Humans naturally drink water every day. Because water has so many health benefits, we ensure we do not miss even one glass.
However, the cleanliness of the water worldwide may differ from country to country or even between states.
Despite the differences, one thing is certain: it is not clear that even a harmful substance will not exist. Everyone worldwide faces many water issues, but what are the specific issues?
Let’s look into the water issues in Houston, Texas.
Where Does The Water Come From
Houston, Texas—The water quality in Houston, Texas, depends on the life cycle of raindrops. Raindrops could fall into Houston’s stormwater system or a body of water leading to Lake Houston.
The water from Lake Houston is taken to the water treatment plant, which the Drinking Water Operations handle under the Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE).
After treatment, the water is distributed to the residents' homes, where it is used for their chores, hygiene, necessities, and more.
If it falls under the stormwater system, a management unit is assigned by PWE to treat the rainwater.
Houston has a low elevation, and the city is easily flooded with heavy rains or storms. The tributaries, lakes, bayous, and other bodies of water reach the land and wash away anything—oil, pesticides, human or animal waste, garbage, and other harmful sediments.
The flood water will then flow back to the water body and be recycled for residents’ consumption, but could the treatment be enough to ensure that the residents get clean water, as the management assigned claims?
What’s in The Water
Despite the government’s effort to provide 100% clean water to its citizens, there are still complaints regarding the residents' water.
Though the Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE) ensures that all released water passes through thorough filtration and treatment, some people still worry that the water they consume is unsafe, especially for drinking.
Common complaints include:
Worms – Yes, though it may seem disturbing to imagine some suburbs in Houston were unlucky to experience it, as they were going through their daily routine, red or black little worms were seen on the water from their faucets.
Smelly Water—Residents are complaining about the musty smell of their water. Though unaware of the reason, they take the smell seriously and decide not to consume it without sterilizing it.
Cloudy in Color—When residents looked into the glass, they noticed that the water wasn’t clear; it was a little bit cloudy, which gave them the impression that it wasn’t safe for drinking.
Algae and Molds – Some claim they could see molds and algae traces on their waters.
The Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE) is firm in its claim that they are doing its best to produce only clean water. They said it might be in the pipes or due to other reasons that could happen while the water travels from the treatment plant to the resident’s homes.
Effects of Unsafe Water
Water Contamination is not a small issue. It is a harmful situation that everyone shouldn’t take for granted. Other than the health dangers we could encounter, other sectors could also be greatly affected.
Some food establishments receive complaints about the change in taste; sometimes, the delicious smell isn’t present. Customers also get sick after consuming their product.
Though there may be many causes, the company blames the supply of smelly, cloudy, and contaminated water.
Since everyone fears consuming water, some buy water bottles and use them for necessities. Instead of saving some money, their budget becomes even tighter because they need to allot some cleaner water.
Common health issues that arise from unclean water include gastrointestinal illness, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, and many more. It may also worsen illnesses suffered by those with a low immune system or those undergoing critical or sensitive medical treatments.
What to Do
There are many ways to protect yourself from these contaminants. Though the government assures you, being cautious and keen is still better.
Here are some ways on how you could treat your water at home:
► Sterilization—There are two ways to sterilize your water: boiling it or using bleach. Boiling seems to be the most common method; you only need salt and a container to store your water.
However, Sterilizing with bleach may require assistance from experts. You will be using a chemical that, if not measured well, will cause greater danger. Bleach is not recommended; it is only used if boiling your water is not an option.
► Using Ion Tablets—Though this method may remove most contaminants, it may not adequately remove all the harmful sediments in the water.
Especially some parasites that may harm your internal organs, it is said that water sterilization is more effective than this method, but this is much easier since you would only be buying the ion tablets and mix them with your water.
People with thyroid problems are not allowed to use this. Mixing it with a drink mix is also advised since this method produces a peculiar taste in the water.
► Home Water Filters are the most convenient and reliable method. Though you would need to invest a sum of money in buying water filters, the efficiency of producing clean water is long-term. Many water filters are available on the market.
Some are directly attached to faucets to filter mold or algae, and bigger ones are more capable of clearing contaminated water.
Berkey Water Filter Systems are considered the best choice for a product that guarantees 99.999% clean water. The filtering elements are also cleanable, and the product itself is easy to use. It clears toxins, molds, algae, and fluorides, eliminating the musty smell. Consumers consider our system to be the best buy on the market.
Find out what Berkey can remove from your water.
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