What Happens if You Drink Unfiltered Water?

Call Babe Plumbing to keep your water safe and clean! 

Most people notice a distinct difference between the way tap water and bottled water taste since one uses a filter to remove contaminants and the other doesn't. If you ever wonder about what happens if you drink unfiltered water, this guide will reveal some unsettling truths. While there are some dangers to drinking raw water straight from the tap, a high-quality water filtration system can eliminate this risk and keep you safe. 

Babe Plumbing can protect you and your family from unsafe drinking water. We are the team to call for Mankato's reliable water filtration services and will inspect the contaminant levels of your drinking water. Discover what happens if you drink unfiltered water, and don't hesitate to reach out and discuss installing a filtration system in your home. 

Expect Chemical Exposure 

Unfiltered water from the tap is usually safe to drink if there is a small level of contaminants, such as nitrates, fluoride, chlorine, and chloramine. These elements, known as PFAS (Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), can actually benefit your health since fluoride prevents tooth decay while chlorine and chloramine kill common germs that make you sick. Public water also features various minerals that can optimize your health, such as:

• Potassium
• Zinc
• Calcium
• Magnesium 

However, without proper testing, it's hard to know just how many contaminants are within your water supply. Dangerous levels of these properties may be present and be unsafe for drinking. For example, high levels of chlorine or heavy metals like iron and lead can have significant health effects. 

Microscopic contaminants are usually safe, but you may take the risk of getting sick from a high level of arsenic, lead, or other elements in your water. Even if you don't notice anything unusual with your water supply, expect that these properties are always in every glass you drink. 

Harmful Health Effects of Drinking Contaminated Tap Water 

What happens if you drink unfiltered water with high levels of contaminants? You are suddenly at risk for severe health issues that can vary depending on the exact elements within the water. For example, radioactive elements like uranium or plutonium appear in some water sources and emit harmful radiation throughout your body, which raises your risk of developing cancer. 

If there are high levels of metals within your tap water, not only will it taste different and may appear discolored, but your body will suffer from too much exposure. Water supplies with unsafe levels of metallic elements can lead to the following health conditions if you consume too much:

• Kidney failure
• Liver damage
• Anemia
• Intestinal damage
• Cancer

Certain demographics are more susceptible to these health risks, given their compromised immune systems. Young children, the elderly, cancer patients, and pregnant women are more likely to suffer the harmful effects of drinking unfiltered water. 

Common Sources of Contamination 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, several factors impact water quality. Contaminants can enter the water supply from the following sources:

• Human or animal waste: Public water systems can fuse with sewage that carries harmful microbes like E. coli and Giardia.
• Industrial and agricultural products: If water plants are near industrial areas where there is exposure to heavy metals, solvents, or petroleum, these can all infiltrate the aquifers. Similarly, reservoirs may have fertilizer or pesticides enter the supply given the nearby agriculture. 
• Treatment and distribution plants: Water treatment plants may leave harmful byproducts within the supply despite removing the majority of other contaminants. Shoddy pipe systems containing lead or copper can fill the water supply with these metals as it travels to your home. 
• Natural sources: Groundwater sources are not always safe if heavy metals like arsenic impact the supply.

Instead of risking strong contamination levels in your tap water, a whole-house filtration system can give you peace of mind and eliminate any harmful elements from your water supply. 

How a Water Filtration System Helps

If you want to avoid harmful health conditions and generally unpleasant-tasting water, you may choose to switch to only bottled water. However, the costs can add up over time, and it isn't the most environmentally-friendly option, given the amount of plastic you'll be using. Installing a whole-house water filtration system can address your concerns so you no longer have to worry about what happens if you drink unfiltered water. These systems often use a gravity feature to remove heavy particles from the water and therefore leave you with clean, fresh-tasting H2O. The filter traps everything from dirt and sediment to high levels of minerals and metals to improve your tap water. 

Benefits of a Whole-House Water Filtration System

It's possible to invest in a water filter that connects directly to your faucet so every glass you drink is clean and safe. However, you can reap even more benefits by filtering your home's entire water supply. These larger, complex systems ensure that all of your plumbing fixtures, such as sinks, showers, and washing machines, have only a clean supply of water. 

Drinking unfiltered water can be dangerous, but you'll also experience issues if you have contaminated water flowing through other parts of your home. For example, hard water that has high levels of minerals can irritate your skin if you bathe in it while also leaving an unsightly residue on dishes and glass despite washing them. Washing your clothes with hard water can also ruin the fabric's quality and leave garments feeling dull or stiff. A whole-house filtration system eliminates all of these problems by keeping your entire water supply free of harmful contaminants. 

Let Babe Plumbing Install a High-Quality Water Filtration System 

Now that you know what happens if you drink unfiltered water, take steps to keep your drinking water safe and healthy. Reach out to Babe Plumbing, and our experts can install a whole-house filtration system that prevents dangerous minerals and discolored water from flowing through your faucets. Our team is ready to help you stay healthy and avoid the dangers of contaminated tap water. 

Call Babe Plumbing today at (507) 418-8287 to schedule a consultation with our water filtration experts. 

Author Bio:

Jeff Jordan and Anne Jordan

The wizards at Babe Plumbing. With synchronized finesse, they flawlessly orchestrate service excellence, transforming appointment chaos into a harmonious symphony of plumbing solutions, leaving customers impressed and ever-grateful for their unrivaled coordination.