Any family’s home is under constant danger from various threats. Many families will think high security systems will keep their homes safe, but what about the microscopic contaminants that slide into the home without any family ever knowing? Water filtration technology continues to evolve, but the problem still exists. Various viruses, bacteria and different parasitic contaminants are capable of finding their way into homes and their water supplies through a number of different ways. This post will detail the ways in which these contaminants can infiltrate your home in addition to ways to defend against them.
The first step for defending against these various contaminants is continuing to invest into the most optimal water purification technology possible. Most homes should be equipped with this technology, but constantly upgrading and maintaining these systems is imperative. Though many families will claim that infection from any of these water contaminants will be mild, there are extreme cases where those who contract the diseases associated with these bacteria have died in some instances. Defending against these attacks is only possible when you’re educated on the contaminants finding their way into the home.
Prior to understanding two of the most dangerous contaminants, here’s a hypothetical situation that can result in a rural home becoming contaminated. Something as simple as extended rainfall can lead to a disaster for families. If local forecasts suggest a few days’ worth of rain, accumulation of that rain can lead to the fecal matter from surrounding farms to be led into nearby rivers and streams. This solution of fecal matter and rain water rinses into surrounding bodies of water which can result in the water becoming infected with E. coli as a result. These bodies of water are capable of feeding into your family’s water supply one way or another. But the danger doesn’t stop there. In your family’s home, air conditioning and sprinkler systems that aren’t monitored or maintained regularly can accumulate water that breeds Legionella. The vapors from this water would then emit and flow through your family’s respiratory systems and cause Legionnaires disease.
While Legionnaires is certainly frightening, there are more types of bacteria that can find their way into your home that are dangerous as well. For example, a more commonly found bacteria in the home is salmonella. While most families assume this bacteria is strictly associated with food, it is also commonly spread through a number of cold-blooded pets that some families keep in the home. Never neglect disinfecting after coming into contact with these animals, as failure to do so could lead to some serious gastrointestinal issues. Even some of the most unknown pathogens, take pseudomonas as an example, can infiltrate the home. Most commonly this pathogen will fester itself in untreated water sources, so families may have a tough time tracing it.
No family should ever feel as though their home is undefended against contaminants that could pose potentially life threatening risks. To learn more about the contaminants that could be infiltrating your home and the ways that your family can help defend against them, be sure to take some time to read on to the infographic included alongside this post.
Chris Ebener is a mechanical engineer for LiquiTech, with a proven track record of diagnosing and remediating public water system issues of various sizes and complexity. Ebener is an expert on the biochemical makeup of facility water systems, system architecture and various methodologies of public drinking water treatment.