Whether you source from the city or own a private well, your drinking water could become contaminated on its way to your tap. That’s why any changes in taste, appearance, or smell should be cause for concern. To keep your family safe, review the following signs that you might need filters to treat polluted drinking water.

Signs of Impurities in Drinking Water

1. Chlorine or Sulfur Smell

Drinking water should never have a pungent aroma. However, as municipal services disinfect water with chlorine, an overabundance of this chemical can create a smell. If high levels of chlorine are a concern, reverse osmosis systems can remove up to 95% of the chemical.

Additionally, when water seeps through the earth, it can pick up minerals that contain sulfur. The substances can get pumped into your private well, giving the liquid a rotten egg smell. Water treatment systems can also be used to remove sulfur residue.

2. Baking Problems

Using water with high chlorine levels for cooking could affect the quality of your results. As a disinfectant, chlorine kills bacteria to make liquid safe for consumption, but at high levels, it could also eliminate the yeast that’s needed to make dough rise.

3. Murky Appearance

Water is transparent, which means you should be able to see through it in a clear drinking glass. Harmless minerals floating in the liquid, including calcium and magnesium, can cause it to take on a cloudy appearance temporarily. However, if the cloudiness lasts for a few minutes, it may be due to bacteria. Water softeners can replace hard minerals with sodium or potassium ions to alter the appearance and taste.

If you think your drinking water may be contaminated, contact the professionals at Holmes Water Treatment. Based in Wentzville, MO, and serving homeowners in St. Peters, St. Charles, and Warrenton, these technicians have over 40 years of experience addressing customers’ water filtration needs. For a consultation, call (636) 327-6404. To see what products they carry and install, visit them online.