Often times, the most we worry about bacteria is when we wash our hands after using the bathroom or handling something like raw meat. But did you know that we can also be exposed to bacteria when using tap water? Today we’re going to talk about some of the types of bacteria that can be found in tap water and what you can do to protect your health and your home!
Non-threatening bacteria in tap water
Although we often associate bacteria with health issues, some forms of bacteria do not generally affect the health of the people who consume it. The two most common types of non-threatening bacteria in tap water are:
- Iron bacteria. Tap water that is high in iron often allows iron bacteria to grow. Iron bacteria create a nasty slime that can clog your pipes, in addition to negatively affecting the smell and taste of your tap water.
- Sulfur bacteria. Sulfur bacteria are responsible for the rotten egg smell that is often present in well water. Although sulfur bacteria do not pose health effects, they can make your water unpalatable.
Bacteria in tap water that affects our health
Certain types of bacteria that are sometimes found in tap water can have severe health consequences. Two examples of this include:
- Legionella pneumophila. The EPA in Cincinnati recently took 272 samples of water from around the country. This included water from kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, drinking fountains and refrigerator dispensers. In 47 percent of the samples, they found traces of legionella pneumophila, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. Although Legionnaires’ disease is not contracted by drinking water, it can be contracted by inhaling water vapors in the shower (http://ncwaterconsultants.com/water-treatment-blog/why-is-it-important-to-filter-your-shower-water/).
- E. coli. If something goes wrong with your city’s water treatment process, E. coli can get into your home’s drinking water and cause all kinds of intestinal problems in the people who drink it. Just this summer, there have been outbreaks of E. coli in drinking water in places like Utah and Virginia.
How to remove bacteria in tap water
North Carolina Water Consultants offers many different water treatment systems that can remove bacteria from your tap water. For the best protection from bacteria, we recommend installing a whole house filtration system because it will filter the water that you drink as well as the water that you use when showering. As always, we recommend having your tap water tested first in order to find the right water treatment system for your home.
If you have any questions about bacteria in tap water, or if you’d like a water treatment system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your North and South Carolina water filter and water softener dealer. We provide service all over the Carolinas, including towns like Waxhaw, Indian Trail and Monroe, NC.