various faucets in your home to these standard measurements to determine whether your flow rate is low, normal, or high.

If all your faucets and appliances were running simultaneously, how much would your GPM be? The typical residential water flow rate for small households is between 6-12 gallons per minute, so unless you plan to add extra kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms to your home in the future, your home will never need to exceed that final GPM, assuming your flow rate is already normal.

Then again, when you start running more than one fixture at a time, the gallons per minute add up quickly. If you have a water softener or a particular water treatment unit that restricts flow, you may see a pressure drop when several fixtures run simultaneously.

Why Flow Rate is Important for Home Water Treatment

Finding your desired flow rate is crucial to picking the best water treatment system for your home. Whether a carbon filter, UV system, or water softener, your flow rate often serves as a rough guide for choosing the most suitable water system for your home appliances and fixtures.

All of SpringWell’s Water Filtration Systems are designed with flow rate in mind. When shopping around, look for a water treatment system that can handle at least 5 GPM, then consider the type of system you want and what contaminants you want to eliminate from your water. Do you want a system that filters from just your kitchen faucet? Or do you want it to filter across your whole home? Are you looking to filter out chlorine/chloramines, or do you also want to combat mercury and fluoride?

An under-sized system could lead to unsatisfactory water pressure and flow to the rest of the house, even if the incoming water pressure is high. Likewise, an oversized system could cause excessive pressure, causing damage to household plumbing, fixtures, and appliances.

A high flow rate can also be a massive issue for water filtration as it could also significantly reduce the contact time with filter media. The faster the flow rate, the less contact time dirty water has with the filter media and the less effective the filter. Water must have adequate contact time with the media to remove impurities while it passes through.

UV water purification systems work similarly. Disinfection is directly affected by the amount of contact time the UV light has with the water. Usually, water flows through a filter too fast because the system is not sized according to the proper flow rate. You may need a flow restrictor to slow the flow and increase contact time.

Ensuring Maximum Flow Rates in Your Home

The first way to ensure maximum flow rates in your home is to have good water pressure. Although low pressure is not always the culprit behind water flow issues in residential households, there are many ways to fix low water pressure at home and improve your flow rate.

Limited GPM in your home can also stem from the actual pipes in your home. If you still have galvanized pipes in your home and experience low flow, it is time to replace them because rust and other minerals are likely to accumulate in the pipes, causing corrosion and clogging and restricting water flow throughout the house. If the low flow only occurs at one faucet, the faucet aerator needs proper cleaning or replacement.

If the issue involves iron in the water or sediment, SpringWell’s whole house iron water filter can quickly remove the iron and reduce the possibility of iron deposit buildup in the pipes. Similarly, a water softener can remove hard minerals from water known to cause mineral buildups in pipes, plumbing fixtures, and appliances. A sediment filter is also a good solution to ensure there’s no sediment in the water that could be clogging your appliances. This buildup often restricts the amount of water that can travel through the pipes to faucets, fixtures, and appliances in your home, whether due to iron, hardness or sediment.

Another issue that can cause flow rate and pressure problems is an improperly sized filter. If you have a point-of-use water filtration system that filters out impurities like iron and sediment, the GPM that your house can support may be a bit lower. Fortunately, this is an easy fix. You need to replace the filter with one that can support a more substantial water flow.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with low home water flow is no fun. Everything from soaking in a bathtub after a long day to washing dishes and doing laundry will become longer, more frustrating tasks when your water flow is diminished. Luckily, you can do many things to increase your home’s water flow, like fixing water pressure issues, replacing your pipes, cleaning your faucet aerators, etc. But one of the most effective solutions is installing a whole-house system to remove iron or other contaminants that can accumulate in pipes and fixtures.

The WS1 Whole-House Iron Filter is designed and tested to reduce pollutants up to 12 gallons per minute (up to 20 GPM with the WS4). The same with the standard CF1 Whole-House Filter System – designed for contaminant reduction up to a flow rate of 9 GPM, up to 20 GPM using the more powerful CF4, and a whopping 20 GPM with the superior CF+. You can also add a water softener to eliminate hard minerals from blocking up your water heater, pipes, and household plumbing, thus increasing your water flow.

If you want to learn more about our water filtration and softening systems and how they can help improve your water flow, we would be happy to help. Please call us at 800-589-5592 or send us a message via our contact page.

The post What is the Average Household Water Flow Rate? appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

If you’ve been trying to shed a couple of pounds, you may have started hitting the gym, eating healthier, lowering stress, and getting more restful sleep. But did you know drinking more water may also help you slim down? Yes, this clear, calorie-free liquid does more than quench your thirst but might even help you lose weight.

We’re not saying you’ll wake up lighter by simply drinking more water—although we wish it were that easy. But research suggests that the more hydrated you are, the better your results may appear on the scale. Take this study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for example. It discovered that “increased water consumption, in addition to a program for weight loss or maintenance, reduced body weight after 3–12 months compared with such a program alone.”

Water also helps improve vital body functions like digestion, circulation, and calorie burning, which are all essential for weight loss. Of course, factors like health, behaviors, and genetics can impact your body weight. But if your goal is moderate weight loss over the long term, consistent daily hydration could be a great place to begin.

6 Science-Backed Ways Drinking Water May Help You Lose Weight

1.      Water may help boost your metabolism.

Your body needs water to burn carbohydrates, stored fats, and fats from food and beverages. Lipolysis, the process of breaking down fat, starts with hydrolysis. Hydrolysis occurs when water molecules interact with fats called triglycerides to produce fatty acids and glycerol. This process ultimately helps with weight management, according to an eight-week study published in 2013.

The study observed 50 young girls carrying some extra weight. They drank about two cups of water 30 minutes before each meal without making other dietary changes. And guess what? They lost weight, had reductions in body mass index, and even improved their body composition.

It’s pretty simple. Drinking water—particularly when chilled—can stimulate your body to produce more heat through thermogenesis. Your body must work harder to warm up the cold water to match your body temperature, which requires energy. The more energy your body expends, the faster your metabolism (the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy).

Don’t get too excited, though. The effect of thermogenesis is modest, meaning it won’t cause massive calorie deficits for significant weight loss—at least in the short term. But look on the bright side: every calorie you burn can contribute to weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Plus, staying hydrated offers many other fantastic health benefits, such as those below.

2.     Drinking water before meals can help prevent overeating.

When you’re hungry, your first instinct might be to reach for something to eat. But sometimes, all you need is water. In some cases, the brain may mistake hunger for thirst, causing you to eat when you weren’t hungry in the first place, according to Dr. Melina Jampolis, MD, a California-based internist and board-certified physician nutrition specialist. And it makes sense: we often resort to food when our bodies need water, a habit that can result in weight gain over time.

Researchers believe that drinking water before meals can help fill up some space in our stomachs, creating a sense of fullness. Naturally, this may reduce hunger and cause us to eat less. This explains why non-obese young males who drank two glasses of water immediately before a meal in a small 2016 study ate 22% less than those who didn’t drink any water before eating. Studies of older adults have shown that drinking water before each meal may increase weight loss by 2 kg (4.4 lbs) over 12 weeks.

You may naturally consume fewer calories by feeling satisfied with smaller portion sizes. Plus, eating water-rich foods, like watermelons, can also help make you feel full. These foods are rich in soluble fiber, which slows digestion and helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol, thus keeping us fuller for longer and promoting a healthier weight.

3.     Water helps remove waste from the body.

Water is crucial for healthy kidney function, which is responsible for filtering waste from the body and expelling it through urine made of mostly water. It also facilitates the movement of feces since water keeps the stool soft. So, the more hydrated you are, the easier it is for the body to remove waste materials, toxins, and byproducts of metabolism from the body while retaining essential electrolytes and nutrients.

But how does this relate to weight loss? Well, eliminating waste products keeps them from accumulating in the body, which could otherwise cause bloating, water retention, and added weight on the scale. Moreover, maintaining regular bowel movements can prevent feelings of heaviness and discomfort in the abdomen, improving your mood and overall well-being and preparing your body for healthy weight loss.

4.    Drinking water may improve exercise.

Staying on top of your water game helps you perform better and longer during workouts. The main goal is to avoid dehydration to make your exercise much more effective.

When working out, water dissolves electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium, and distributes them throughout the body. The electrical energy from these minerals triggers the muscle contractions required for movement.

In an article published on sportscardiologybc.org, dehydration is linked to “a reduction in blood volume, decreased skin blood flow, decreased sweat rate, decreased heat dissipation, increased core temperature, and an increased rate of glycogen use.” It can also cause fatigue, tiredness, cramping, and muscle injury.

On the flip side, staying well hydrated helps maintain your blood volume, so the blood vessels at the skin’s surface can expand quicker to release heat. Otherwise, you may experience heat exhaustion or worse. Being adequately hydrated can also improve your workouts by decreasing muscle fatigue, allowing you to exercise longer and burn more calories. That’s why it’s essential to hydrate before and throughout your workout, not just when you start feeling thirsty.

5.     Drinking water could help reduce your liquid calorie intake.

For some people, there’s nothing more satisfying than gulping a can of apple juice, soda, or iced tea on a hot, sunny day. Although these sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) might seem like harmless hydration liquids, they increase your calorie intake—something you avoid if you’re trying to lose weight.

Since water is a calorie-free beverage, filling your glass with H2O is a healthier alternative than those SSBs. To put this into perspective, choosing water over a standard 20-ounce soft drink (which usually contains 2.5 servings with 100 calories per serving) means you’ll drink 250 fewer calories. Unless you don’t make up for those calories throughout the day, these savings can help boost your weight loss.

Diet sodas may seem like an excellent option over plain old water, but some people’s weight loss results may vary. For instance, a 2015 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that overweight and obese women who replaced diet beverages with water after their main meal showed more significant weight reduction during a weight-loss program. However, the researchers noted that the extra weight loss in those who drank water could be due to consuming fewer calories and carbohydrates, but more research is needed.

If, for some reason, you find it hard to drink water consistently, you may try replacing regular beverages with “diet” ones that often contain way less sugar and carbs. You can add slices of your favorite fruits to make your water more flavorful and refreshing.

Related: 15 Reasons Why (Filtered) Lemon Water is Good for Your Health

6.    Drinking water may improve mood and reduce stress.

Dehydration has been linked to higher cortisol levels, a stress hormone the body naturally produces. When you’re under stress, your adrenal glands release cortisol, triggering a fight-or-flight response and temporarily putting regular bodily functions on hold while slowing your metabolism.

Cortisol helps stimulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism, creating a surge of energy in your body. While this process is vital for survival, it also increases your appetite and can cause cravings for sweet, fatty, and salty foods. As a result, you’re more likely to reach for french fries and a milkshake than a well-balanced meal. Moreover, excess cortisol can lead to decreased testosterone. Inadequate testosterone in the body can reduce muscle mass and hinder the number of calories your body burns.

Since your metabolism is responsible for converting food into energy, changes in how this system works can have various consequences. According to the American Psychological Association, these include weight gain, fatigue, depression, and health complications such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Additionally, an overabundance of cortisol-induced weight gain tends to accumulate around the abdomen, associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, often referred to as “toxic fat.”

A large study found that people who consistently drink five cups or more of water per day were found to have a lower risk of experiencing depression and anxiety. Those who consumed less than two cups per day faced twice the risk. While the link between water intake and stress alone was less pronounced, we know that feelings of depression and anxiety often go hand in hand, influencing each other.

This connection isn’t limited to adults, though. Even children particularly vulnerable to dehydration show a similar link between inadequate water intake and heightened anxiety levels. Being dehydrated can also impact the quality of our sleep. You see, poor sleep can intensify feelings of anxiety. When we don’t get enough quality rest, stress increases, and dehydration can disrupt our sleep patterns.

Other Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Drinking water has many other non-weight-loss-related health benefits. Let’s explore a few of them.

Helps control blood pressure: Too little water in the body can cause blood to become thicker, constricting your blood vessels and increasing blood pressure. At the same time, it could lower your blood volume, possibly decreasing your blood pressure. It’s a lose-lose situation. When your blood pressure drops too low, your tissues and organs don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need, possibly leading to shock, heart problems, brain damage, etc. Drinking ample amounts of water every day can help avoid these undesirable and potentially fatal situations.

Enhances brain function: Proper hydration is also vital for brain health. A study published in the journal titled Frontiers in Human Neuroscience discovered that drinking water can boost cognitive performance. Participants who drank water performed better and faster on cognitive tasks than those who didn’t hydrate adequately. Other studies have shown that even mild dehydration can negatively affect mood, concentration, memory, and overall brain function for individuals of all ages. Since you lose water through everyday activities, you should stay hydrated to reduce your risk of these problems.

Promotes heart health: Your heart works around the clock to ensure adequate oxygen reaches all your cells. However, without enough water in the body to support the heart’s 24/7 operation, it can become exhausted. Studies show that dehydration causes low blood pressure and poor circulation, so the body must constrict the vessels and increase heart rate to try to circulate the fluid faster to deliver needed oxygen and nutrients. This can strain your heart and increase the risk of heart-related problems like attacks, strokes, and other severe conditions. The good news is that “maintaining good hydration can slow down or even prevent changes within the heart that lead to heart failure,” says study author Dr. Natalia Dmitrieva, a senior researcher at the NHLBI, in a press release.

Related: Drinking Enough Water Could Help Prevent Heart Failure, Study Finds

Boosts skin health: If you’ve been struggling with dry, itchy, flaky, and saggy skin, you may have blamed it on a skincare product you started using recently. But what if it has to do with your hydration levels? When dehydrated, your skin becomes more susceptible to wrinkling, fine lines, dryness, and other undesirable conditions. It can also worsen existing skin conditions like acne and eczema.

However, Dr. Steven Deliduka, a board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology, says proper hydration levels help the skin become plump, improve its elasticity, and make it less likely to crack and have irritations and blemishes.

Once you are adequately hydrated, the kidneys chime in and excrete excess fluids and toxins from your body, cleansing your skin and keeping it looking good. Proper hydration also helps lock in moisture in the skin for a radiant glow.

Related: 10 Surprising Beauty Benefits of Filtered Tap Water | Is Tap Water Bad for Your Hair and Skin? | Help Prevent Skin Problems With A Water Filter & Softener System

How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

According to research, there’s no one-size-fits-all regarding your ideal water intake. It depends on various factors like your body size, physical activity level, the climate you’re in, and your diet. For instance, if you spend time in hot weather or do intense exercise, you must drink more to replenish what you lose through sweating.

Some experts suggest drinking half your body weight in ounces, which means if you weigh 200 pounds, you’d be looking at around 100 ounces of water. And, of course, there’s that classic advice to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. However, there’s no scientific evidence that these recommendations hold for everyone.

So instead of driving yourself crazy with measuring cups and counting glasses, start drinking water regularly throughout the day and pay attention to what you’re body is telling you. A 2020 study found that urine color is a reliable indicator of hydration levels in healthy adults. So, peek in the pot each time you go to the bathroom after peeing. According to this hydration chart, if your urine’s color is amber or burnt orange, you are likely dehydrated and need to drink up. You’re at a good place if it’s light yellow like lemonade or light beer.

Then again, you don’t have to rely solely on plain old water to quench your thirst. Just add some slices of fresh fruit or a squeeze of lemon. Beverages like tea, milk, and smoothies can increase your hydration levels. It’s all about finding that perfect balance and keeping your body happy and hydrated.

Why Drinking Clean, Contaminant-Free Water is Key

In addition to body size, physical activity level, climate, and diet, water quality is another critical factor when planning how much to drink. Drinking unfiltered tap water exposes you to a host of potentially deadly contaminants, including:

• Lead
• Arsenic
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Disinfection byproducts (DBPs)
• Microplastics
• PFAS (Forever chemicals)
• Microbial contaminants
• Other contaminants

But don’t water treatment plants have to follow strict guidelines to ensure contaminants like these don’t end up in our drinking water? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean your drinking water will be contaminant-free.

As the water travels to your home, it can pick up different contaminants—through leaks, water main breaks, or otherwise—and bring them to your drinking glass. Once ingested, these pollutants can cause various health problems, such as gastrointestinal illnesses, neurological problems, reproductive issues, and others.

Bottled Water: A Safer Alternative?

Some may opt for bottled water due to its taste, perceived safety, accessibility, and convenience. But according to the Minnesota Department of Health, “sometimes the water you can buy in a bottle is simply public tap water that has been enhanced in some way, such as changing the mineral content.” Also, some bottled water may contain small pieces of plastics called microplastics, often containing bioactive chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. Over time, these plastic bits can leach from the bottle into the water and enter our bodies when we drink, increasing the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, asthma, reproductive disorders, and more.

A 2018 study tested 11 widely available bottled water products from 9 countries, concluding that 93% of the 259 bottles sampled contained microplastics. This contamination was due in part to packaging and the bottling process itself.

And did we mention that only a measly 12 percent of the 60 million water bottles used in the US daily get recycled? The rest usually ends up in landfills or oceans, where decomposing may take around 450 years.

Related: Americans Exposed to 5,000 Times the Safe Level of BPA, Study Finds | Is It Safe to Drink Bottled Water Left in a Hot Car?

So, How Do I Ensure My Tap Water is Safe to Drink?

Filtering your water is the most effective way to rid it of potentially dangerous contaminants. How do you achieve this? By installing a premium water filter system in your home.

Point-of-use (POU) water filters

POU systems, such as our under-counter reverse osmosis filters, are usually attached to a single fixture, such as the kitchen sink, and only treat the water you use in that specific place. They are mainly used to filter the water you drink and use to cook, make beverages, wash fruits and veggies, and maybe run to an ice maker in the refrigerator. These filters use a semi-permeable membrane and multiple stages of filtration to produce high-quality drinking water.

Here’s a snippet of how RO filters work:

• The process usually begins with pre-filters, typically sediment filters, which remove larger particles like sand, dirt, rust, and silt. Carbon pre-filters can reduce chemicals like chlorine that could clog or damage the RO membrane. (Learn how prefiltration helps protect reverse osmosis membranes.)
• The water then undergoes reverse osmosis, where a semi-permeable membrane filters out dissolved solids, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and pharmaceutical residues. The system discharges the rejected pollutants through the reject stream, which either goes to the drain or is fed back into the feedwater system to be recycled through the RO system.
• Next, the water passes through a post-filter, often containing activated carbon, which further polishes the water by removing any remaining taste, odor, and trace impurities.
• Finally, the filtered water flows to the storage tank. When the tank is full, the RO system shuts off.

Learn more: Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Explained.

Whole-house water filters

If you want clean, filtered water flowing throughout your home, installing a whole-house water filter is the way to go. Whole-house filters are point-of-entry (POE) filters. That means they are installed where the water first enters your home, treating every drop you use to drink, cook, shower, brush your teeth, and do laundry. They also protect your pipes and plumbing from corrosive contaminants.

While many POE systems have different features and use various methods and technologies to filter water, the basic principle remains the same:

• Some whole-house filters may include a pre-filter stage designed to remove larger particles like sediment, debris, and rust. Prefiltration helps protect the primary filter and improves its efficiency.
• The water then enters a KDF bed containing copper-zinc alloy media, which helps reduce chlorine and other harmful contaminants and inhibit the growth of algae and bacteria in the tank.
• During the next stage, an activated carbon filter traps and removes organic contaminants like PFAS (PFOS and PFOA), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, haloacetic acids (HAAs), some heavy metals, etc. This process also helps improve the taste and odor of the water.
• After the water passes through the main filtration stage, some whole-house water filters may include an additional post-filtration step to enhance the quality of the filtered water further before it reaches your taps and fixtures. Some people may add a water softener and/or Ultraviolet (UV) purification system for even more thorough filtration. Water softeners remove hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium known for causing a host of problems in households. UV purification destroys bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other potentially dangerous waterborne microbes.
• The now-filtered water continues its journey through the plumbing system of your home. It is distributed to all your household faucets, showers, appliances, and other water outlets.

Learn more: Is a Whole House Water Filter Right for You? Here’s A Guide | How UV Systems Work and Why You Need One for Your Home

Final Thoughts

So, as it turns out, drinking water not only quenches our thirst but could also be a powerful ally when trying to lose weight. Research has shown that staying hydrated can boost your metabolism, curb overeating, facilitate waste removal, improve exercise performance, reduce liquid calorie intake, and even enhance your mood. All of these benefits can help improve your weight loss efforts. Drinking enough water also offers several incredible benefits beyond shedding those extra pounds.

But not all water is created equal. Bottled water may contain microplastics, BPA, and other harmful contaminants. Likewise, tap water may be tainted with scores of potentially dangerous pollutants, even after being treated by a local water system. And the last thing you want to do is consume contaminated water while on your wellness journey.

Filtering your water can remove harmful substances like lead, arsenic, microplastics, and other contaminants in unfiltered tap water. Springwell offers a premium line of high-quality water filtration systems equipped with advanced features and technologies to remove a wide range of contaminants from your water supply. That way, you can enjoy pure, refreshing water that supports your weight loss goals and promotes overall well-being.

To learn more about Springwell’s water filter systems, browse our products page or call us at 800-589-5592.

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If you’ve been keeping up with our articles on PFAS, you’re probably aware of the harmful impact these so-called “forever chemicals” can have on drinking water quality. They’ve gained quite a reputation for their long-lasting nature and cancer-like effects on humans—even featured in the Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters.’

While several states have passed laws regulating certain PFAS in drinking water, there’s no federal mandate to do the same. This means that not all public water systems must test for PFAS or take the necessary steps to filter them out before they reach our taps. But for the first time in over a decade, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to make a historic change.

On March 14, the agency announced its long-awaited proposal to regulate certain PFAS in drinking water. Experts believe this could significantly improve the country’s water quality and protect public health. But before we get into the details of this groundbreaking proposal, let’s take a moment to explore what PFAS are and why it has become necessary to regulate them in the first place.

What are PFAS, and why do they need to be regulated?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) aren’t your regular chemicals. They are a family of manufactured compounds notorious for their ability to stick around in the environment and the human body for decades. They are also really good at repelling water, oil, and grease. And so, they’re used in hundreds—if not thousands—of everyday consumer products, from waterproof jackets and food packaging to nonstick pans and personal care products.

But why do we need regulations for these chemicals, given their widescale use? Well, there are a few good reasons:

• PFAS pose a significant threat to humans and the environment. Numerous studies have linked exposure to these chemicals with various health issues, including liver damage, immune system dysfunction, hormone disruption, developmental delays in children, and an increased risk of certain cancers. No wonder why communities and health experts are deeply concerned. And let’s not forget about the impact on ecosystems. PFAS can accumulate in wildlife, disrupting their health and reproductive abilities.
• They’ve managed to enter drinking water sources. Even more frightening is that PFAS have been detected in water supplies, soil, and even in the blood of a large percentage of the U.S. population. These sneaky compounds can leach into groundwater and contaminate water sources near industrial facilities, military bases, and areas where firefighting foams have been used. This has left many communities vulnerable to PFAS exposure through tap water, sparking concerns about the safety of drinking water across the country.
• They have limited regulation and monitoring. Historically, only a handful of PFAS compounds have gotten attention, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Meanwhile, recent research has uncovered a bunch of other potentially dangerous PFAS substances that have flown under the radar.

So, yes, PFAS are a cause for concern. That’s why we hope the new EPA PFAS regulations will help minimize our risk of exposure to these harmful compounds.

Related: The Toxic Effects of PFAS in Drinking Water | How AFFF Firefighting Foam Can Pollute Drinking Water

How would the new EPA standards regulate PFAS?

The PFAS family is made of thousands of different chemicals. Under the new rule, water systems would need to monitor and test for six specific PFAS in water, including PFOA and PFOS, two of the most well-known and -studied PFAS. These used to be used to make Teflon and Scotchgard. They’ve been phased out, but PFAS chemicals don’t break down naturally, so they’re still around us. Plus, many of them are still used in products imported from overseas.

The EPA proposes enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS at 4 ppt (parts per trillion), a significant reduction from the previous 20 ppt. This proposed MCL is the lowest level at which these chemicals can be reliably measured. The EPA is also looking to set Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG) of zero for both PFAS, meaning there is no safe level of the chemicals in drinking water.

There’s no proposed standard for the remaining four—PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX chemicals—but rather a proposed MCL of 1.0 Hazard Index (unitless) and an MCLG of zero for a mix of them. So, water systems would have to test each individually and evaluate their combined risk. It’s a more complicated approach but considers the increased effects of multiple PFAS occurring together in drinking water.

If the levels of these compounds exceed the legal limit, the water systems would need to notify the public and take action to reduce the levels. They would also have to determine whether the levels of these PFAS pose a potential risk. The EPA said they may need to install treatment or take other action to reduce PFAS levels, and systems may even need to switch to different water sources.

This proposal would be one of the first updates to the Safe Drinking Water Act’s new chemical standards since 1996. These proposed standards would be way stricter than what the EPA suggested in 2016. Back then, they recommended PFAS concentrations in drinking water to be no more than 70 parts per trillion (ppt). However, based on the latest scientific findings, the EPA issued health advisories in June that revealed PFAS chemicals are much more hazardous to human health than initially thought. It turns out they might pose a danger even at levels thousands of times lower than previously believed.

Will the new EPA standards be enough to protect people from PFAS exposure?

The new EPA standards for PFAS in drinking water are certainly a step in the right direction. However, it is too early to say whether they will be enough to protect people from exposure. There are lingering concerns that raise valid points about the potential risks even if the standards are met.

For example:

• Some water utilities may be unable to measure PFAS at 4 ppt reliably and could end up under-reporting. That means some folks could unknowingly be exposed to higher levels of PFAS than they realize.
• The water utility may not have the resources to treat PFAS in their water. This could mean that some people served by the water utility may be exposed to PFAS even if the water is tested and found to be below the MCL.
• Those who depend on private wells for their water supply face their own set of risks. These wells can become contaminated with PFAS from various sources like industrial facilities, landfills, and agricultural runoff.

While the EPA evaluates scientific research on PFAS, we should remember that the agency might tighten the standards over time. Still, even if they don’t provide complete protection against PFAS exposure in water, these new standards are a remarkable improvement over the previous ones.

How will the new standards affect people who drink tap water?

By introducing these new PFAS standards, those relying on tap water can look forward to improved water quality.

• Cleaner and safer tap water. If passed, the proposal will introduce stricter regulations and guidelines to combat toxic PFAS compounds in our water supply. This means water suppliers must step up their game and take adequate measures to reduce the presence of PFAS contaminants. The result? Cleaner and healthier water flowing from our faucets.
• Enhanced quality control measures for peace of mind. The new standards require water suppliers to adopt thorough testing and monitoring procedures. Regular assessment of PFAS levels in the water supply would lessen the time to identify and address potential issues. So, when you take that refreshing sip of tap water, you can do so with confidence, knowing that it has undergone rigorous treatment to eliminate or minimize the presence of harmful PFAS chemicals.
• Better protection for the most vulnerable. Children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of PFAS exposure. The new PFAS standards would provide more protection for these vulnerable populations. Ensuring that tap water contains lower levels of PFAS helps to minimize potential health risks and contributes to the overall well-being of these individuals.
• Promoting long-term health benefits: The benefits of the new PFAS standards would extend beyond the immediate improvements. By curbing exposure to PFAS through tap water consumption, we can potentially reduce the long-term health risks associated with these contaminants, such as cancers, diabetes, liver and kidney problems, etc.

What challenges might the EPA face in implementing the new PFAS standards?

While the EPA recognizes the importance of addressing PFAS pollution to protect water quality and public health, the new regulation has faced criticism, mainly due to cost.

The American Water Works Association (AWWA), a strong advocate for water utilities and backed by scientists, supports setting national drinking water standards for PFAS to ensure the well-being of all consumers. However, in a public statement, they emphasize that implementing advanced PFAS treatment systems would demand significant investments from communities and ratepayers. As if that wasn’t enough, these expenses would pile on top of existing costs for improving infrastructure, such as replacing those pesky lead pipes.

The American Chemistry Council, representing chemical manufacturers, isn’t entirely sold on the proposed standard. The council made a public statement voicing serious concerns about the scientific basis behind it and fear the immense compliance costs associated with the suggested low limits, potentially reaching billions of dollars.

Indeed, treating water to remove PFAS isn’t cheap, especially for small water utilities. The most effective treatment technologies for PFAS are often expensive and require massive upfront investments. This can be a challenge for small water utilities, which may not have the financial resources to invest in these technologies. And this could set the stage for legal battles between utilities and chemical companies and the EPA—as previous health guidelines have.

Therefore, the EPA will need to defend the standards in court and ensure that they are implemented in a way consistent with the law. The EPA is confident that the standards are legally sound but may be challenged in court.

When would the new PFAS rule take effect?

Before the new regulation becomes official, the EPA wants to hear from the public and gather feedback during a comment period. They want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

Some groups have been fighting against PFAS and are happy about these new rules. Advocacy organizations like the PFAS Action Group on Nantucket and the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network have been pushing for stricter regulation for a while, so they’re cheering for this announcement.

During the EPA news conference about the new regulation, Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear in North Carolina, expressed her satisfaction. She said, “Today, the EPA’s Office of Water is finally getting us closer to our goals. Nobody should have to worry if the PFAS in their tap water will make them sick one day.”

Even if the plan is officially finalized by the end of 2023, it won’t immediately go into effect. Public water systems will need time to make the necessary changes over the next few years.

What can I do to protect my water from PFAS?

The EPA’s new PFAS plan is still in its early stages. And considering the legal challenges, costs, and other hurdles, it could take quite some time before it becomes official. In the meantime, we strongly suggest that you take action to keep PFAS out of your drinking water.

A good start is to perform a water test to see if the chemicals have also infiltrated your water supply. Laboratory testing—which involves purchasing a water test kit and sending a water sample from your tap for testing at a laboratory—is the most accurate and reliable option.

If the results show that your water contains PFAS, the next step is to install a high-quality water filtration system to remove them.

The Best Water Filters to Remove PFAS from Water

Eliminating PFAS from drinking water typically requires one of two approaches—at least at the residential level: reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration.

Treating PFAS in Drinking Water with Reverse Osmosis

RO filters are highly effective as they force water through a membrane that captures contaminants, including PFAS, lead, arsenic, nitrates, etc. They surpass activated carbon filters in filtering a broader range of contaminants. Typically, RO systems consist of sediment filters, carbon filters, and an RO membrane.

For example, the Springwell SWRO Under-Counter Reverse Osmosis Filters are designed to rid your water of potentially toxic PFAS. With a 4-stage filtration process combining reverse osmosis and carbon filtration, they remove heavy metals like lead, arsenic, fluoride, PFAS, and other common water contaminants. The SWRO filters are conveniently installed under your kitchen sink, producing up to 75 gallons of treated, PFAS-free water daily.

Filtering PFAS from Drinking Water with Activated Carbon

Activated carbon filters are highly recommended as an alternative to RO filters. The Springwell CF1 whole-house filtration system, particularly, excels in reducing PFAS and other harmful pollutants in your drinking water. This top-tier activated carbon filter effectively removes chlorine, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, pesticides, herbicides, haloacetic acids, and more. Acting as a point-of-entry system, it filters all the water entering your house, providing comprehensive protection.

The CF1 utilizes Springwell’s cutting-edge ActivFlo technology, premium coconut shell carbon, and filtration media. It goes through four critical stages, allowing sufficient contact time with contaminants at each step to eliminate up to 99% of harmful substances. With multiple lines of defense, you and your family can enjoy healthier and safer drinking water, free from the most dangerous pollutants.

Final Thoughts

Finally, the EPA announced its first-ever proposal to regulate “forever chemicals” in our water. These persistent compounds have been a menace to water quality and human health for years. But with this proposal, we may see a significant decrease in PFAS levels within our drinking water supplies.

Naturally, there will be pushbacks against this proposal and other hurdles to overcome before it becomes official. As such, it will take time and effort to navigate these challenges for its implementation. But until then, we urge you to consider testing your water for PFAS and explore the benefits of installing a reliable water filtration system, such as a reverse osmosis filter or a whole-house activated carbon filter system. These systems are designed to effectively remove PFAS and other chemicals if detected in your water.

To learn more about our cutting-edge PFAS water filter systems, don’t hesitate to contact Springwell at 800-589-5592 or via our chat service. We are here to assist you and provide the solutions you need for cleaner, safer, PFAS-free drinking water.

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While ‘Giardia Lamblia’ may sound like some fictional creature from a sci-fi movie, it’s a real and serious threat to drinking water quality. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that it’s one the major culprits behind those nasty waterborne disease outbreaks happening right now in the United States, affecting over one million people each year.

Now, we don’t mean to scare you, but we can’t underestimate the dangers of this microscopic parasite. What we can do, though, is figure how to keep it far away from our precious drinking water supplies. And that’s where the good old chlorine comes in.

Chlorine has been the to-go solution for tackling microbiological issues in water. But how effective is it against Giardia? Before we get into that, let’s take a moment to explore what Giardia Lamblia is, where it comes from, how it gets into drinking water, and the not-so-fun symptoms associated with exposure.

What is Giardia Lamblia?

Now, you might be wondering, “What on earth is Giardia Lamblia?” It’s certainly not some extraterrestrial creature from a movie, but tiny parasites that live in human and animal intestines. According to Mayo Clinic, “Before the microscopic parasites are passed in the stool, they become encased within hard shells called cysts, which allows them to survive outside the intestines for months. Once inside a host, the cysts dissolve, and the parasites are released.”

Where Does Giardia Lamblia Come From?

Giardia can be found on various surfaces, in soil, food, and even water contaminated with feces from infected individuals or animals. This cunning parasite spreads quickly, moving from person to person or through contact with contaminated materials. Commonly, people fall ill by unknowingly ingesting contaminated drinking water or swallowing or swimming in recreational waters, such as lakes, rivers, or pools.

How Exactly Do Giardia Parasites Get into Water?

When a human or animal is infected with Giardia Lamblia, the parasites are excreted in their stool and have sneaky ways of entering our drinking water sources.

Here’s how it happens:

• Rain or other water runoff can wash the cysts from contaminated areas into rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, known drinking water sources. They act as a potential gateway for these parasites to enter public water supply systems, and from there, into our homes.
• Ground and surface water can become infected with Giardia from agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, sewage overflows, or animal feces. During heavy rainfall or a flood, the cysts may leach into water wells, possibly entering the water supply.
• Not even recreational water venues like swimming pools, hot tubs, or natural bodies of water are safe from Giardia Lamblia. Children in diapers and people with diarrhea may accidentally contaminate pools and spas, turning your fun swimming sessions and relaxing spa days into potential sources of infection.

Symptoms of Giardia Exposure in Drinking Water

So, what happens if you’re exposed to Giardia? One expected outcome is giardiasis, the US’s most common intestinal parasitic infection. If you get infected with Giardia, you might experience the following symptoms:

• dehydration
• stomach cramps or pain
• upset stomach
• weight loss
• gas
• bloating
• vomiting
• nausea
• episodes of watery diarrhea

These symptoms usually appear one to three weeks after exposure but can last longer or recur in some people. Some individuals may not show signs but can still carry the parasite and pass it on to others through their stool.

Children are especially vulnerable to these infections than adults, as they tend to come in contact with feces more often, particularly if they wear diapers, are in potty training, or spend time in childcare centers. People who live or work closely with small children also have a higher risk of developing a giardia infection. So, if you experience these symptoms after swallowing water from your tap, a lake, pool, pond, or river, reach out to a doctor immediately.

Giardia infection is also widespread in areas with inadequate sanitation, or the water isn’t safe to drink. You’re at risk if you travel to places where giardia infection is common—especially in rural or wilderness areas—and aren’t careful about what you eat and drink.

How To Test for Giardia in Water

Unfortunately, you can’t tell if Giardia parasites are present in your water by looking at, smelling, or tasting it. Even if the water looks cloudy, has an odd color, or smells foul, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s Giardia Lamblia present. To be sure, it’s best to get your water professionally tested by a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing usually involves the following steps:

1. Purchase a water test kit: Look for a reliable water test kit online or at local stores. Make sure it includes a specific test for Giardia Lamblia. These kits usually have clear instructions and everything you need to collect a sample.
2. Collect a water sample: Follow the instructions in the kit to collect a water sample. Usually, you’ll need to fill a clean container directly from your water source, like a faucet or well. Take care not to contaminate the sample during collection.
3. Send the sample to a certified laboratory: Follow the kit’s instructions for proper storage and shipping once you have the sample. Make sure it’s sealed tightly and return it to the laboratory for analysis. Check the recommended shipping method and timeframe to keep the sample intact.
4. Await the results: The laboratory will analyze the sample for the presence of Giardia Lamblia. It may take a few hours to a few days to get the results, depending on the laboratory’s process.
5. Interpret the findings: When you receive the results, carefully review them. The laboratory will provide reliable information about whether or not Giardia parasites were found in your water. They may also report on other potential contaminants they tested for.
6. Take appropriate actions: If Giardia Lamblia is detected, contact local health authorities, water professionals, or plumbers for guidance. They can help you determine the best ways to purify and treat your water to make it safe for drinking.

Learn more: 10 Common Problems a Water Test Can Detect in Tap Water

Does Chlorine Kill Giardia in Drinking Water?

Most municipal water systems disinfect water with chlorine to destroy harmful microbes. When chlorine is added to the water, it attacks and damages the outer shell of the parasites. This process, known as oxidation, stops them from functioning correctly, thus making the water safer to drink and use.

But according to a 2019 study, “Both, Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts are resilient and may survive in water for months. In addition, they are known to be resistant to chemical disinfection.” The CDC also says, “Chlorine has a low to moderate effectiveness in killing Giardia….”

Not only is chlorine ineffective against Giardia, but some people don’t like the chemical-like smell or taste that lingers in chlorine-treated water. There are also concerns about disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Chlorine can react with organic matter in the water and create DBPs, such as trihalomethanes (THMs). These compounds can be dangerous if consumed in high concentrations over a long time.

Chlorine sure has its benefits—no doubt about that. But based on scientific studies, such as this one, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection offers a more reliable, efficient, and effective solution for removing Cryptosporidium and Giardia from water. This technology involves using a powerful ultraviolet light to damage the DNA of germs, “deactivating” them and stopping them from reproducing. It’s an excellent choice to ensure your drinking water is microbe-free while avoiding the concerns linked to chlorine treatment.

Learn more: Chlorine in Drinking Water: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Purifying Your Well Water with Chlorine: Is it the Safest Option?

Best UV Water Filter To Remove Giardia from Drinking Water

The Springwell UV Water Purification System is one of the most reliable, affordable, and practical solutions for removing Giardia and other microbes from your water supply. This advanced system uses UV (ultraviolet) technology to control microbiological issues in water.

With such a system in your home, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• Destroys most waterborne microbes: You can have peace of mind knowing that the system will eliminate 99.9% of harmful pathogens, viruses, and bacteria, safeguarding you and your family from giardiasis, Cryptosporidiosis, Hepatitis A, and other dangerous diseases caused by contaminated drinking water.
• Cost-effective and requires low maintenance: UV systems generally consume very little energy, and the bulbs only need to be replaced every year. The Springwell UV Water Purification System is no exception.
• Safe and uses no chemicals (environmentally friendly): UV systems provide chemical-free water disinfection.
• No impact on taste or odor: These systems provide safer, tastier water for your family without affecting its taste or smell.
• Uses FDA-approved technology: UV water purification is one of four methods approved for disinfection by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• High flow rate: This powerful system boasts a high 15 GPM flow rate and 30mj/cm2 intensity, ensuring little to no decrease in water flow.
• Troubleshoot issues quickly: What also sets the Springwell UV System apart is its state-of-the-art UVC5-15 series controller. It is designed for convenience and has a colorful interface that provides easy visual identification of remaining lamp life, error codes, and system diagnostics. Furthermore, the system incorporates QR codes for quick access to lamp change information and instructional videos.

To ensure optimal performance and preserve the longevity of your UV system, we recommend installing a sediment filter before the UV unit to prevent debris or particles from interfering with the system and voiding its warranty.

Learn more: Best Water Filtration System to Remove Bacteria & Viruses from Water

Final Thoughts

The potential threat of Giardia Lamblia to drinking water quality isn’t something we should take lightly. Year after year, it causes widespread outbreaks, affecting many Americans. While chlorine is widely used for water disinfection, it falls short in effectively combating this persistent parasite. Thankfully, UV disinfection provides a more reliable and efficient solution to remove Giardia and other harmful pathogens from our drinking water.

For those seeking optimal protection against microbial pollutants, the Springwell UV Water Purification System is an exceptional choice. Its ability to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes without relying on chemicals ensures clean and safe drinking water—No more unpleasant taste and smell of chlorine in your water. Moreover, this system offers a high flow rate and innovative troubleshooting features for quick and easy problem detection.

If you want to learn more about the Springwell UV Water Purification System or our other top-notch water filtration systems, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can call us at 800-589-5592 or send us a message via chat.

The post Is Chlorine Effective Against Giardia Lamblia in Drinking Water? appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

Does murky brown water greet you every time you lift your toilet seat? The fact that you’re reading this article tells us this is most likely the case. Perhaps you reached to flush because you assumed someone had forgotten. But, to your surprise, brown water kept flowing into the bowl. How is this even possible?

Rest assured; no one poured coffee or iced tea in the toilet tank—or at least, we hope not. Instead, it could be a problem with your pipes, plumbing fixtures, water supply, or potentially something more serious. In this article, we’ll explore eight possible reasons behind this strange occurrence and provide simple, practical solutions to help you restore your toilet water to its sparkling, clean state.

What Causes Brown Water in Toilets?

If you’ve noticed the water in your toilet is brown, it could be due to any of the following reasons:

1. Rusty Pipes

Sometimes, brown water in toilets doesn’t come from the toilets themselves but rather from rusty pipes. Over time, pipes and plumbing fixtures can corrode, causing rust to form inside them. As water flows through these rusty pipes and fixtures, it can pick up small rust particles, discoloring the water. When the water reaches your toilet bowl, that strange brown hue appears.

So, how do you fix it? A good start is to identify the corroded pipes. If your home was constructed before 1986, it likely contains metal pipes such as copper, cast iron, and galvanized steel prone to rust after decades of use. Then again, even if your home’s piping system is lead-free, lead can leach into the water as it travels through millions of lead service lines to your home. When these pipes are exposed to water with high acidity or low mineral content, or the water sits too long inside them, it may corrode the pipes, leaching lead from them and discoloring the water flowing to your taps and inside your toilets.

The Solution

If you’ve discovered rusty pipes are the culprit, open several cold faucets inside your home and let them run for about 15 minutes. This will help flush out excess rust from the pipes. However, a more practical but costlier solution is to replace the entire plumbing system, as it eliminates the source of the rust—assuming the issue lies in your home’s plumbing and not the municipal water infrastructure. A professional plumber can assess the extent of the corrosion and install new pipes where necessary. If you suspect it is a neighborhood-wide problem, consult your neighbors and contact the municipal water authority.

Learn more: America’s Aging Water Pipes: Is Your Tap Water at Risk? | How Lead in Water Affects Children and Adults

2. Old Toilet Parts

Over time, essential toilet components like the flapper and fill valve can deteriorate or become faulty. A worn-out flapper can no longer seal properly, allowing water to trickle into the bowl continuously. If the flapper material breaks down, it can introduce rust or debris into the water, resulting in brown discoloration. Similarly, a faulty fill valve may allow impurities from the water supply to enter the tank. Don’t worry, though. Fixing this problem is relatively easy.

The Solution

Replacing old toilet parts with new ones will prevent further contamination and restore the toilet’s functionality.

3. Excess Minerals

Excess minerals in your water supply might be the reason behind that brown color. Common culprits include iron and manganese. When the water enters your toilet tank and sits for some time, these minerals can precipitate and form deposits, resulting in a brown tint. Higher amounts not only make your water taste metallic but also leave a brown sticky slime inside the toilet bowl and tank. If not addressed quickly, this residue can clog, corrode, and stain plumbing fixtures, pipes, and appliances, increase bacterial infestation, cause unpleasant tastes and odors, etc.

Hardness minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, can also contribute to brown water. Hard water, commonly found in areas with high mineral content, can leave deposits in your plumbing system and toilet fixtures. These deposits can affect the appearance of the water and contribute to the brown color.

The Solution

The first step to tackling excess minerals in water is to determine the amount in the water. A water test kit, available online, can evaluate the different minerals and contaminants in your water supply. Once the specific concentrations are established, you can devise a plan to deal with them.

One easy way to handle iron and manganese is to soak the tank, bowl, and toilet components overnight with white vinegar to break down the mineral buildup. For hard water, consider installing a water softener or using descaling agents to remove calcium, magnesium, and other hardness-causing minerals to prevent brown water issues.

Related: How Hard Water Damages Your Plumbing and Appliances | Is Your Water Causing Orange Hair? Iron Could Be The Culprit!

4. Clogged Pipes

Dealing with a clogged pipe can be a real headache. But, unfortunately, it’s another possible reason for that brown water in your toilet. Clogs can occur due to toilet paper, waste that doesn’t break down quickly, a buildup of so-called flushable wipes (which aren’t always as flushable as they claim to be), and even years of residue accumulating in the pipes. Below, we’ll help you navigate this plumbing predicament.

The Solution

To determine if a clogged pipe is to blame, check if the other toilets in your home are also experiencing the brown water issue. If they’re flowing clear, you can breathe a sigh of relief and scratch clogged pipes off the list of suspects. However, if you start noticing changes in water flow and pressure, detect strange odors wafting from your toilet, or experience frustratingly slow draining, chances are your pipes are clogged and causing the brown water dilemma.

If a clogged pipe is indeed the case, you’ll need to act swiftly to get it fixed, as the pressure in the water pipe can build up and potentially lead to cracks or even an expensive pipe breakage. Usually, it’s best to call a professional plumber to work their magic. They’ll likely run a plumbing snake—a long, flexible wire that can navigate through drains and pipes—to remove the clog or use a pipe camera to pinpoint the issue’s exact location. However, if the clog seems closer to your toilet, you can give it a few good plunges to see if that will clear the blockage. If that doesn’t work, you might need to call a plumber.

Related: 6 Things You Should Never Pour Down the Drain | 7 Reasons Your Home Has Low Water Pressure & How to Fix It

5. A Lack of Toilet Cleaning

Have you been delaying cleaning your toilet bowl regularly or putting it off altogether? If so, that could explain the brown color in your toilet water. Allowing days or weeks to pass without thoroughly cleaning your toilet bowl can cause mold, bacteria, and brown deposits to form inside the bowl and tank. When these deposits mix with the incoming clean water during flushing, they give the water a brownish tint.

The Solution

Fortunately, the solution is pretty straightforward. Grab a toilet brush and a bathroom cleaner (or toilet bowl solution), and scrub diligently. Pay close attention to areas around the rim where water flows into the bowl. If the water in the toilet goes from brown to clear due to your cleaning efforts, then the problem is resolved. If not, try the solutions below.

Related: What Causes Pink Bathroom Slime, and How Do I Remove It?

6. Municipal Work or Water Source Issues

Occasionally, brown water in toilets can be a temporary issue caused by maintenance work carried out by your water provider. During such work, sediments or rust may be stirred up in the pipes, leading to temporary discoloration. Similarly, changes in the water source, such as heavy rainfall or algae blooms, can affect water quality.

The Solution

In most cases, these issues are temporary. However, if the problem persists or poses health concerns, we recommend contacting your water provider for further guidance. Installing a whole-house water filtration system can be particularly useful during such disruptions in water quality. This system is designed to remove sediment, rust, dirt, and other contaminants that may surface during these periods, ensuring that the water you use throughout your home remains clean and clear.

Related: How Hurricanes Can Affect Drinking Water Quality

7. Sewer Line Issues

If your sewer line gets blocked, it can hinder wastewater flow. This means backups can occur, potentially causing the wastewater to mix with the incoming clean water supply. And the result? Brown-looking water in your toilet bowl. You might also have to deal with the unpleasant odors that come hand in hand with sewage and other contaminants.

The Solution

It’s best to leave sewer line issues to the pros. A skilled plumber can thoroughly inspect your sewer line, identify the root cause of the problem, and proceed with the necessary repairs. Again, sewer line problems require professional attention. Attempting to tackle them yourself can lead to further complications and mess.

Related: The Dangers of Sewage In Drinking Water

8. Corroded Well

If your water comes from a well, and you’re noticing brown water not only in your toilets but also from your faucets, there’s a good chance that rust or corrosion lurking inside that well is to blame.

Corrosion can affect various well components, including pipes, pumps, and casing. When these components deteriorate, they introduce rust into the water supply, leading to unsightly brown water in your toilets. Additionally, certain minerals like iron and manganese, naturally occurring in some water sources, can gradually accumulate over time and contribute to discoloration, giving your water that unpleasant brown hue.

The Solution

To confirm whether corrosion in your well is causing the issue, collect a water sample directly from the well and carefully inspect it for the classic signs of brown well water. Look out for dust, sediment buildup, or thick, slimy water consistency, as these can serve as indicators. If you suspect your well is old or compromised, we highly recommend contacting a water treatment specialist for their expertise. Better yet, consider having the well tested to ensure it complies with the regulations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Specifically designed filters for wells, such as the Springwell Whole House Well Water Filter, excel at removing rust particles and other common contaminants in well water. This particular Springwell Water Filter incorporates cutting-edge technologies and advanced features to filter all the water entering your home thoroughly.

It efficiently eliminates up to 8 parts per million (ppm) of hydrogen sulfide, up to 7 ppm of iron, and one ppm of manganese. The system requires minimal maintenance, and you can set it to perform a daily backwash to remove accumulated contaminants and replenish the filter media bed. The regeneration process also introduces a fresh air pocket into the system, eliminating any lingering sulfur smell you may have experienced.

Related: Buying a House with a Well System? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Final Thoughts

Nothing’s more frustrating than lifting the toilet seat to find a bowl of brown, murky water. You try flushing it, but brown water keeps flowing. Sometimes, it may be rust inside your pipes, municipal water system, or even within your well. Other times, it may be clogged pipes, water system maintenance, etc. But no matter what the cause is, it always helps to have a water filtration system to prevent contaminants from reaching your faucets and into your drinking glass. A whole-house water filter treats all the water entering your home, blocking sediment, chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants from invading your water supply and wreaking havoc on your health and home.

To learn more about Springwell’s top-quality water filtration systems, don’t hesitate to contact us at 800-589-5592 or via chat.

The post 8 Causes of Brown Toilet Water and How to Fix It appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

Today, many people are turning away from bottled water and making the move to tap water and other alternative modes. If you’ve already made the switch, it’s important to know what’s in your tap water.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires most community water systems to notify the public once any regulated contaminants are detected and any breaches of water quality standards have occurred. This information is usually included in your annual water quality report.

A water quality report, also known as a consumer confidence report, provides information about your local drinking water quality. Essentially, it highlights what contaminants, if any, are present in your drinking water and how they may affect your health. It also includes a list of all the regulated pollutants that were detected in your water over the prior calendar year.

Although water quality reports are intended to help people make informed decisions about their drinking water, these reports can be confusing and full of complex words and expressions that are often difficult to understand.

In this guide, we will help you understand your water quality report, so you won’t go nuts trying to interpret it by yourself.

But What If I Don’t Get a Water Quality Report?

According to the EPA, if you don’t pay your own water bill, you won’t receive a report. Basically, a water quality report is not available for persons who live in apartments, condos, or rental properties, or those who get their water from private ground wells. However, if you are a tenant then you can contact your building manager or search online to see if your Community Water System (CWS) published its water quality report. You can always do a quick google search of your city + annual water quality report and go from there.

Understanding Your Water Quality Report

Summary of Water Source and Treatment Efforts

In general, every water quality report must contain information such as:

• The sources of the drinking water, whether a lake, river, well, groundwater aquifer, or some other water sources;
• What contaminants the municipality tests for, their treatment capacity and the standards they uphold to ensure safe and reliable water supply to your home;
• EPA regulations and a list of all the regulated contaminants and their levels;
• Potential health effects of any pollutant detect at a level that violates EPA’s health standards, and what you can do to prevent water-related illnesses;
• Contact details for the water system and EPA’s Safe Water Drinking Hotline;
• And other vital information.

Detailed Breakdown of the Contaminants Detected

Another important section of the report also is the chart breakdown of all the contaminants detected in the public water supply at the time of testing. You may also come across several codes and abbreviations that might seem technical at first. Don’t be intimated! Get familiar with the information so you can better understand what’s in your water.

Here are some of the key terms you may discover:

• Contaminant name: The name of the substance being examined, such as sodium, fluoride, copper, lead, etc.
• MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The lowest level of a particular contaminant allowed in drinking water for which there is no known or expected risk to your health. This is basically a safety boundary for each contaminated detected.
• MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant the EPA allows in your drinking water.
• MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in your tap water. When used in measured amounts, disinfectants can help control germs and microbes in the water. Disinfectants like chlorine are added to water to kill harmful microorganisms and make it safe to consume. The MRDLG represents the maximum level of disinfectant that should ideally be present in the water to minimize potential health risks. It is set below a level with no expected adverse health effects. 
• Treatment Technique (TT): A required process that is undertaken to reduce the level of a contaminant in your drinking water.
• Your Water: The maximum level of that contaminant found in your water during sampling.
• Range detected: The levels – high and low – at which contaminants were detected in your drinking water.
• Violation: Shows if a contaminant is present in your drinking water above the level allowed by the EPA.
• Parts per million (ppm): One ppm represents one part of a particular contaminant per million parts of water. It is equivalent to milligrams per liter (mg/L).
• Parts per billion (ppb): One ppb represents one part of a particular contaminant per billion parts of water. It is equivalent to micrograms per liter (µg/L).
• Contaminant Source: the origin or the pathway through which a specific contaminant enters the water supply, such as industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment plants, or natural geological formations.

The EPA has established the MCL as a protective guideline to safeguard the health of the consumers. However, many water treatment facilities try to set the MCLs within the parameters but very close to the MCLG. If the MCL goes beyond the contaminant’s MCLG, it could lead to possible side effects. If this happens, your municipality is obligated to disclose this as a violation in your water report.

Contaminants Typically Included in Water Quality Reports

• • Physical: These include contaminants you can see or feel in the water. They can be anything from tiny particles to sediment or visible materials that alter the water’s appearance or texture (Think grains of sand, fine silt, rusty fragments, debris floating around, or even small organic matter). These physical contaminants can directly impact the water’s quality and overall aesthetics.

• Chemical: Chemical contaminants are organic and inorganic substances with a distinct chemical composition in water. They can occur naturally or find their way into water through various human activities. Chemical contaminants cover many substances, including heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, chlorine, solvents, pharmaceuticals, and industrial pollutants like PFAS.

• Biological: As biological suggests, these contaminants are or were living organisms or the substance they produce. They typically enter drinking water through fecal matter, animal waste, or organic materials. Biological contaminants include bacteria such as E. coli, viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A, and protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Consuming water contaminated with these organisms can lead to potentially deadly waterborne diseases and infections.

• Radiological: Radiological contaminants, or radionuclides, are materials with atoms inside them that give off a special energy called ionizing radiation. They do this as they break down or decay. These contaminants include radium, uranium, cesium, and plutonium. Long-term exposure to high levels of these contaminants in drinking water can increase the risk of cancer and other health problems.

Each category of contaminants—physical, chemical, biological, and radiological—can be hazardous to health. However, some within each category are more toxic than others. Keep scrolling as we delve into the most common and hazardous ones you’re likely to find in your water quality report. 

Most Common Hazardous Contaminants Listed in Water Quality Reports

Lead

Lead is one of the most dangerous heavy metals detected in drinking water. It often finds its way into drinking water through older plumbing systems and pipes, usually those containing lead or lead solder. This is a significant concern because, even at low doses, this toxic metal can have devastating health effects.

When ingested over time, lead can accumulate in the body, damaging bones, brain, kidneys, and liver. It can also cause anemia, reproductive issues, and renal impairment. Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Early childhood lead exposure can lower a child’s IQ, negatively impact their behavior, and result in lifelong disabilities. 

In response, the EPA established the Lead and Copper Rule or LCR in 1991, requiring water systems to monitor the water quality at customers’ taps. If the lead concentration exceeds 15 parts per billion (ppb) or the copper concentration surpasses 1.3 parts per million (ppm) in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, water systems must take additional measures to reduce corrosion, monitor water quality parameters, and replace lead service lines. Otherwise, they must inform the public about preventive measures they can take to safeguard their health. The current action level for lead in drinking water is 15 parts per billion (ppb), but the goal is no detectable levels (MCLG of 0 ppb).

Learn more: How Lead in Water Affects Children and Adults | How to Remove Lead from Your Drinking Water

Arsenic

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can seep into groundwater from rocks and minerals. Having high levels of arsenic in drinking water poses significant health risks. Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to various health complications, including lung and skin cancer, decreased IQ, nervous system issues, breathing problems, and even death in high doses. The EPA has set the MCL for arsenic at 10 ppb, with an MCLG of 0 ppb. Regular testing and appropriate treatment methods, such as activated alumina or reverse osmosis, should be considered to reduce arsenic levels in affected water sources and safeguard public health.

Learn more: Effects of Arsenic in Drinking Water During Pregnancy | The Best Water Filtration System to Remove Arsenic from Water

Nitrate

Nitrates are essential nutrients for plants. They occur naturally in soil, groundwater, and surface water and can sneak into drinking water through agricultural fertilizers and septic systems. While nitrates aren’t usually harmful to adults, they can pose a risk to infants. Babies exposed to high nitrate levels can develop methemoglobinemia, often called “blue baby syndrome,” as it causes their skin to turn bluish. It also affects how their blood carries oxygen. The EPA has set an MCL of 10 ppm for nitrates in drinking water to keep things safe and an MCLG of 0 mg/L.

Learn more: 5 Reasons to Avoid Nitrates in Drinking Water

Nitrite

Nitrites are created when nitrates break down or from other nitrogen-containing sources. They’re not as common as nitrates but can still be found in groundwater and surface water. Nitrites enter our drinking water through natural processes and human activities, including septic systems and certain agricultural practices. If nitrite levels get too high, they can convert the hemoglobin in our blood into methemoglobin, causing methemoglobinemia. Symptoms of this condition include bluish skin, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. As a safety measure, the EPA has set an MCL of 1 ppm for nitrites, with an MCLG of 0.1 ppm, indicating a safe level.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral in soil, water, foods, and the human body in bones and teeth. It has proven benefits for dental health, including strengthening teeth and fighting tooth decay. Because of this, it is added to many over-the-counter dental products (like toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental supplements) and even to public drinking water supplies.

The EPA has set the MCL for fluoride at 4.0 mg/L, with an optimal level of 0.7-1.2 mg/L. While fluoride is generally safe, excessive levels can lead to dental fluorosis, which affects tooth enamel. 

Learn more: Fluoride in Drinking Water and Its Potential Effects

Microbes

In drinking water, microbes, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, are notorious for causing various potentially deadly waterborne illnesses and other adverse health problems. If you’re wondering how these tiny organisms can get into drinking water, it’s through sewage leaks, animal waste, and poor water treatment. And if you ingest them? You’ll likely develop one of many waterborne diseases, which typically carry symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and fever. In some cases, these diseases can even cause death. 

The EPA has established regulations for various microbes in drinking water, including total coliform bacteria and E. coli. To ensure microbial safety, it’s essential to regularly test water quality and implement appropriate disinfection or filtration methods, such as chlorination or UV treatment, to prevent microbial contamination and protect public health.

Learn more: The Dangers of Sewage In Drinking Water | How to Remove Coliform Bacteria from Drinking Water

What Contaminants Aren’t Listed in Water Quality Reports and Why?

Usually, water quality reports focus on the most common or regulated contaminants that concern public health. There are various reasons for this: 

Limited Testing: Water quality reports may not include contaminants that are not regularly tested for or not required by regulations. Testing for every possible contaminant can be impractical and expensive, so reports typically prioritize the most prevalent or concerning contaminants. 

Examples of contaminants with limited testing include Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). PCFs are synthetic chemicals found in firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and waterproofing materials. However, due to their specialized analysis requirements, PFCs are only sometimes included in routine water testing. Similarly, testing for the presence of PPCPs, which include prescription and over-the-counter medications and personal care products like lotions and cosmetics, is not typically conducted as a standard practice.

Secondary Contaminants: Secondary contaminants are substances that may not directly harm our health but can affect the appearance, smell, taste, or other properties of water. Unlike primary contaminants, the maximum contamination levels (MCLs) for secondary contaminants, also known as secondary maximum contamination levels (SMCLs), are not strictly enforced. Instead, SMCLs serve as guidelines to maintain water quality. Some of the most common secondary contaminants in drinking water include calcium, magnesium, and aluminum. 

Emerging Contaminants: New contaminants that have recently been identified or become a concern may not be included in water quality reports—or at least not immediately. It takes time to establish testing methods and regulations for emerging contaminants. Examples include microplastics, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), certain pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Localized Contaminants: Chances are you won’t find contaminants that are specific to certain geographical areas or sources in your water quality report. That’s because pollutants vary based on local conditions and activities and may not be universally reported. 

For instance, water quality reports may test for specific agricultural contaminants, such as pesticides and fertilizers. Still, they may not comprehensively analyze all possible agricultural runoff contaminants, such as specific herbicides or veterinary drugs. They may also include all potential pollutants associated with localized industries, such as specific heavy metals or chemical compounds, that may be present due to nearby manufacturing or industrial processes.

Individual Water Sources: Generally, water quality reports provide information on community water systems. However, if you rely on a private well or other individual water source, the specific contaminants in your water may be excluded from the public water quality reports. This is one reason private well owners are encouraged to conduct independent testing to identify contaminants that may be specific to their water source. 

What More Can I Do to Make My Drinking Water Safer?

Water treatment facilities aim to make your water safe to drink. However, if you still have doubts about the quality of your water, you can purchase a water testing kit and check for yourself or you can have it professionally tested.

In reality, some dangerous contaminants may still be present in your drinking water when it reaches your home. These contaminants can negatively affect the taste and smell of your drinking water and can be toxic to your health. Not only that. Certain contaminants can leave stains and scum in your pipes and on your fixtures and can damage your appliances over time.

Now, these situations are often difficult to deal with, especially if you attempt to apply manual labor. If you want safer and better-tasting water flowing through your pipes, you can install a whole house water filtration system to block out contaminants before they enter your home.

Water softeners also work to remove high concentrations of calcium and magnesium that make your water “hard.” Soft water prolongs the life of your appliances, makes your hair and skin softer and healthier and makes your dishes and laundry look and feel cleaner than ever before.

Verdict

A water quality report can reveal important information about the quality of your drinking water. That’s why it’s crucial that you know how to interpret what it’s telling you. If the report leaves you feeling doubtful about your water quality, you can take the necessary steps above to make your water safer for you and your family.

The post How to Read Your Water Quality Report: Helpful Tips and Expert Advice appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

Whether rushing to the office or going on a camping trip, many of us always grab a water bottle before heading out. It’s a convenient way to hydrate while on the move, keeping us refreshed and energized. But sometimes, we forget to drink from it, unintentionally leaving it in the car. Days turn into weeks, and then before you know it, we’re reaching for that same abandoned bottle to quench our thirst. Depending on who you ask, you should never drink water left in a hot car for long. However, this research-backed article reveals the truth behind this dilemma.

What Happens When Plastic Water Bottles Get Hot?

Most plastic water bottles are made from a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for short. “PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic widely used for packaging foods and beverages, especially convenience-sized soft drinks, juices, and water,” says the PET Resin Association. But when plastic water bottles heat up, something interesting often occurs.

It could leach dangerous chemicals from the plastic into the water.

As the temperature rises, chemical bonds in the plastic begin to loosen up and break down, causing various chemicals to seep into the water inside the bottle. In a 2014 study, researchers exposed plastic water bottles to four weeks of intense heat at 158 degrees Fahrenheit. And guess what they found? Some antimony and bisphenol A (BPA) had leached into the water.

Antimony is used to produce plastic but can be toxic in high doses. BPA, on the other hand, is a compound used to make plastic bottles hard and shiny. However, it has been flagged as an endocrine disruptor and a possible human carcinogen (it can cause cancer).

However, the study examined sixteen different water brands and found that only one exceeded EPA regulations for BPA levels. And even then, it was in trace amounts. Furthermore, the FDA considers small amounts of BPA to be safe.

It could start a fire.

As it turns out, plastic water bottles can also be a fire hazard. According to a New York firefighter, “The water and the plastic create a magnifying effect and could essentially set upholstery on fire or a piece of plastic on fire.”

Under the right conditions, the beam of light can focus on a specific spot, like your car seat, which is often made of flammable materials, such as fabrics or certain synthetic materials. After a while, the concentrated light can generate enough heat to cause the upholstery to catch fire, leading to a potentially dangerous situation.

That’s why many experts recommend keeping plastic water bottles away from hot places like cars or garages and storing them in a cool, dark spot, far away from any heat sources.

Is it Safe to Drink Bottled Water Left in a Hot Vehicle?

Occasionally drinking from a forgotten water bottle in a hot car will likely not make you seriously ill—unless it’s been opened. Usually, the water inside an unopened bottle remains sealed and protected, minimizing the risk of bacterial contamination. However, the story changes when we consider opened bottles left in a hot space. Hot vehicles provide the ideal environment for bacteria to grow and multiply rapidly, so it’s best to toss any opened bottles left in your vehicle.

But what about the chemicals that may have migrated into the water? Well, it all depends on your levels of exposure. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods (less than 2.25 milligrams per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight per day).” Essentially, the BPA amount that might leach from them is pretty low compared to carcinogen levels, as stated by the FDA.

However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a new “tolerable daily intake” of BPA of 0.04 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day (ng/kg bw/day). Considering that the FDA estimated that the average US resident over two years old consumes 200 ng/kg bw/day, or about 5,000 times the safe level set by the EFSA, should you be concerned?

It’s a tricky question because the FDA still recognizes BPA as a safe additive in food packaging. Yet, in 2012, the agency banned manufacturers from using BPA in baby formula cans, bottles, and sippy cups. Regardless, some emerging research suggests that—even at established “safe” levels—BPA exposure may cause or contribute to various health problems.

Possible Health Effects of Drinking Bottled Water Left in Hot Cars

Many research studies suggest that BPA exposure may have toxic health effects on humans. However, these are limited since they are primarily animal studies. It is still not well known to what extent BPA affects humans. Still, there are some concerns that BPA may be linked to the following health problems:

Type 2 diabetes: There is evidence that low exposure to BPA could contribute to insulin resistance and, therefore, type 2 diabetes.

Heart disease: Research shows that even low doses of BPA exposure can cause cardiovascular problems, including hypertension, heart attack, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and angina. Findings also suggest that this level of exposure could trigger blood pressure changes, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmia.

Fetal brain development: A 2019 study found that exposure to BPA during pregnancy—even at levels lower than the regulated ‘safe’ human exposure levels—can alter brain development and behavior at later stages.

Low birth weight: Research suggests prenatal exposure to BPA affects long-term body weight development by altering fat cells.

Breast and prostate cancer: Scientists believe that BPA’s estrogen-like behavior could increase the risk of breast cancer and other cancers in people exposed to it in the womb. Another study showed that exposure to low levels of BPA during development might make men more susceptible to prostate cancer later on. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in the US.

Hormonal disruption: Some experts believe BPA could act like a hormone in the body, disrupting normal hormone levels and development in fetuses, babies, and children. For example, one study found that men with higher BPA levels were 3–4 times more likely to have a low sperm concentration and low sperm count. Similarly, another study of women undergoing fertility treatments found that those with higher levels of BPA are up to two times less likely to become pregnant.

Reproductive disorders: A 2013 scientific study found that BPA exposure can affect human egg maturation. A separate review study found evidence that BPA can interfere with endocrine function involving the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. More research suggested that this action could affect ovulation and puberty and lead to infertility.

Asthma: A new study of over 3,000 pairs of mothers and children from six European countries showed that BPA exposure in the womb might increase the risk of asthma among school-age girls. The study found that “there was a significant association between levels of BPA in mothers’ urine and asthma and wheezing for girls, but not boys.”

Bacterial Contamination Health Effects

As mentioned earlier, the heat inside a car provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow. As the temperature rises, any bacteria in the water can multiply faster, potentially reaching levels that can cause serious health problems.

According to the US Department of Health, drinking water contaminated with bacteria is linked to various adverse health issues, such as gastrointestinal issues (including nausea, headaches, fevers, fatigue, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea), coma or even death.

“Infants, children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick or die from disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water,” the agency says.

Related: Deadly Bacteria Behind Melioidosis Now in the US: A Threat to Well Water Quality? | 15 Dangerous Diseases Caused by Contaminated Drinking Water

Concerned about BPA in Bottled Water? Here’s How to Minimize Your Exposure

While the FDA has not established proper guidelines for BPA in drinking water, you can take a few steps to reduce exposure to this and other toxic chemicals.

Use BPA-free alternatives. As consumer awareness grows, manufacturers increasingly offer BPA-free products to meet the demand. So, when shopping, prioritize products explicitly labeled as “BPA-free.” While not all products carry this label, some plastics with recycling codes 3 or 7 could contain BPA. Therefore, exercise caution with unmarked products and choose those identified as BPA-free.

Choose Glass or Stainless-Steel Water Bottles. Yes, bottled water tastes great and is perfect for days when you’re on the go, but the plastic doesn’t break down entirely in the environment. Instead, much of it is broken down into smaller fragments called “microplastics.” These bits of plastic have been detected in 17% of surface waters, including rivers, wastewaters, and oceans. Even our drinking water and are known to contain BPA, phthalates, and other similar chemicals. Moreover, microplastics can accumulate in the body and cause various health problems. So, consider getting a glass or stainless-steel bottle instead of plastic water bottles. These materials are free from BPA and are environmentally friendly.

Learn more: Microplastics in Drinking Water & How To Reduce Risk of Ingestion

Filter your water. Swapping plastic containers for BPA-free ones is a fantastic way to reduce BPA exposure through drinking water. However, filtering your water could be a safer, more affordable, and more reliable alternative to bottled water. Generally, filtration can eliminate microplastics, lead, copper, arsenic, and other dangerous contaminants in unfiltered tap water.

Best Water Filter to Remove Microplastics from Drinking Water

The fact that microplastics and other potentially dangerous pollutants have been detected in America’s tap water tells us that perhaps the water treatment systems at some municipal plants are not optimized to keep them out of our water.

Fortunately, Springwell offers two exceptionally reliable and highly efficient water filtration solutions that can eliminate microplastics and a host of other toxic contaminants from your drinking water.

The CF1 Whole-House Filtration System

The CF1 whole-house water filter is a high-end point-of-entry system that filters every drop of water entering your household. It is highly efficient and is equipped with some of the latest and most powerful water filtration technologies to eliminate 99.9% of contaminants from water.

The CF1 has a special sediment filter that removes impurities down to 5 microns. Most microplastics fall within this range, so as the water passes through the filter, the filter blocks those bits of plastic from entering your water supply.

The SWRO Under-Counter Reverse Osmosis Systems

The SWRO under-counter reverse osmosis systems are point-of-use systems that filter water at specific taps in your home. Typically, reverse osmosis filters can eliminate particles as small as 0.001 microns, so they are highly effective for removing microplastics.

Our 4-stage SWRO-Nickel and SWRO-Bronze reverse osmosis systems are no exceptions. Their sediment filter and carbon block filter remove contaminants down to 5 microns. Due to the filters’ RO nanofiltration membranes, they can also catch significantly smaller particles, like microplastics.

Final Thoughts

Proper hydration is vital, especially you’re on the move in warmer weather. However, it’s just as important to consider where you store your water and the quality of the water you drink. Leaving plastic water bottles in your car might not seem like a big deal; heat’s effect on plastic can change your perspective.

When exposed to heat, the chemical bonds in plastic can break and cause BPA and other chemicals to migrate into the water. Beyond that, hot cars provide an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, potentially contaminating the water in opened bottles and causing illness if consumed.

Considering these factors, we highly recommend opting for BPA-free water bottles, particularly those made from glass or stainless steel. These materials are less prone to chemical leaching and are more environmentally friendly. Furthermore, installing a whole-house water filter or an under-counter reverse osmosis system can help remove microplastics and scores of other contaminants possibly in your water.

The post Is It Safe to Drink Bottled Water Left in a Hot Car? appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

It’s hard to think of anything more refreshing than a cool glass of water after an intense workout. But don’t always be too quick to take a sip. Even if the water looks clean, it could contain harmful bacteria that could make you sick. The mere thought of ingesting these nasty microbes is enough to give anyone the chills, yet millions of Americans consume them daily without realizing it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 7 million Americans fall ill yearly due to waterborne pathogens, including coliform bacteria commonly detected in private water wells. If you’re concerned about coliforms in your well water supply, keep scrolling to learn what they are, how they get into well water, common signs of their presence, and their associated health risks. We’ll also share practical advice on how to test your water for coliform bacteria and what to do to get rid of them.

What are Coliform Bacteria?

Coliform bacteria are a family of bacteria found virtually everywhere—in soil, organic matter, human and animal feces, and often well water. Super gross!

Not all coliform bacteria are created equal, though. In fact, there are three different groups, each with its own level of risk:

• Total coliform bacteria occur naturally in the environment and are generally harmless. If they’re the only type of coliform found in your drinking water, the source of contamination is likely from soil or vegetation rather than fecal matter. But here’s the catch: if environmental pollutants can enter the water supply, there’s a chance that other more harmful pathogens could sneak in too.
• Fecal coliform bacteria are a sub-group of total coliforms and typically live in the intestines and feces of humans and animals. If they’re detected in your well water, it’s a pretty good sign of recent fecal contamination, which means there’s a greater risk of harmful pathogens getting into your water supply and, ultimately, your drinking glass.
• Coli bacteria are a type of fecal coliform. Most are harmless and actually play a crucial role in our gut health. However, some strains can cause serious illness. If E. coli is detected in your drinking water, it almost always means your water supply has been exposed to fecal matter.

How Do Coliform Bacteria Get into Well Water?

When it rains, the water picks up various contaminants from off the ground surface and the soil, including harmful ones like coliform bacteria. As the water flows, it transports these pollutants into surface water sources such as rivers and reservoirs and eventually into the underground aquifers that supply the water in your well.

Here are some sources of coliforms in the environment:

• Runoff of pastures and feedlots: If animals graze near your well or it is located near a livestock facility, rainwater can wash their fecal matter containing coliform into nearby wells and contaminate the water.
• Wild or domestic animal waste: Rainwater can also pick up and carry coliform bacteria from lands that wild and domestic animals roam and use as dumping grounds. The contaminated runoff can seep into the ground and potentially reach nearby wells, releasing coliform bacteria into the water.
• Poorly maintained septic systems: Septic systems are designed to treat wastewater from homes and buildings. However, untreated or partially treated wastewater can seep into the ground and contaminate nearby wells when the septic systems aren’t correctly maintained.

So, how do coliform bacteria end up in well water?

• Unscreened vents or entry points: When your well was first constructed, all entry points and vents likely had a screen placed over them to keep out creepy crawlies and critters. But as time passes, these screens can deteriorate and open your well to unwanted visitors, like coliform bacteria.
• Unsealed well components: Now and then, Mother Nature throws us a curveball in the form of flooding. And if the seal on your well has failed, that flood water can seep right on in and contaminate your well water with all sorts of nasty bacteria.
• A new well not disinfected: When a new well is drilled, coliform bacteria can enter the well during the drilling process, as drilling can disrupt the soil and allow bacteria to enter the well.
• Drinking water pipes connected to non-drinking water sources: It is also possible for coliform bacteria to enter the well water system through wastewater, laundry sinks, or garden hoses. For instance, if a garden hose is connected to a water spigot also connected to the well, any bacteria or chemicals present in the garden hose can flow back into the well water—unless it has a feature to prevent this. Similarly, a cross-connection between the well water and a wastewater line could allow wastewater to enter the well water supply.

Signs of Coliform Bacteria in Well Water

While a lab test is the only way to confirm the presence of coliform bacteria in your water, there are several telltale signs that something isn’t quite right:

A foul or unusual smell

Bacteria can produce strange odors in water, such as a sulfuric, musty, earthy, or some other “off” smell. So, if something doesn’t smell right, trust your nose, as it could be a sign of coliform bacteria.

Related: Common Odors in Tap Water and How to Remove Them | How to Treat Rotten Egg Smell in Water

Discoloration

Is your water looking too colorful for comfort? If it has a yellow, brown, orange, or greenish tint, it could be a sign of coliform bacteria.

Cloudy water

Turbidity and sediment in the well can make the water appear murky, foggy, or hazy. If you notice these signs, there’s a higher likelihood that coliform bacteria are present.

Unusual taste

If your water has started tasting differently than usual lately, don’t ignore it because coliform bacteria can cause water to taste earthy, metallic, or even sweet.

Unexplained illness

The most obvious sign that your water may contain coliform bacteria is if you or someone in your family has become ill for no apparent reason. Coliform bacteria in water can cause stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Don’t hesitate to get your water tested if you suspect bacterial contamination is at play.

Related: 15 Dangerous Diseases Caused by Contaminated Drinking Water

Are Coliform Bacteria in Well Water Harmful?

While most coliform bacteria won’t cause any harm, their presence could be a warning sign that other germs—including fecal coliforms—have made their way into your water source. Yup, that’s right; your water might have come into contact with poop.

Fecal coliforms are commonly found in the guts of warm-blooded animals. Some strains, like the infamous E. coli (specifically the 0157:H7 strain), can cause serious illness. If these little buggers enter your water supply, you could be in for a rough ride.

Symptoms of E. coli infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These symptoms can stick around for days or even more than a week. Children and elderly folks are especially vulnerable.

In some cases, household members may have developed an immunity to common waterborne bacteria in their drinking water. That means they could drink the water without getting sick. However, visitors who haven’t developed that immunity could be in for a nasty surprise. And since the symptoms of coliform bacteria can be similar to those of other human illnesses, it can be tough to figure out what’s going on without getting your water tested.

What is an Acceptable Level of Coliform Bacteria in Well Water?

Is it safe to drink well water with coliform bacteria? Not according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They recommend a total coliform limit of zero in drinking water to ensure its safety. We suggest you regularly test the water for contaminants if you rely on a private well for your water supply. Most local environmental or health departments provide free water testing services for private wells. Alternatively, you can contact your local county extension agent for assistance. And, of course, you can also purchase a water test kit online and have your water tested by a certified laboratory.

Related: 10 Common Problems a Water Test Can Detect in Tap Water

My Well Water Has Tested Positive for Coliform Bacteria. What Now?

We understand this news can be stressful, but as mentioned earlier, coliform bacteria in well water doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get sick. Instead, there’s a chance your water contains other harmful bacteria, and you should take the following actions to address the problem:

• Retest your water. A second test can confirm if coliform bacteria are present—and if they are, consider contacting a licensed well contractor to help you pinpoint the source of contamination and how to address it. In the meantime, avoid consuming the contaminated water. Instead, use bottled water until the issue has been resolved or boil it for at least one minute to kill harmful bacteria.
• Maintain the well. Firstly, keep the area around the well clean and free of debris, as you don’t want any pollutants or chemicals to seep into the ground and make their way into the water source. Beyond that, test the water regularly to ensure no harmful contaminants are present. If you notice any changes in the water’s taste, color, or smell, get it tested immediately. It would be best to have your well inspected by a professional every few years to ensure it is functioning correctly and not at risk of contamination.
• Shock Chlorination: Sometimes, a one-time or temporary event like a flood can introduce coliform bacteria into a well. Shock chlorination is used to disinfect it by adding a high chlorine concentration to the water for a short time. We recommend having shock chlorination done by a professional and retesting the water for coliform bacteria within 10 to 14 days and several months later.
• Continuous Disinfection: If shock chlorination fails to eliminate coliform bacteria, consider investing in a chemical injection system. These systems inject a chlorine solution or dry powder into the water ahead of a storage tank to disinfect the water continuously.
• Install a UV Water Purification System. UV water systems emit ultraviolet light that penetrates the cell walls of the bacteria, disrupting their DNA and preventing them from replicating. As a result, the bacteria are effectively sterilized and cannot cause harm. However, UV systems are ineffective against contaminants like chemicals and heavy metals. That’s why we recommend installing a whole-house well water filter system to eliminate non-bacterial pollutants and then adding the UV water purification system to destroy all pathogens.

Is Boiling Effective Against Coliform Bacteria?

Boiling the water for about a minute can effectively kill any bacteria lurking in it. It’s a tried-and-true method often relied upon during emergencies or outdoor excursions. But please bear in mind that boiling can be pretty demanding in terms of time and energy, and you’ll only be able to boil small amounts of water at a time. So, while boiling is an excellent short-term solution, it’s not a sustainable or scalable way to disinfect your water consistently.

Final Thoughts

We all want to be confident that our drinking is clean and safe. But unfortunately, contaminants like coliform bacteria often go undetected in private wells and may endanger our health. By being aware of the potential sources of coliforms, performing regular water tests, and taking steps to remove them, you can safeguard your water supply and protect your loved ones from the risks of waterborne illness. Prevention is always better than cure, so stay safe, vigilant, and informed.

If you want to learn more about our whole-house well water filter system, chemical injection system, or UV Purification system, contact us at 800-589-5592 or via chat.

The post How to Remove Coliform Bacteria from Well Water appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

PFAS. You may not recognize it by name, but you likely encounter it multiple times a day. You might even drink it in your water. Who knows? Anyway, PFAS is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large family of chemicals that are extremely persistent in the environment and our bodies.

Today, PFAS is one of the biggest threats in drinking water. The chemical class contains water- and stain-resistant synthetic compounds that can be difficult to break down in the environment and the human body. This high level of resistance comes from their firm, stable molecular structure. However, their non-stick qualities make them useful in products such as tents, umbrellas, food wrappers, carpets, and firefighting foam. They are also used to produce plastic and rubber.

In short, PFAS is all around us. Heck, it is even present in our blood. And when we think it couldn’t get any worse, a recent study published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) shows that PFAS is also incredibly prevalent and persistent in tap water.

Scientists are still learning about the health effects of long-term exposure to most types of PFAS, but the few well-documented effects are worth highlighting. In this article, we’ll look closer at the impacts individually, so that you can better keep you and your family safe.

First of all, how do PFASs get into tap water?

According to the EWG, over 1,500 drinking water systems that serve nearly 110 million Americans may contain PFAS. But how come? How did these chemicals manage to get into so many drinking water systems?

Well, PFASs come from a wide range of sources. These chemicals can quickly get into the environment directly from landfills where products such as textiles and carpets break down and leach into the air, soil, and water. They can also enter the environment indirectly when the parent chemicals break down to form perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).

According to studies, PFASs linger long after their production and use. Evidence also suggests that PFOS, PFOA, and other PFASs remained in groundwater for up to 15 years following the end of firefighting procedures in Michigan.

Some PFASs are present in some plants and animals. Because of their persistence, high solubility, and other traits, they can move about quickly in soil, making them prone to leaching into rivers, lakes, and groundwater supplies, and traveling long distances. Besides, PFASs can pollute different environments such as wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and even remote areas like the deep sea and the Arctic. Considering that, it’s no surprise that these chemicals can easily end up in your drinking water.

Okay, so what are the potential effects of exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water?

When you drink PFAS-contaminated water, small amounts of the sub-chemicals can bioaccumulate in your body over time. In other words, they can persist in the body even after the exposure stops. Evidence shows that even low levels of PFAS exposure may not be entirely safe for human health. On top of that, the EWG suggests that a sample that exceeds 1 part per trillion (ppt) could be potentially harmful.

Studies carried out on laboratory animals, supported by some evidence from studies on humans, indicate that exposure to specific PFAS over certain levels could result in adverse health effects. Although more research is needed, some studies have shown that common PFAS like PFOA and PFOS may cause the following health impacts:

1. High Cholesterol, Weight Gain, and Thyroid Disease

Exposure to PFASs can cause high cholesterol, weight gain, and thyroid disease. PFOA is associated with reproductive problems like pregnancy-induced hypertension and decreased fertility. Science experts concluded that increased exposure to PFOA might correlate with decreases in birth weight, as well as adverse effects on the liver and the immune system. PFOA might also lead to neurobehavioral impacts such as ADHD and endocrine disruption.

2. Cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies PFOA as a Group 2B carcinogen. The agency also classifies it as being potentially cancerous to humans. Further, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concludes that the claims of the carcinogenicity of PFOA in humans might be valid, due to “suggestive evidence.” An observatory test involving humans who ingested the chemical compound concluded that the participants showed similar increases in testicular and kidney cancer.

3. Other Known Possible Health Effects

PFASs are also known to affect growth, learning, and behavior in infants and older children. Besides, the chemicals can lead to increases in blood pressure in pregnant women, nerve disorders, lower infant birth weights, and functional problems with the body’s natural hormones.

What can I do about PFAS in drinking water?

Since there are no federal regulatory levels set for PFAS (although some states have established their guidance and screen levels), you might have to take matters into your own hands to protect your home and your family. If you suspect that you or a family member potentially consumed water that contained PFAS, you should contact your family’s healthcare provider immediately. If you are pregnant and you’ve been exposed to PFAS-contaminated water, tell your obstetrician, so that they can monitor your blood pressure more closely.

Testing your drinking water is the best way to determine if your water contains PFAS. There are several affordable water testing kits available online for purchase. Buy one and check your water for possible PFAS contamination in no time. At-home testing takes less than 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a sample from your tap and send it to a local laboratory for testing. You can even contact your local water provider and request a copy of the latest water quality report, then scan through it to see if there have been any recent reports of PFAS in the water supply in your area.

Testing your water is especially important if you’ve noticed that your water tastes “off,” it is not clear, is has an unpleasant odor, or your water bills have increased unexpectedly. Besides, checking your water quality can help you take the right steps to purify your water before any possible contamination gets worse, so you can provide safer and cleaner drinking water for your home and your loved ones.

For PFAS, the best solution is any top-performing water filtration system, such as the Springwell CF1 Whole House Water Filtration System. This specific system can significantly reduce harmful contaminants in your water, such as chlorine, chloramine, PFOA, PFAS PFOS, pesticides, herbicides, haloacetic acids, and more. The CF1 uses ActivFlo technology to filter your water through four critical stages. For added protection you could opp for a reverse osmosis system as well.

To learn more about the CF1 and all the other unique and powerful water filtrations systems manufactured by Springwell Water Systems, visit our website at www.springwellwater.com or call us and speak to one of our friendly customer service agents. They’ll help you find the best system for your needs, and answer any questions that you might have.

Verdict

PFAS is one of the most toxic water contaminants known to the public. It is a class of chemicals that can wreak havoc on your health and that of your family. Even in low amounts, these chemicals can be extremely toxic. Therefore, you must test your water for these and other contaminants, then purchase and install a top-quality water filtration system if you need to. This way, you can ensure that your water is always high-quality and that you and your loved ones are safe.

The post Guide: The Toxic Effects of PFAS in Drinking Water appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.

We all know the old saying, “water is essential to life.” But a newer, revised version would begin with “clean, safe, and healthy….” In the United States, we are fortunate to have various federal water quality standards that require water treatment facilities to deliver clean, potable drinking water to our taps. However, despite these regulations, many Americans are still exposed to toxic contaminants in their water supplies.

Why is this the case, given such laws? Don’t federal regulations prevent water contamination and ensure all Americans have access to clean drinking water? Well, not exactly. While federal drinking water regulations are necessary to establish minimum standards and ensure accountability, they are just one piece of the puzzle. Ultimately, communities, individuals, and businesses all have a role to play in protecting and conserving our precious water resources.

In this article, we’ll explore the role of government regulations in drinking water quality, how these regulations help prevent water contamination, and their shortfalls. We’ll also share some tips on what you can do to help protect the quality of your drinking water where government regulations fall short. Let’s dive in!

Why Does Drinking Water Need to Be Regulated?

Drinking water regulations may not be the most exciting topic. However, they are vital for ensuring we have access to clean, safe water for hydrating, showering, cooking, and preparing baby formula, among other things. Without proper government regulation, we could be exposed to harmful pollutants in water that could lead to severe health problems or even death.

The contamination of our water sources is a real threat—one that can come from many sources. For instance, pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields, urban runoff, industrial waste, and sewage can introduce harmful chemicals and microorganisms into our water supply. Exposure to these elements can cause severe illnesses, such as cancer, and even pose a risk to entire communities. That’s why drinking water regulations are so important.

These regulations serve several purposes, including protecting public health, promoting water quality, and ensuring access to safe drinking water. They help limit the specific contaminants in drinking water to prevent waterborne illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. They also help to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury, which can have long-term health effects.

In addition to protecting public health, drinking water regulations are also intended to promote water quality and prevent the degradation of water sources. These regulations help avoid contamination from natural and human-made sources, ensuring our water is as clean as possible.

Finally, drinking water regulations ensure all Americans can access safe and affordable drinking water, regardless of where they live. By establishing minimum standards for water quality, treatment, and distribution and setting requirements for testing and reporting, these regulations help ensure our drinking water is safe.

In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at a few of these regulations and their role in protecting the health of Americans.

Government Regulations for Drinking Water in America

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary agency responsible for regulating drinking water in the United States, setting specific regulations to help ensure your drinking water meets various safety standards. Let’s explore some of these regulations.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

At the heart of America’s drinking water regulatory framework is the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Enacted by Congress in 1974 and amended twice in 1986 and 1996, the SDWA is the principal federal law in the United States, designed to ensure the public has access to safe drinking water.

To achieve this, the SDWA empowers the EPA to set and monitor drinking water quality standards nationwide. As part of the SDWA, the EPA has established legal limits and treatment requirements for over 90 contaminants in public drinking water. According to the agency, “The legal limit for a contaminant reflects the level that protects human health and that water systems can achieve using the best available technology. EPA rules also set water-testing schedules and methods that water systems must follow.”

The SDWA also allows individual states to establish and enforce drinking water standards, as long as they are at least as stringent as the EPA’s national standards. This approach recognizes that states are better equipped to understand their unique water challenges and tailor appropriate solutions. By working together, the EPA and individual states can better protect the public’s health and well-being, ensuring every American can access clean, safe drinking water.

Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)

In 1991, the EPA created the Lead and Copper Rule or LCR to regulate the levels of lead and copper in public drinking water. This regulation requires water systems to monitor the water quality at customers’ taps. If the lead concentration exceeds 15 parts per billion (ppb) or the copper concentration surpasses 1.3 parts per million (ppm) in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, water systems must take additional measures to control corrosion. If the lead concentration surpasses the action level for lead, the water providers must inform the public about preventive measures they can take to safeguard their health. Furthermore, public municipalities may be required to replace lead service lines under their control.

Surface Water Treatment Rules (SWTRs)

The EPA established the first of several Surface Water Treatment Rules (SWTRs) in 1989 to reduce illnesses resulting from pathogens in drinking water, such as Cryptosporidium, Legionella, and Giardia lamblia.

Under the SWTRs, water systems must filter and disinfect surface water sources. However, some may use disinfection only for surface water sources that meet specific criteria for water quality and protection of the watershed.

Each rule consists of several significant components that work together to safeguard against microbial pathogens and, at the same time, limit health hazards resulting from disinfection byproducts.

National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs)

The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) are standards and treatment techniques that public water systems must follow. The main goal of the NPDWRs is to protect public health by limiting contaminants in drinking water, including microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radionuclides. These contaminants can pose a severe risk to human health if not properly controlled, which is why the NPDWRs sets specific limits and guidelines for their presence in drinking water.

National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs)

Drinking-water quality standards are not just about protecting our health but also ensuring our water tastes and smells great. This is where the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs) come in.

While the legally-enforceable NPDWRs protect us from harmful contaminants in drinking water, the NSDWRs set non-mandatory guidelines for 15 impurities that affect the water’s taste, color, and odor. These are known as secondary maximum contaminant levels (SMCLs). While they don’t pose a risk to human health at this level, they impact our enjoyment of the water.

The EPA established the NSDWRs to help public water systems manage aesthetic issues and ensure our drinking water is safe and palatable. So, the next time you take a sip of water and enjoy its crisp taste and refreshing aroma, you can thank the NSDWRs for making that possible.

Related: Common Odors in Tap Water and How to Remove Them | How to Get Rid of Rotten Egg Smell in Water

Unregulated Contaminants

Beyond current standards for contaminants in drinking water, SDWA regulations include a proactive approach to identify potential future threats to our water supply. To achieve this, the EPA maintains a list of unregulated contaminants that could endanger public health. This list is called the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) and is published every five years.

The CCL is more than a passive collection of data. It is a living document that undergoes rigorous review and analysis to determine which contaminants most deserve EPA attention. The agency evaluates the pollutants on the list and decides whether or not to regulate at least five of them through a process known as “Regulatory Determinations.” These determinations are critical to ensuring that the SDWA remains effective in protecting the public’s health from the latest waterborne threats.

By monitoring the CCL, the EPA can proactively identify potential contaminants impacting our drinking water. This approach allows the agency to take action before a problem becomes widespread, safeguarding the nation’s water supply and protecting public health. Through this process, the SDWA remains an evolving and dynamic piece of legislation that helps ensure every American has access to safe drinking water.

Bottled Water Regulations

The SDWA only applies to water provided by public water systems. That means if you get your water from a private well or use bottled water, the SDWA doesn’t apply to your water source. The EPA doesn’t regulate bottled water; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does.

The FDA has established regulations for bottled water similar to EPA standards. Unfortunately, FDA standards are more relaxed. While the EPA sets maximum contaminant levels for over 90 contaminants in public drinking water, the FDA only requires that bottled water be as safe as tap water.

FDA regulations require bottled water to meet specific standards for quality and purity, including limits on certain contaminants. But as we’ve learned from the recent Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis and those that came before and after, tap water can contain potentially dangerous contaminants that can make you sick or cause death over time.

Also, considering that some bottled water comes from municipal sources—sometimes with additional treatment, sometimes without—contamination in some bottled water is highly likely. That’s probably why Consumer Reports found that certain bottled water brands contain detectable levels of various contaminants, including PFAS, heavy metals, bacteria, volatile organic compounds, disinfection byproducts, radioactive elements, etc.

Related: 7 Reasons to Choose Filtered Tap Water Over Bottled Water | Microplastics in Drinking Water & How To Reduce Risk of Ingestion

Consumer Confidence Reports

One of the requirements under the SDWA is for every public water system or community water supplier to provide an annual report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), to its customers.

The CCR informs the public about local drinking water quality. The report contains information about the source of the water, any contaminants found in the water, and any violations of the national drinking water standards.

Additionally, the CCR may provide tips on how consumers can help protect their drinking water. With this vital information, customers can make informed decisions about their water supply and take steps to ensure that the water remains safe and healthy to consume.

Learn more: How to Read Your Water Quality Report: Helpful Tips and Expert Advice

The Impact of Government Regulations on Water Quality

So far, we’ve discussed some of America’s most crucial federal drinking water regulations—from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs). The next question is how these regulations have impacted drinking water quality nationwide.

In the mid-20th century, there was no federal regulation to protect drinking water in the United States. Instead, various state- and local-level laws existed to provide sufficient drinking water to growing communities, with little focus on ensuring the water’s safety. However, this changed with the establishment of the EPA, the signing and amendment of the SDWA into law, and other federal and state-level regulations introduced in the following decades.

Implementing and enforcing these regulations helped establish a framework for limiting unwanted contaminants and impurities in water that could otherwise have adverse outcomes. There has been a drastic decrease in people exposed to harmful pollutants—over 90 of them, to be exact—in their drinking water and the concentrations of such contaminants in public drinking water supplies.

America’s federal drinking water regulations have also led to the cleanup of contaminated water supplies. Take per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), for example. After the EPA named it a “contaminant of emerging concern,” many communities have taken (and are still taking) steps to remove it from their drinking water. Furthermore, the Lead and Copper Rule and the Surface Water Treatment Rule have significantly reduced lead exposure and related health problems and exposure to waterborne illnesses, respectively.

In rural areas, the positive impact of these regulations has been even more apparent, with improved water systems supplying cleaner, healthier water for surrounding communities and attracting new businesses and residents, leading to robust economic growth and development. Moreover, these regulations have significantly improved the quality of life for those living in communities affected by contaminated water. In Flint, Michigan, the city is working hard to replace lead pipes and improve the quality of its drinking water, which has helped enhance its residents’ health and well-being.

Of course, implementing these regulations has been challenging. But there is no denying that their overall impact has been overwhelmingly positive, ensuring all Americans have access to safe, clean drinking water.

Is Your Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Ensuring the safety of your drinking water isn’t just the government’s responsibility. It’s also up to individuals to take action. But where do you begin?

Request a copy of your water supplier’s latest water quality report.

A great place to start is to check your water supplier’s annual consumer confidence report (a water quality report). Public water suppliers must provide this document to their customers under the SDWA. It includes valuable information on the quality of your drinking water and any contaminants detected. Although water quality reports are intended to help people make informed decisions about their drinking water, they can be confusing and full of complex words and expressions that are often difficult to understand. This guide explains the basic concepts in your water quality report, so you won’t go nuts trying to interpret them yourself.

Test your water at a state-certified laboratory.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can also have your water tested. Many private labs offer water testing services; some even provide home testing kits. By having your water tested, you can determine if it’s safe to drink or if contaminants are present.

Keep your eyes, nose, and tastebuds peeled.

Another way to identify if your water is contaminated is to look for various warning signs. Contaminated water can have a strange taste, odor, or appearance. So, if your water looks, smells, or tastes unusual, it may be contaminated.

Regularly monitoring the quality of your water is crucial in ensuring that it’s safe for consumption. If you do discover that your water is contaminated, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to improve its quality, such as installing a water filtration system or contacting a professional to help address the issue. Remember, safeguarding the quality of your water is essential for your and your family’s health.

Challenges and Controversies Surrounding Federal Drinking Water Regulations

While the government provides regulatory standards for public municipalities to treat water, many challenges and controversies surround them. One such challenge is that government regulations are often more reactive than proactive. Laws are created in response to identified risks and issues, meaning there may be regulation gaps that leave us vulnerable to emerging contaminants. For example, it wasn’t until the 1990s that scientists fully understood the dangers of lead in drinking water. And even now, lead pipes and fixtures still exist in some homes and buildings.

Another concern is that government regulations can be subject to change or rollback. The current political climate may influence which rules are enforced or even eliminated, leaving us with weaker protections for our drinking water. The recent decision to roll back regulations on the disposal of coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal that can contaminate drinking water, is just one example of the potential consequences of regulatory rollbacks.

Lastly, government regulations usually don’t address all sources of contamination. While rules can target specific contaminants, such as lead or arsenic, they may not effectively combat emerging or unknown pollutants. Additionally, resource constraints can limit regulations, as government agencies may need more funding and staff to enforce rules effectively.

How Water Filtration Can Pick Up Where Government Regulations Fall Short

Even with federal regulations, some contaminants can slip through the cracks and end up in tap water. For example, leaks, water main breaks, and corroding service lines can introduce lead, copper, bacteria, pesticides, and other contaminants into the treated water as it travels to your home.

Water filtration is a straightforward and economical way to ensure your drinking water is clean, healthy, and safe. Water filtration systems are designed to remove many contaminants from drinking water, including heavy metals, chemicals, sediments, and pathogens. They can also improve the taste and odor of drinking water, making it more palatable and enjoyable to drink.

To choose the right water filter for your home, knowing what contaminants are in your water and what type of system will effectively remove them is essential. Whether you want a simple filter that fits neatly under your kitchen sink or a more robust unit that treats all the water entering your home, there’s a system to combat most water contamination problems.

Affordable, Top-Quality Home Water Filtration Systems from Springwell

At Springwell, we believe every family deserves access to clean drinking water. It is one of our most cherished beliefs and one that fuels our mission to manufacture premium, high-performance water filtration systems that are super-affordable. We design our systems to combat all kinds of contaminants, such as lead, copper, PFAS, bacteria, viruses, etc., so you can know your water is safe and healthy.

What makes our water filtration systems stand out from the rest? Well, let’s take a closer look! Our whole-house filtration system is like a guardian angel for your water supply. It combines state-of-the-art, certified components, innovative features and technologies, and an advanced multi-stage filtration process to filter all the water entering your home. And the result? Pure, clean water from every tap.

And for those who don’t want to sacrifice counter space but still want the best-quality filtered water possible, our under-counter reverse osmosis system is the perfect solution. Installed under your kitchen sink, it uses reverse osmosis in a multi-stage filtration process to remove dissolved solids, heavy metals, viruses, and bacteria. With this system, you can be confident that your water is as pure as possible.

If protecting yourself and your family from potentially dangerous water contaminants is your goal, Springwell’s got you covered. Our unique line of water filtration systems provides the best defense against impurities and contaminants, assuring you that your water is safe to drink. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us. One of our friendly water experts will be available to answer your questions and provide excellent recommendations for the ideal water filtration system for your needs and budget.

Final Thoughts

Federal drinking water regulations help protect public health and ensure clean and safe drinking water access for all Americans. They establish minimum standards for water quality and provide a framework for accountability and enforcement. However, regulations are just the beginning.

We can significantly improve our health and well-being by being proactive and taking steps to enhance our water quality. Water filtration systems are a great way to accomplish this goal. They can effectively remove contaminants from our water, providing us access to pure and safe drinking water. By working together, we can safeguard this vital resource for future generations.

The post Why Federal Regulations Are Vital for Clean Drinking Water, But Not Sufficient appeared first on SpringWell Water Filtration Systems.