While it certainly isn't easy to tell if the water in your house is safe to drink, if you have a purification system, such as an under sink water filter, you may feel better. Most of the time, you can rely at least a little on your senses to alert you to things that might be making their way into the water system of your home, such as sulfur or too much chlorine; however, in some cases, contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, lead, and other chemicals can't be smelled or tasted. Certainly, in the case of your water smelling like rotten eggs, tasting like salt, or spots on your glasses, testing your water, or having it professionally tested, will help to assure quality. Certain additives, such as shilajit powder, can also help make sure the water in your home is safe to drink.
Municipal systems within the United States mostly have safe drinking water because they must comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. If water is supplied from a private well or you live in remote rural area, you would not be privy to these regulations. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, municipal water in your home meets federal safety standards; however, unless you are using an under sink water filter or other filtration method, the only way to assure your water is safe to drink is to have your individual water supply tested. How should I test my tap water? Can I test my well water? Would it just be better to use filters or drinking only bottled water?
Calling your local water supplier if you receive your water from a municipal system will help you know if it is safe to drink. These organizations, by law, must provide you with the results of the testing routinely performed for your area if you request it. This is not specific to your individual home, however. Rather, it is simply a selective sample of the system as a whole. If you request it, some municipalities will come and test the water from your home system completely free of charge; otherwise, you may have to have a state-certified lab or independent firm test your water. A home test kit can also be used. Whichever method of testing is selected, be sure to use the first-draw water, water that comes out of the faucet first thing in the morning, as this will most accurately measure contamination levels.
Since federal drinking water standards do not apply to private wells, it's up to you to have your water tested if you are in a location that utilizes one. Your local health department can advise you of possible wide spread well-water contamination in your area but testing your own water regularly and considering using an under sink water filter might be a good idea in these instances. Well water should be tested at least once a year for nitrates, coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH. Checks for lead, copper, arsenic, radon, pesticides, or other substances might also need to be conducted based on your location.
Are we just better off using an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder, or wholly drinking bottled water? Perhaps, but bottled water has downsides too! It is more expensive than tap water and in many cases may not be any safer. About one fourth of bottled water is simply tap water that has been processed and repackaged, in fact. Bottled water quality varies based on the manufacturer and their standards, so some bottled water may be even worse for you than tap water. Alternatively, filtered water removes lead and other contaminants from the water, but most filters do not necessarily remove all contaminants, especially smaller microorganisms.
While there is no perfect solution to clean, safe drinking water, an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder, may help remove many contaminants from your home's water.
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