Do you know what’s in the water that comes through your faucets? Have you ever wondered about pollutants and contaminants in your home water? The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has identified several pollutants in our state’s tap water. Knowing what pollutants are in your water is the first step toward removing them.

At Plumbing by Jake, we are looking out for our local citizens and helping Bullhead City improve the community’s water quality by offering free home water tests. So, find out what you have running through your pipes and into your kitchens and bathrooms.

How the EPA Defines Contaminants

Your home’s tap water is more than drinking water. You cook with it. You brush your teeth with it. And you shower with it. It is an essential element in your daily life, and it needs to be safe.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect our drinking water from over 90 contaminants. EPA defines contaminants under the act as any “physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in the water.” Thus, the law states that anything other than a water molecule is a contaminant.

Since this is a broad definition, your drinking water will likely have at least trace amounts of some contaminants. Some are harmless if they are consumed at specific levels, while others can be harmful. Therefore, when impurities are present in your water, your health isn’t necessarily at risk.

The EPA uses the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), published every five years, to identify impurities as the first level of analysis for drinking water that’s unregulated. The latest CCL was called Contaminant Candidate List 5-draft and was published in July 2021. Here is a broad list of tap water contaminants and some examples:

Chemical Contaminants

These contaminants are compounds or elements, including salts, pesticides, metals, drugs, or toxins from bacteria.

Physical Contaminants

These impurities affect the physical properties or appearance of your water.

For example, soil erosion can cause organic material or sediment to be suspended in rivers, lakes, or streams.

Radiological Contaminants

These are chemical elements with uneven proton and neutron numbers. This results in atoms that are unstable and release ionizing radiation.

Examples of this form of contaminant include uranium, plutonium, and cesium.

Biological Contaminants

These contaminants are organisms that thrive in tap water. Biological impurities are also called microbiological contaminants or microbes.

Examples of these contaminants include parasites, viruses, protozoa, and bacteria.

How Do I Know If My Bullhead City Water Is Unsafe to Use?

You may notice signs that your water is unsafe to use, especially if it:

Looks murky and cloudy: You want your water to be crystal clear, though sometimes cloudy water could be due to water bubbles. If the cloudiness does not subside after a few minutes, it may have bacteria.
Has a tint: If your water is discolored or has a tint, it may have a higher mineral concentration. For example, high levels of iron, manganese, or rust may give it a colored appearance.
Has an oily film: This typically means grease or oil has entered your water system and, if you smell oil, your water may be polluted with a gasoline compound. If you drink this water, you could experience stomach problems and other adverse health effects – and it is hazardous to women who are pregnant or nursing.
Smells like chlorine or other chemical substances: Public treatment facilities often add chlorine to kill bacteria and other organisms. Yet if too much chlorine is added, you will typically smell it as it comes out of your faucet, and this can lead to intestinal problems and irritated skin.
Smells like naturally occurring sulfur: Sulfur in higher concentrations can be unsafe for consumption and may cause diarrhea, dehydration, and stomach problems. You can detect sulfur by its rotten egg smell.
Tastes strange: Because regular water has no taste, if you notice your water tastes like metal, chemicals, oil, your water may not be safe to drink. This is because industrial chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, or medications may be in your water.

If you experience any of the warning signs above, you may have one of these chemicals and impurities in your tap water:

Arsenic
Chlorine
Lead
Nitrate
Radiological elements
Bacteria

Bullhead City’s Water Supply

The area of Bullhead City has been involved with farming for centuries. Unfortunately, years of pollution have accumulated from local farms, and much of the local water sources are no longer clean and safe.

Bullhead City is committed to improving water in Mohave County. However, because of the number of unregulated contaminants, testing your home water quality is an excellent first step to protecting your family and improving your tap water purity.

Can a Water Filtration System Protect My Water?

A water filtration system helps eliminate problems associated with hard water as well as the odors and unpleasant taste of chlorine in the water. An additional plus of the filtration system is that it saves your plumbing structures from mineral build-ups.

Mineral deposits and other damaging debris can lead to emergency plumbing needs. Because of these impurities, we often get called to:

Unclog drains.
Help with sewer and water lines.
Install and repair bathtubs and toilets.
Install and repair water heaters.

Identifying problems with your plumbing framework can forestall emergency headaches.

How Does a Free Home Water Test Work?

During your free home water test, our experts inspect your water system to uncover any hidden issues. The evaluation is quick and will help you learn what, if anything, is in your home water. We will send certified Comfort Consultants to your home and test your water for sulfates, lead, nitrates, and other contaminants.

We also test your water quality for chlorine levels and total dissolved solids (TDS). If your water has a bitter taste or leaves crusty deposits on your fixtures, it may be from TDS. The term dissolved solids refers to minerals, salts, metals, and dissolved organic matter.

Then, if contaminants are found, our team will explain your options to make your water cleaner and safer.

Why Choose a Water Treatment System from Plumbing by Jake?

Our experts will help you and your family with selecting a water treatment system that includes:

Our all-in-one hassle-free installation.
A comprehensive, up-front estimate.
A 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Your family is worthy of clean, safe, and soft water in your home. Our plumbing experts will give you that.

What About a Water Softening System?

You may also want to have a water softener installed at the same time you request a water purifying system. Softer water helps your laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos, and shower gels work better and last longer.

Experience Plumbing Expertise that Goes Beyond the Tap

In the industry for more than a decade, the experts at Plumbing by Jake will do a free home water test for residents in Bullhead City. In addition to our water test, call us to help you maintain your home and keep your plumbing system safe from disasters.

We start by removing and cleaning all your aerators. This immediately improves your tap water. From here, we can evaluate and tune up your water network throughout your home. Then recommend any plumbing repairs your home may need.

To get started, schedule your free home water test today by calling us at 928-379-7725 or filling out our contact form.