The Environmental Protection Agency has identified hundreds of contaminants in drinking water across the U.S. Those of us who live or work in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora or Plainfield might notice some of them in different ways.
For example, water can smell like rotten eggs. This “egg” water is caused by elevated levels of sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide gas that develop when water has contact with certain kinds of minerals or organic matter. A rotten-egg quality is more common in well water than in city water because city water is typically treated with chlorine, which kills the organisms.
Sulfur bacteria typically do not pose a direct hazard, but they do promote the growth of materials that can become problematic, such as iron that can clog well and plumbing systems.
Frequent contact with high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas can threaten personal health. Levels that meet or exceed 100 parts per million (ppm) may cause sickness or even death. The average levels found in well water for homes are usually 1–5 ppm. While not lethal, repeated exposure to even these low concentrations can result in headaches, fatigue, insomnia, eye inflammation and digestive unrest.
Even if you’re not currently confronting dangerous levels of sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide, using impure water to wash, bathe or clean can be unpleasant.
Other Reasons Why Water Can Smell or Taste Bad
Other factors can compromise the taste and smell of water while making it potentially unhealthy. Just of a few of them include:
- Chlorine. As mentioned, municipal water treatment plants add chlorine to the water to disinfect it. Too much chlorine can give the water a flat taste that irritates your taste buds. High chlorine can also make the water smell.
- Total dissolved solids (TDS). A high level of TDS such as magnesium and calcium will give water a bad taste. It can also result in hard water, which is bad for appliances such as the dishwasher and the washing machine. It can corrode plumping pipes as well.
- Algae or fungal attack. Microorganisms such as algae and fungus can often infiltrate tap water. They do this in spite of the water treatment at the municipal plant because they are able to enter the supply from plumbing in the home. As they accumulate, they can give your water a dirty smell and a fishy taste.
- Heavy metals. Heavy metals such as iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, aluminum and chromium will alter the taste of drinking water. They also make it unsanitary. Heavy metals can be a common issue with well water. Copper in particular can create a bitter, medicinal taste in drinking water.
- Bacteria. Different bacteria in your water can give it a mold-like taste that makes it undrinkable while also giving it a bad smell. Bacteria can permeate your water at many points during its journey from the treatment plant to your tap. Some people might boil water to rid it of bacteria, but doing so can also remove healthful minerals.
- Other sources of impure water can be soil, fertilizers, pesticides and toxic seepage.
Illinois also is a hard-water state. The average water hardness is around 200 ppm, an extremely hard quantity that can leave white deposits on plumbing fixtures and damage water heaters. The following are a few different water-hardness numbers within our northern Illinois region:
- Chicago: 148 ppm
- Naperville: 288 ppm
- Rockford: 308 ppm
- Plainfield: 280 ppm
- Aurora: 127 ppm
- Lombard: 344 ppm
What Can I Do About Impure Water at Home?
Water that we can drink and use is vital to our daily lives. Aquaduct Plumbing helps homeowners in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield significantly improve their water quality.
If you don’t care for the look, taste, color or smell of your water at present, you might have already switched to bottled water or a separate water dispenser. If so, you might also still be using the compromised water to brush your teeth, cook and bathe.
We specialize in whole-house water filtration systems for Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield. For what you might spend on a cup of morning coffee each day, you can enjoy fresh, clean, refreshing water for drinking and other uses for years – without the need for separate filters and system maintenance.
A whole-house water filtration system installed by Aquaduct removes the impurities from your water to make it taste, smell and look better. Your filtration system also contributes to health, cleaner laundry and dishes, and softer skin.
Will a Filtration System Get Rid of My “Egg” Water?
It will – while also doing away with other issues such as rusty water and hard-water deposits.
To achieve clean and pure water, we install a canister filter in your main water line. As your water is flowing into the filter, it passes through granulated activated carbon that removes impurities such as total dissolved fluids, excess chlorine, algae and fungi, heavy metals and bacteria. It then continues into your home ready for consumption.
You’ll be surprised by the level of quality the system achieves. Beyond being safer and more enjoyable to drink and use, the purer water preserves the life of plumbing and water-using appliances. It also removes the need to rely on bottled water and the plastic waste that results from it.
Is Water Filtration My Only Solution?
It isn’t – you can also opt for water conditioning, which is another fresh alternative for greater water quality. Water conditioners don’t soften water, but they remove harmful chemicals that can be rough on pipes, faucets and drains.
Some homeowners in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield also like water conditioners because they use much less water, require less maintenance and usually cost less to install than water softeners do.
A Timely & Relevant Topic
As we all know, microorganisms have gained even greater attention in the era of COVID-19. This has prompted us all to continue looking for ways to prevent our water, air and surfaces from transporting and transferring what can harm us.
A whole-house water filtration system can help enhance your quality of life, particularly as it applies to health.
Contact Us Today
We care about water quality for our customers in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield. If your water has a bad taste or smell – e.g. it reminds you of egg water – or if you’re simply interested in cleaner, purer water at home, we would be glad to hear from you and discuss how we can contribute. Simply give us a call at (630) 504-9594.
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