The quality of the water that we drink, wash with, cook with, and bathe ourselves (and our animals) in matters. Water is essential and when our water supply becomes contaminated, it can cause serious health-related problems for members of our households and sometimes the local community at large.
Most US residents feel that clean water should not be an issue in modern first-world countries, but the fact of the matter is that Americans too are at risk of consuming contaminated water. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that roughly 1.1 million US residents experience sickness from water-borne illnesses a year. Legionella, E. coli, and Norovirus all have a health impact in the United States. Professional water testing services are a reliable way to inform homeowners about their water quality.
Manassas Virginia Homeowners are Hiring Out for Professional Water Testing
Homeowners may have watched the 2008 documentary, Flow: For Love of Water. Parts of the film focus heavily on pollution and water contamination across the US water supply—these conclusions are startling enough to give viewers a complex about clean water.
Knowledge is power and can spur actionable change—the more you know. Evaluating the water coming out of your taps provides peace of mind. Choosing to hire out for professional water testing in Manassas, VA will give you a baseline of the quality of your water and early detection of contaminants helps your family and your community.
Common Water Contaminants in Manassas and Northern Virginia
What do professional water testing technicians test for, and what kind of water test do you need? Northern Virginia and Manassas area homeowners on city water should be concerned about water disinfecting biproducts like Bromodichloromethane and Chloroform as these can be prevalent in the regional water supply. Residents should also be aware of agricultural runoff that may cause increased concentrations of nitrates and phosphorous and potentially chemicals from pesticides and herbicides. Heavy metals can also be present.
While residents on city water may put faith in the department of public works to uphold drinking water standards for the water supply coming from Lake Manassas, residents drawing their water source from wells are accountable for their own water quality as it is untreated by the city. Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDC recommend that households with well water sources have their water quality professionally tested at least once a year and conduct yearly inspections of the infrastructure of their wells.
Other Considerations for Homeowners
Homeowners in Manassas that have older homes—built before 1986—should consider having their water evaluated for traces of lead. Virginia did not outlaw the use of lead piping until 1985, so those in homes with aged infrastructure should be weary. According to the EPA, lead exposure can cause developmental issues like hearing loss, slowed growth, hyperactivity, lower IQ, anemia, and other behavioral and learning problems in children, and elevated blood pressure, kidney impairment, and reproductive problems in adults. Pregnant women are also at-risk from experiencing stunted growth of the fetus and premature birth.
Additionally, homeowners that experience a flooding event that impacts their residence or community should not drink their tap water as things like sewage, agricultural pollutants, bacteria, and other chemicals could infiltrate water systems. This is particularly concerning for operating on well systems.
Searching for professional water quality testing in Manassas? Joiner Micro Labs is state accredited and has been providing water testing services in Virginia since 1991. Contact us to schedule a water quality test in Manassas today!