When summer arrives, we cannot ignore its various effects in our daily lives. Weather becomes more humid and temperature rises at its peak during these days. Aside from these immediate consequences of the summer heat, it’s also in this season that water contamination from different sources and activities are prevalent. We have to be vigilant in protecting our families from these harmful elements.

Diarrhoea-Causing Bacteria

The Public Utilities Board (PUB) follows World Health Organization standards in filtering and disinfecting water before it reaches our households and industries but we still have to watch out for diarrhoea-causing bacteria like cholera and giardiasis. It’s during summer that waterworks are underway, because it’s the most convenient time of the year for building owners to do repairs. Therefore, there’s also a risk of water contamination when these pipes are opened and exposed for maintenance and repair purposes.

Wastewater from Sewers

Plumbing systems are designed with sufficient safeguards to separate water supply from wastewater. However, there’s a tendency for water pipes from these networks to be connected when they’re supposed to be separated. One such cause is when there’s water backflow in your house or building. When this happens, there’s a tendency for wastewater to contaminate your water supply at home.

Change in water pressure is the number one cause of water backflow. This usually occurs when there’s water supply maintenance and repair work being undertaken nearby. You better install a backflow prevention device in your plumbing system to avoid this.

Lead

We don’t need to explain how dangerous lead contamination is to a human body. The sad news is that there are still plumbing fixtures containing small to medium amount of lead. When summer hits and these fixtures get damaged because of the high temperature or changes in water pressure within your plumbing system, the possibility of lead contamination arises.

Our advice is to make sure your pipes are strong and that you regularly hire pros to undertake  plumbing fixture and toilet bowl repair and maintenance works in your property. Replace brass pipes and fixtures with those that are certified lead-free. It will also be beneficial to get hold of the list of PUB-accredited contractors to carry out any plumbing works in your building.

Ammonia

Another prevalent incident during summer is getting sick because of ammonia intake. This is very common with kids who go to public swimming pools to freshen up. Being the top leisure activity at during summer, swimming in public or even private pools can pose danger to our kids’ health when they accidentally or carelessly drink pool water that’s infested with ammonia.

Ammonia contaminates pools when body fluids such as urine and sweat are released by people swimming in the area. Better make sure that you choose a well-maintained pool where your kids can swim and be safe.

Chlorine

Some industries, local government units, as well as owners of residential and commercial establishments use chlorine in treating water flowing within their premises. However, chlorine has various harmful effects on human body such as coughing, airway irritation, chest tightness, and sore throat.

So you have to be vigilant in checking the quality of your water to avoid any of these contaminants. During summer, more water supply-related incidents happen so these times, e should know how to protect ourselves and family. Doing water testing and installing a water filtration system at home is also a wise option if you want to ensure good water quality for your family even when repair works are undertaken outside.