Go Back

10 Signs of Poor Water Quality

Home » Blog » 10 Signs of Poor Water Quality
Water Quality in Columbus, OH

Water quality has become an issue of concern for many people. While most municipal water supplies provide clean, safe water for bathing and drinking, contamination and other problems do occur. Unfortunately, tainted water can lead to various health issues, including nausea and other stomach problems. If you want to avoid these issues and keep your family safe, it's important to watch out for the following signs of poor water quality.

1. Sediment or Murky Water

Many homes in Columbus, OH and the surrounding areas deal with hard water, which is water that contains high levels of minerals. Most of the time, this is not a serious issue, but it can cause problems. In particular, hard water can affect your plumbing system, particularly your faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures. Mineral buildup can also lead to problems with appliances such as dishwashers. Although hard water is typically safe to consume, you may want to have your water tested to be sure. You can also invest in a water softener and/or filter to protect your appliances and fixtures from hard water.

2. Rotten Egg Smell

Anyone familiar with this smell certainly does not want it to be coming from their taps. A smell of rotten eggs in your water is typically due to elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide. This colorless gas occurs naturally in groundwater. When there are certain bacteria strains in the groundwater, they can react with the hydrogen sulfide and create sulfate, which carries a rotten egg smell. Untreated sulfate can cause unpleasant physical symptoms when ingested, including diarrhea.

3. Strong Chlorine Smell

Most water treatment facilities use chlorine to kill bacteria and ensure that municipal water is sanitized for consumption. While chlorine is harmless in small amounts, excess chlorine can cause health issues and other problems. If your water has a strong chlorine smell or you and your family members have irritated eyes or skin after bathing, you need to get your water tested for excess chlorine.

4. Greasy Water

Does your water appear to have a greasy or oily film on it? If so, grease or oil has somehow made its way into your plumbing system. Naturally, oil and water don't mix, so you'll be able to see the oil on your water in your toilet or after running a bath. This is a problem that only a professional plumber can address. You can reach out to the team at [company_name] to inspect your plumbing system and find the source of the issue.

5. Rust-colored or Tinted Water

Rust-colored water is one of the more common signs of poor water quality, especially in older homes. Typically, this problem is caused by older water pipes that have rusted and started to degrade. The solution to this is to have your old water pipes replaced. If the rust-colored water only comes out of your faucet when running hot water, the problem is likely due to your hot water heater, which you can have a professional plumber either flush or replace.

You may also have tinted water due to excess organic materials such as iron or manganese. Upstream pollutants that have gotten into the water supply from rainwater runoff can also cause tinted water. Whether it's motor oil, pesticides, agricultural products, or other contaminants, tinted water due to pollutants is unsafe to drink and must be addressed as soon as possible.

6. Blue-green Stains on Sinks and Plumbing Fixtures

Blue-green stains are almost always a sign of excess copper levels in your home's water supply. At very high levels, copper can cause serious health problems when consumed. The problems range from anemia and digestion problems to kidney and liver damage. For this reason, it's important to get your plumbing checked out if you notice blue-green stains in your home.

7. Skin Irritation

In some cases, low-quality water does not have to be consumed to cause issues. If you have itchy skin following a bath or shower, you may be dealing with excessively hard water. A more serious problem is burning skin after a shower or bath. This problem is likely caused by harmful chemicals in the water, which must be addressed as soon as possible.

8. Funny-tasting Water

No one wants to pour a glass of water only to find that it has a strange taste to it. Depending on the cause, this problem can range from simply annoying to very dangerous. For instance, a metallic taste in your home's water is typically harmless if it's caused by zinc, manganese, or iron, but it can be extremely unhealthy if the source of the taste is lead. To avoid serious issues, it's best to reach out to a plumbing specialist whenever you notice a funny taste in your drinking water.

9. Detergent Smell

A detergent smell is fine when it's coming from your washing machine, but you don't want to smell detergent on the water coming from your faucets. Generally, there are two major reasons why your water smells like detergent.

The first is excess treatment chemicals that have made their way into the water supply via your local treatment facility. If this is the case, there is a problem with the treatment system that needs to be fixed. A detergent smell can also be due to a septic tank leakage that has made its way into your water supply. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible because it can lead to waterborne illnesses.

10. Water Pressure Issues

Low water pressure can make it difficult to shower, wash dishes, and complete other tasks. Although it might not seem like water pressure and water quality can be connected, they definitely can be. Often, low water pressure is a sign that you have clogged or corroded pipes. In many cases, the clogging is due to excess mineral buildup, which we discussed earlier. In addition to clogging pipes and plumbing fixtures, the mineral buildup can break off into drinking water and lower its overall quality.

Plumbing leaks are also a cause of low water pressure. When there is a significant drop in pressure due to leaks in a damaged section of pipe, contaminants can be sucked back into the pipe and travel on through the plumbing system. A professional plumber can determine the source of your low water pressure and provide a lasting solution.

Contact Us Today

When you want to install or repair your pipes in Columbus, OH or the surrounding areas, you need the help of a qualified plumber. At [company_name], our team of plumbing professionals has a wealth of experience in providing plumbing repair and installation services. You can also turn to us for water filtration services so that you can have peace of mind that the water you're drinking is safe from contaminants.

Our other service offerings include toilet repair, water heater installation and repair, repiping, bathroom remodeling, and gas leak detection. We also offer a full range of drain cleaning services, including hydro-jetting for tough clogs. In addition, our team provides sewer repair and excavation and a full range of commercial plumbing services. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services or to set up an appointment.