Maintaining the safety of your home and family should be every homeowner’s first priority. This includes ensuring that your drinking water is safe to consume. Every municipality is different in how they handle keeping bacteria out of the local water source. Additionally, if you have well water, you are liking going to need a filtration system to keep your water clean. Is bathroom sink water safe to drink? If you brush your teeth with it, it is likely safe to drink. Test your water just to be safe.
Let’s take a look below at why it might not be the safest water in the home.
What Can I Do To Check My Bathroom Sink Water?
Homeowners can purchase a water testing kit from the local hardware store to test the water quality. These kits are specifically designed to determine if your water source is safe. Drinking out of the bathroom sink is safe if you have the same pipes in the bathroom as you do in your kitchen. In some older homes, the bathroom plumbing was made of lead pipes.
Consequently, over time, lead can contaminate your water supply. Additionally, if your storage basin runs out of chlorine or has a low level of chlorine, then bacteria can begin to grow and contaminate your water. Drinking the water from your tap might cause you to feel a little sick.
How Do I Know That It Isn’t Safe To Drink?
Believe it or not, your water supply has a good way of telling you that it might not be the safest to drink. Look for the following warning signs and take the necessary precautions to fix the issue.
- Murky water – If you notice any discoloration of the bathroom tap water you will want to get a water quality test. Cloudy or murky water is a clear indication that the water is dirty and should not be consumed. Also, this could be an issue with your pipes, call on a master plumber to take a look.
- Particles in the water – It is the responsibility of the local water treatment facility to remove any particles from the well, water table, or reservoir water supply. Consequently, the presence of particles in your water is a clear indication of a water main break. When water mains break, particles from the ground gain access to your cold water pipes and the kitchen tap.
- Foul odor from the water – Smelly bathroom tap water is a clear indication that contamination has occurred. Sulfur is a product found in the ground and when it enters your water source, a rotten egg smell is released. If the sulfur or chlorine levels are small in the water supply, you likely will not be harmed. However, reach out to your local municipality for a fix.
- Green algae are evident on the water’s surface – The moment that you notice green algae has entered your water source you should immediately stop drinking it. Green algae cause vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and nervous system issues when ingested. You will need to call on your local municipality so that they can inspect their water treatment facility. Any particulates such as green algae should be removed during treatment.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you are aware of why bathroom water is safe to drink, but not necessarily the top choice, you can read up on what some typical plumbing problems in old homes might be. Having this background knowledge allows you to go into a home purchase with the idea of upgrades being needed.
Next, if you have a well and notice brown water coming out of your faucet it is likely an issue with your well pump or well plumbing. It might be time to replace your iron filtration or water softener system to ensure that all particles are properly removed from your water source.
Lastly, if you have a well and already know that your issue with the water from the bathroom is a result of a well issue, call for an inspection. Also. read up on what a well inspection entails so that you are well-versed on what to expect during the inspection.
When Do I Call A Professional?
When you purchase a home it is a great idea to understand what type of pipes were used. Knowing the plumbing and who or what treats your water source can save time and money. Many times things can occur to your water supply due to mechanical failures or breaks in the water lines. Also, having an understanding of who to call when this occurs is a step in the right direction.
After all, keeping you and your family safe from health issues is key. Reach out to your local home inspection team to have the plumbing inspected. Whether you have new or older buildings and homes it is recommended. They can recommend a reputable water quality test and assist you with what you need.
Conclusion
Calling on a master plumber to assist you with your water smells is a great idea. Often they just need to replace an old water heater or plumbing pipes that feed your home with water. Before things get really bad, call on your local home inspection team for a full plumbing inspection. Also, call your local municipality to check on the water treatment facility. Reach out to Alpha building inspections to conduct a plumbing inspection during a full home inspection in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and surrounding areas.
