When we are told that drinking water straight from the tap is safe, what people actually mean is that you will not immediately fall ill. It doesn’t mean that the water is completely free of pollutants. The water in most countries contains trace amounts of things that can potentially harm people, including heavy metals such as iron, lead, mercury, and arsenic.
While the concentrations of these are low enough to have no effect in the short term, it is not inconceivable that their long-term consumption might be harmful to your health. And they can also be harmful to your home too. Fortunately, filter systems exist which can remove these before you drink them. Here’s why getting one for your home is a good idea.
Preventing bacterial growth
It’s not only the heavy metals found in your tap water that you should be concerned about putting into your body, but what comes with them. Take iron, for example. Iron is not absorbed well from water and therefore isn’t much of a risk by itself, but iron particles can let more dangerous things, including bacteria like E. Coli, grow on its surface.
Improved taste
Water that has a high enough concentration of heavy metals in it can begin to have a slightly metallic taste which many people find unpleasant. It can also cause things like vegetables or herbal teas to turn a dark colour when they are boiled. These are not dangerous in the sense that you will become ill if you consume them, but if they are putting you off of cooking at home or staying hydrated then they could be indirectly bad for your health.
On the bright side, if your unfiltered water does taste or act this way it will be easy to tell when it’s time to change the filter cartridge. Billi water filter replacement cartridges and those for other brands can easily be ordered online.
Keeps your skin clear
One of the surprising benefits of a water treatment system is that it could help keep your skin clear and condition-free. Some heavy metals, like iron, can get into our pores and block them up if we consume it excessively. We already get iron in many of the foods we eat, so this is easily done if we are drinking it too. It can lead to conditions such as acne.
Preventing damage to pipes
If your water contains heavy metals and other minerals such as magnesium and calcium in larger than usual quantities – what’s known as hard water – it can leave deposits of these inside your home’s pipes as it passes through. Over time, this can lead to clogs or water backing up. Resolving them usually means an expensive visit from a plumber.
If you live in a hard water area, you should consider purchasing a water filter for your home that treats your water before it reaches your taps. In soft water areas, just filtering your drinking water is generally enough.
Conclusion
Heavy metals can result in water that tastes unpleasant, damages pipes, and could have indirect or long-term health consequences. Investing in a home water filter system can help mitigate these, and many systems today also perform other functions like boiling or carbonating your water.