As New York City residents, our tap water is some of the safest drinking water in the world. Municipal water treatment plants test the water regularly, and they must meet strict federal guidelines. Unfortunately, sometimes contamination can occur. The experienced Richmond Hill plumber, Kew Forest Plumbing explains some common issues with water quality and contamination. There are two common ways that harmful chemicals or particulates can end up in your home’s drinking water. One is a breakdown of the water supply infrastructure that can cause infiltration after treatment before it arrives at your faucet. The other more common issue is the water main, home or building plumbing becoming compromised.
Water Main or Piping Contamination
For the more common scenario, old water mains or water piping can allow these compounds to enter the water stream. The water main or water piping could become corroded and create debris that becomes mixed with the fresh water. Rust is a very common contaminant that leaches into the water from older pipes, but, lead, however, is dangerous. Older pipes were made out of lead and can leech into the fresh water supply. During a water main break, chemicals, and even sewage (if the break coincides with a sewer line break) can infiltrate the water system before the repairs can rectify the issue.
Infrastructure Contamination
If you are fearful that chemicals may be a part of your home’s water from infrastructure contamination, luckily there’s something you can do. Test kits or local water testing is available. These kits or labs can test for dangerous chemicals, so you have peace of mind. If the water is found to be contaminated, you can contact the New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB). To be safe, some choose to install a high-quality filter such as a reverse osmosis system.
For more information about replacing lead pipes or inspecting older plumbing systems, we invite you to contact our experienced Richmond Hill plumber team. To learn more about the NYC water supply and for water quality reports, visit nyc.gov.
