Why You Should Not Drink Arizona Tap Water

November 22, 2021

For those who live in Phoenix, the city’s tap water mostly comes from the Central Arizona Project and the Salt River Project. These rely on water sources like the Verde River, the Colorado River and the Salt River. The Deer Valley Water Treatment Plant is a facility that has ensured water quality for the last five decades by filtering out bacteria and viruses that could prove dangerous.

This process is necessary to ensure a base level of water safety; however, there are other considerations you may want to take into account if you want the best quality water for you and your family.

To find out more about the issues with Arizona tap water, read on.

Contaminants found in Arizona water

A federal report found that Phoenix water had high levels of the carcinogen chromium-6. This chemical is linked to certain types of cancer and was found in the overwhelming majority of water samples from Phoenix.

Utility companies remove water-borne contaminants found in tap water, but the process isn’t always perfect. In rare cases, harmful contaminants will find their way into the water and make it not fit for consumption. Common contaminants found in untreated water can cause everything from giardiasis (a gastrointestinal infection) to Legionnaires’ disease and salmonellosis.

However, water purification can be done at home to eliminate any toxic chemicals or other impurities. While cases of tap water presenting a risk to your health are rare in the U.S. compared to some other countries, you can eliminate considerable risk by using superior filtration systems.

Water purification systems for your home

The following are common ways to filter Arizona tap water:

  • Reverse osmosis (RO) systems: These units will remove up to 97 percent of all the contaminants found in standard tap water. That means your water will taste better and be better for your family’s health. These systems rely on membranes that filter out all large and tiny contaminants. RO systems are specifically designed to improve drinking water only.
  • Whole-house filtration systems: These filtration systems differ from RO in that they treat all water in the home, whether you’re using the bathroom sink or the washing machine. These systems use multiple filters to remove contaminants like chlorine, lead and carcinogens from the water. They also remove any debris that has bypassed the utility’s filtration system.
  • Water softeners: These are technically not the same as the filtration systems listed above—that’s because water softeners’ main purpose is to remove minerals found in hard water like manganese and calcium. They do not remove chlorine or heavy metals. If you have hard water that’s drying out your skin and damaging your fixtures, then you may want to look into water softeners.

Do you want to stop buying so much bottled water? Then talk to the experts at WES Water. Our focus is on water purification, remediation and filtration. We have more than three decades of experience in the industry and are ready to meet all your water treatment needs. Give us a call right now if you want to have the best quality water for your home.

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