Although clean water is essential for everyone, billions of people worldwide still do not have access to safe drinking water. This problem doesn’t only exist in developing countries. Even though Americans have access to infrastructure that can provide clean water, there are still millions who have no choice but to use dirty water.
Contamination can happen to city water supplies, wells, and other freshwater sources such as lakes and rivers. And with that comes a wide range of problems regarding drinking dirty water. Here are just some of its adverse effects:
Chemical Exposure
There’s a reason why using too many pesticides and fertilizers is not advised. These chemicals can seep through the dirt and contaminate groundwater found in aquifers. Plus, they are often undetectable to the human senses. Some of these chemicals include aluminum, ammonia, arsenic, and mercury.
Prolonged exposure to chemicals can lead to various short- and long-term health effects like nervous system damage, skin coloration, reproductive issues, and many more. Some can also cause certain cancers if not detected early on.
Dysentery
Dysentery is an infection of the intestines, often caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. It causes severe diarrhea with blood or mucus. Dysentery often happens because the victim has drunk contaminated water or eaten uncooked food. Although mild dysentery can be cleared up with rest and medications, more severe cases may lead to death if not treated immediately.
E. coli
Escherichia Coli, more commonly known as E. coli, is a common bacterium with several strains. Most of these strains are harmless to humans, with some even aiding digestion. They can even protect the body from other harmful microbes.
However, the strains in contaminated water can cause symptoms similar to those of dysentery. Mild cases can pass within a week or two with the help of rest and fluid intake to prevent dehydration. More serious cases will require the victim to be hospitalized as soon as possible. Older people and young children are more susceptible to developing life-threatening symptoms.
With all these negative effects, having a proper drinking water system in a home is essential. If you need water treatment services that you can trust, schedule an appointment with us at Adams Water Conditioning. For more than 50 years, we have been a trusted name when it comes to filtration and water treatment.
