Common water problems
Water has an important role to play in our lives. It supports life and we need it for other purposes such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing. It is important that we use water that is clean to ensure that we remain healthy by staying clear of waterborne diseases. The water in most households is not always clean with natural and man-made factors contributing to making it less pure. Users are, therefore, required to use water filters to purify the water in their homes so as to make ideal for household use and consumption. Such filters eliminate visible and invisible impurities in water, thereby making it safe for use. Water problems, however, are not just limited to visible and invisible impurities. There are other issues such as water hardness and poor taste that contribute to making water not safe for use. Let’s now review some of the common water problems.
1. Hard water.
Water hardness is caused by an increase in the concentration of mineral deposits in the water. Ions of calcium and magnesium are responsible for water hardness that makes it not suitable for use. Hard water does not lather easily and this makes it less ideal for cleaning purposes and bathing. It creates soap curd that reduces the effectiveness of cleaning products such as soap and detergent. When hard water is heated, the ions settle on the surface of the heater in the form of an insoluble grayish film. This scaling damages water heaters and clogs water pipes.
2. Bad taste and odor.
Water sources may get compromised and this may give it a bad taste and odor. Contamination from natural and unnatural factors introduce impurities into water sources that affect the smell and the taste of the water. The water may acquire a ‘rotten egg’ or ‘swimming pool’ taste. It may also acquire a ‘metallic’ taste as a result of the contamination.
3. Iron stains.
Iron is one of the minerals that is present in most water sources. Iron within the water is then oxidized and this gives the water a rusty color. Water that was once clear acquires a yellow look that manifests itself as orange-colored stains on toilets and sinks. Laundry also pick up the yellow stains when they are washed with water that is rich in oxidized iron. The water also has a metallic taste to it.
4. Chlorine.
Chlorine has been used to treat water for some time now. It is usually added to water to remove microorganisms and to disinfect it. Ideal for both small scale and large scale water treatment, chlorine has helped improve the quality of water supplies the world over. Chlorine, however, gives water a funny taste and odor that some people find offensive. Chlorine also reacts with other elements in the water to produce chemical by-products that affect the quality of the water.
We should all strive to take water that is clean and pure. This way we are able to avoid introducing harmful organisms and elements into our body.
