Signs of Water Contamination and What to do with It

Water contamination is one of the least worries in Singapore because of the safe and efficient water quality procedures being followed by the government.

We drink water straight from the faucet at home without the need of our own water filters or filtration equipment. We previously wrote about how clean water is delivered from the reservoirs to the tap in our homes. The article can actually give us the peace of mind that our drinking water is really clean and safe from any contamination.

But with the news about the Klang River contamination that led to a major cleanup of the river just recently, the metal pollution in a river in Penang, and the viral photo of a boy who was covered in oil while playing in an oil-spill-polluted Itapuama beach in Brazil, we can’t just drop the idea of possible water contamination even in the country.

Cloudiness

The first telling sign that there’s something off with your tap water is the appearance of cloudiness. We advise that you use clear glass for drinking water so you can spot this right away. The possible reason is the presence of some impurities in your own plumbing network or in that of the whole building.

Chlorine

You’ll know it if there’s chlorine in your water. It has a very strong smell and somewhat changes the taste of drinking water too. There is no harm in having chlorine in your drinking water but it can affect your appetite.

Greenish or bluish color

Unlike chlorine, having a greenish or bluish share in drinking water can be harmful. It usually reveals the presence of elevated of copper levels that may result to nausea or diarrhoea. Better inform your building administrator or local PUB if something like this appears in your tap water.

Orange or brown water

Do not delay calling plumbers Singapore when you see orange or brown water from coming from your faucet. This indicates the possible presence of chromium-6 in your water supply. This is a cancer-causing chemical that you should be worried about.

Sulfur Odor

Sulfur odor, on the other hand, may result to a smell of rotten egg in your drinking water. Sulfur has no negative effect to the body unless taken in high levels.

Get your plumbing fixtures fixed

Having said all these contaminants and compounds that can be present in your drinking water, it’s better to keep your plumbing fixtures in perfect condition because they are the channels through which your water supply pass.

If there are leakage or holes in the system, your home water may be exposed to harmful substances. Corroded metal parts and malfunctioning components, can also cause the entrance of foreign substances that should not be there in the first place.

Consider a home filter

A home filtration system is designed to remove sulfur, chlorine and other substances in the water. This equipment that you can buy from a local home depot contains filtering components with different sifting stages to ensure that your home water will be free from impurities.

Professional Testing

The surest way to know the quality of your home water supply is by having it tested professionally. Bring a water sample to a water testing facility to know if you should be drinking your tap water or if you should ask your building admin to look for possible water contamination.