Is Your Water Safe to Drink?

They say we can’t live without water. But what if your water is contaminated?

There are many indicators that show your water might not be the purest. Here are the top telling signs that you might have water contaminants and what to do about it:

Signs
Is your water orange or yellow in color? If so, you’re probably dealing with iron, which might have a bitter taste and stain your laundry. Sulfur is another sign that your water is unsafe. Does it smell like rotten eggs? This is most likely caused by bacteria and can weaken the immune system. A third sign? Foam. If your water is foamy or milky, it might be a sign of methane gas or dilute sewage - which means your water is dirty and chemically-filled.

Precautions
If you feel your water might be contaminated and unsafe to drink, here is how you can take action:

1. Ask your water company. They are required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to supply you with a Consumer Confidence Report to notify you of any contaminants.
2. Know about contaminants. Once you have your report, you can look up more information about contaminants and water testing in your area.
3. Test for yourself. The best way to know for sure if your water is safe to drink is to test it yourself. First, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, which will connect you to a local water testing agency.

For all of your plumbing, draining, and health concerns, contact New York Plumbing and Sewer Rooter! We are available 24/7 for plumbing needs. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website to learn more about our services.  

National Water Quality Month: How to Make Sure Your Water is Safe to Drink

August is National Water Quality Month! Let’s take this time to appreciate and understand what it means to have quality drinking water. Here are a few ways you can make sure the water you are drinking is safe:

Stay informed.
The first thing you can do is educate yourself on the water quality in your area. For example, find some information about your state’s Source Water Assessment to learn more about potential water quality threats. We also recommend that you read the annual Consumer Confidence Report from your public water system (aka Water Quality Report). This way, you can compare the water quality in your region to other areas to determine how safe it is to drink.

Be an observer.
Next, you will want to check the watershed where you live. Do you notice any suspicious activity happening in or around the water supply that may pollute your drinking water? If so, you should notify authorities about these incidents.

Get involved.
From reading the local newspaper to attending public hearings, getting involved is one way to find out if any new construction or town planning will affect your water source. Don’t forget to ask questions if you’re not sure how these plans might impact the quality of your water. It also helps to volunteer by partaking in your community’s contaminant monitoring activities. This way, you can encourage the town to run some tests on your drinking water supply.

Don’t contaminate.
One of the best things you can do to make sure your water is safe to drink is to make sure you don’t contaminate. You can keep your drinking water clean by reducing trash and taking the bus to work once per week. In order to reduce the trash you create, we recommend you recycle plastic bottles, aluminum, and glass. And if you can, take a break from driving just one day each week. That way, you can prevent large amounts of carbon dioxide from contaminating your drinking water.

Looking for more tips on how to make sure your water is safe to drink? Click here!

At New York Plumbing and Sewer Rooter, we're available for all of your plumbing emergencies and needs. Call us at 516-874-7937 today! LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more updates and plumbing information.

World Plumbing Day: Celebrating Plumbing Health and Safety of the Modern World

World Plumbing Day is right around the corner and NY Plumber and Sewer Rooter hopes our community will take the time to think about how important it is to be provided with clean and safe water. On March 11^th, 2014, the World Plumbing Council will be celebrating for the 5^th time the important role plumbing plays in the health and safety of modern society. “The safety and abundance of drinking water is, of course, a concern for most people all over the world, but what is not often emphasized is the work the plumbing industry contributes every day to alleviate these concerns.”

NY Plumber and Sewer is proud of the work that we do and is thankful to be able to serve New York and help maintain the proper function of our plumbing system. Whether you are an organization or an individual, help us spread awareness of this special day through one of the activities suggested by the WPC.

If you have chosen to take part in an activity or just want to share your thoughts, please do so on our Facebook page. For plumbing services that adhere to the standards the WPC is looking to uphold, call NY Plumber and Sewer Rooter. We are available 24/7 to help give you the water you deserve.