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“When the well is dry, we’ll know the worth of water.” — Benjamin Franklin
Water is life, but not all water is safe for life.
As a homeowner or business owner in the heart of the Buckeye state, understanding and ensuring residential water quality is not just essential for health — it’s a responsibility to ourselves and those around us. In the following, your friends at Five Star Home Services will delve deep into a wealth of information about water quality in our areas, focusing on Central and Southwest Ohio.
From explaining common water quality problems and testing to knowing where to turn for affordable solutions, our deep dive is aimed at empowering you and helping you make better decisions regarding your water.
At Five Star, we care about your water quality and are always here to help. As a lifelong plumber and water quality expert, I’m here to tell you we’ve dealt with all residential and commercial water quality issues over the years.
The following is the first part of our five-part blog series, “Your Water Quality Buying Guide.” By this series’s end, we hope you are far more informed about water quality and prepared to make the best decisions.
Remember, if you ever need anything regarding water treatment, water purification, or anything related to your plumbing system — we are here to help!
Your friends at Five Star are always a fast and easy phone call away!
Although access to clean, safe water is fundamental for every home, many homeowners in our local markets in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and surrounding areas face particular challenges regarding their water quality.
In this first blog, we’ll explore some common problems affecting the water in our service areas, including contaminants, hard water, and aesthetic issues.
Contaminants in Your Water
This is an obvious no-brainer: Water contamination is always a major concern. Below, we will list some common contaminants you might find in your water supply:
Lead, Chlorine, and Other Harmful Chemicals
- Lead: Lead can seep into your water supply through old pipes and plumbing fixtures. It is especially harmful to children and can lead to developmental issues. If you have older lead pipes you should give us a call!
- Chlorine: Often used to disinfect water, chlorine can also pose health risks. Long-term exposure to high chlorine levels can cause respiratory problems and other health issues. It is also reported that it can damage parts of the brain.
- Other Chemicals: Pesticides, industrial solvents, and other chemicals can contaminate your water as well, posing various health risks. In fact, if your drinking water contains unsafe levels of contaminants, it can cause health effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, nervous system and/or reproductive effects, and chronic diseases such as cancer. Now you see why we say, “water is life!”
Microbial Contaminants
- Bacteria and Viruses: If all that wasn’t scary enough, we haven’t even touched on some nastier stuff yet! Microbial contaminants such as E. coli and other bacteria can enter your water supply through sewage overflows or agricultural runoff. These organisms can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and other severe health issues.
Hard Water Problems
Another common problem homeowners face is issues with hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. These minerals are not good in large quantities.
Scale Buildup
- Pipes and Appliances: Hard water can cause scale buildup in your pipes and appliances, reducing their efficiency and lifespan. This buildup can block pipes and reduce water flow.
- Water Heaters: Scale buildup in water heaters can make them less efficient, leading to higher energy bills.
Featured Series: Water Heater Buying Guide →
Aesthetic Issues with Water Quality
In addition to common contaminants and hard water, there are also aesthetic issues that can affect your water’s appeal over time. They include the following:
Unpleasant Odor, Taste and Discoloration
- Odor and Taste: Chlorine and other chemicals can give your water an unpleasant taste and smell. Sometimes, bacterial contamination can also cause a foul odor in the home. The same is true for certain types of hard water. This doesn’t bode well for any culinary endeavors in the home as cooking is strongly impacted by water quality.
- Discoloration: Rusty pipes and other issues can lead to discolored water, which is not only unappealing but can also stain your fixtures and laundry. In addition to issues in the kitchen, this also impacts your bathroom as well!
Staining on Fixtures and Laundry
- Fixtures: As noted, hard water and iron can cause unsightly stains on sinks, tubs, and faucets.
- Laundry: High mineral content in your water can cause stains on your clothes, making them look dingy and feel rough.
Microplastics
Because no water quality buying guide would be complete if it failed to delve into this issue, we will now briefly discuss the dangers of microplastics. Every year, humans create an estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste. Nine million tons of that ends up in our lakes, rivers, streams and (unfortunately) our water supply.
The lasting damage is immeasurable with a lifespan of up to 450 years.
Much of that damage comes by way of microplastics — tiny plastic particles that are invisible to the naked eye that permeate our ecosystems and infiltrate our water supplies.
One of the most alarming discoveries in recent years is the presence of microplastics in drinking water sources and the potential impact they could have on human health. This isn’t good!
Microplastics in drinking water raises all sorts of concerns about potential health impacts. To address the growing concern surrounding microplastics in drinking water, experts recommend a comprehensive approach that includes enhancing water treatment and reducing the use of bottled water.
This is bad news for a lot of people who feel they can simply turn to bottled water rather than improving their tap water with a water treatment system.
Microplastics lurk in all types of bottled water — even those claiming to be free of a specific type of microplastic. There are many types. Water quality issues are much more complicated in our modern times.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that there’s no substitute for a good water treatment plan for your home and/or business.
In the meantime, understanding these common water quality issues can help you take the necessary steps to ensure your home’s water is safe and healthy. Whether you are dealing with contaminants, hard water, or aesthetic issues in your water — there are a wide range of solutions available to address these challenges. And that’s where we come into the picture! We recommend you consider investing in a good water filtration system or consulting one of our local water quality experts to improve your home’s water.
Remember, clean water isn’t just a necessity — it’s a right and a way of life!
If you have concerns about the water quality in your home, we encourage you to reach out to one our local experts in Columbus, Dayton, or Cincinnati for a professional assessment with personalized recommendations. We are ALWAYS more than happy to come out! Remember, we’re not just your local plumbers and local water quality experts. We are also your friends and neighbors!
Looking to Upgrade Your Water? Just Call Five Star Today!
If this first blog post about Ohio’s water quality has struck a chord with you, now is the time to act. Call us at Five Star Home Services for a free water quality evaluation. Take the first step towards a safer water supply for your home or business.
In the long run, we all secure a healthier, safer future by working together to improve water quality. Don’t just take our word for it; see what our thousands of satisfied customers who have experienced Five Star’s exceptional services have to say. Call us today at (833) 405-8009, and trust in our master plumbers to deliver premium water treatment solutions that stand the test of time. Your water deserves the Five Star treatment — it’s time to make a splash with true water quality excellence.
Experience the Five Star Difference today by calling (833) 405-8009.