For the health of every individual in the household, it is critical that the home’s drinking water is safe and healthy. The major issue involving the safety and quality of water revolves around waterborne bacteria and household water safety. Waterborne bacteria can contaminate our water drinking and it can cause a great deal of health-related injuries if not treated properly and timely in an appropriate manner.
For these reasons, it really helps to know what bacteria can exist in the drinking water at home, how they might impact on health, and how to test and avoid them. After all, we at minimum should drink or consume drinking water in a safe manner and health. The following is a complete presentation on these factors.
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What are Waterborne Bacteria?
Waterborne bacteria are small microorganisms that thrive and reproduce in drinking water sources, such as surface water (rivers and lakes) and groundwater. Furthermore, waterborne bacteria can potentially access the water supply in your household through unsafe sources of drinking water, such as poorly constructed wells or poorly maintained drinking water distribution systems.
Waterborne bacteria pose a risk to human health when contaminated drinking water is ingested or used without proper filtration and sterilization. For this reason, tested waterborne bacteria in drinking water is an important consideration in accessing and ensuring the quality and safety of drinking water.
Common Types of Waterborne Bacteria
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Giardia lamblia
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Escherichia coli (E. coli)
It is good to be aware there are many different types of bacteria and parasites which may be found in household water that may cause some types of illness. One example of a waterborne bacterium is Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is commonly utilized as an indicator for fecal contamination of public water supplies.
Certain strains of E. coli have been linked to diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and other gastrointestinal disorders. The pathogenesis of select strains is attributable to toxic compounds produced which damage the lining of the small intestine leading to blood in the stool.
Another genus of parasite is Giardia lamblia. This protozoan parasite causes giardiasis associated with diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea. Giardia is typically acquired through fecal contamination of water supplies from either humans or animals.
Salmonella can also be a bacteria which can cause serious and severe gastrointestinal illness, such as typhoid fever and food poisoning. Like the prior examples, Salmonella is also initially introduced to water supplies due to fecal contamination. Infections stemming from the parasites described within this category are often associated with symptoms of abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fever, and dehydration.
Serious Health Impacts
When people are in water environments with water-borne bacteria, there can be negative, and serious health outcomes. Most serious health risks have many dimensions, all the way from minor gastrointestinal consequences like diarrhea, to serious, and life-threatening illness.
Serious health outcomes are heightened, when an individual has a compromised immune system. This is especially true for vulnerable populations like young children, the elderly or people with some immune compromise.
Serious diarrhea from exposure to bacteria can lead to dehydration that can lead to death or permanent damage to health, especially in children. Additionally, diarrhea usually comes with fever and significant discomfort.
In the worst cases, bacteria can create a systemic infection by moving into the vasculature (blood supply) and lead to serious health outcomes, such as infection of the blood (sepsis) or damage to vital organs. Overall, to lower the odds of serious health devastating health outcomes, it is important to maintain the quality of the home water supply to lower the risk of exposure to water-borne bacteria.
How to Test Household Water Quality
The first step is to test your home’s water quality. You want to make sure that the water you are using is clean from any waterborne bacteria or contaminants.
The most accurate way is laboratory testing. Laboratory testing looks at the more intricate details of the water through a water sample that is taken and analyzed within a microbiology laboratory for the presence of bacteria (or other harmful contaminants).
There are also test kits suitable for home use, which are rapid tests. These test kits are portable and will detect bacteria like E. coli (for example). These kits can also be used, if need be, for a routine monitoring of the water otherwise.
While not as accurate as laboratory methods, monitoring your water visually or by its smell may also be indicators for the safety of the water. If the water color changes, or there is any sort of foul smell or taste, it may indicate something is wrong with the water.
It is highly encouraged to regularly test your water soon after moving in, but usually there are extra suggestions, such as when your home is utilizing private well water or is in an area prone to pollution.
Prevention & Purification Technologies
A variety of prevention technologies and water purification devices are becoming available, often with advanced features, to keep household water free of waterborne bacteria. Microbiological filters that use ceramic or ultrafiltration membranes are one type of technology. These filters have very small pores capable of physically filtering bacteria and parasites from water.
UV sterilization technology, which utilizes ultraviolet light to kill harmful microorganisms without the use of chemicals, is also an effective technology. UV sterilization technology is considered safe and environmentally friendly. Chlorine and other disinfectant methods are also commonly used to kill bacteria. If using chemical methods, it is important to use the correct dose, or they may be harmful.
And, in the present day, practical and optimal drinking water maintenance for all purposes can be found in air purifiers that integrate a combination of filtration and sterilization technologies in one device. By using the right technology, with regular maintenance, household water from waterborne bacteria can easily be kept safe, which protects your family’s health and quality of life.
Our Solution
Legom understands that household water safety begins with the very first stage of filtration. Hence, our invention of water Pre-Filter is designed to protect your home’s plumbing and water-using appliances by removing rust, sand, and large particles before water reaches downstream filters or purifiers.
Featuring the world’s first quick-disassembly and cleaning system, this innovative design makes maintenance effortless. The 40 μm stainless-steel mesh filter intercepts visible impurities while maintaining steady water pressure. With its gear-linkage mechanism, universal water inlet, and anti-water-hammer structure, the Legom pre-filter ensures durability, easy installation, and long-term protection for your household water system.
