5 Ways that Drinking Water can Become Polluted

Clean, sanitary drinking water is essential and it is an integral part of staying fit and healthy. Without plentiful supplies of water, you can become at risk of suffering from dehydration which can lead to long-term issues and put your health at risk. In some situations, drinking water is unsafe to drink, as it may have become contaminated or polluted so is not recommended for human consumption. At LifeSaver, we produce water filters and purifiers that can help convert dirty water into safe, drinking water removing microbiological pathogens that include viruses, bacteria, cysts and parasites. We’ve put together a guide to show 5 common ways that drinking water can become contaminated.

Hard Water 

In some regions, the local drinking water supply has a high hard water content which means that it is made up of a large proportion of minerals. This can become dangerous, because if the mineral content is too high then this means that piping and water supplies can become blocked and prone to unsanitary conditions. Pipelines can also begin to erode due to minerals. Softeners and conditioners can be used to decrease the problem.

Metals 

Some water supplies can become polluted by nearby lakes or water sources. This is because industrialisation can expose water sources to harmful metals and therefore cause pollution. Water sources can then come into contact with groundwater supplies and contaminate drinking water; this can have very dangerous consequences.

Microbial Pollutants 

Microbial pollutants can contaminate water and lead to the spreading of infection and disease through drinking water and consumption. For example, diseases such as cryptosporidiosis can cause illness in humans through drinking contaminated water.

Sewage 

If there are problems with sewage systems, causing breakages and leakages, then sewage can end up polluting underground water streams that are set to become drinkable water. Sewers carry pathogens, so it is essential that sewage systems are kept properly maintained in order to ensure that drinking water remains sanitary and protected from contamination.

Septic Systems 

Septic systems are water disposal systems that are not attached to sewage systems. They are designed to also get rid of waste in homes, offices and other buildings. If they are poorly maintained or not designed adequately then they can leak and cause bacteria, viruses, illness and disease to spread and can affect groundwater and drinking supplies.