Water is essential to our existence yet it is rarely discussed during the home buying process or even during inspections. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men & about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. Interestingly, such a critical component to a healthy life is rarely discussed during the home buying process. Whether you are buying a home for the first time or have lived in your home for many years, it may be a wise decision to have your drinking water tested.
Municipal water system requirements
Municipal water systems are required to test and monitor drinking water supplies to ensure that it is safe for consumers. Therefore, the drinking water at your local municipality should be mostly safe. In fact, some municipalities such as The Town of Highland Beach, have an extensive and sophisticated water treatment process. However what about once it enters the supply lines to reach your home? Or what about the supply lines located in your home? For example, older homes may have supply lines made of lead going in the home. Over time, these lead supply lines may causing leaching into your water supply. Another common disruption may be seen with older galvanized pipes that are susceptible to corrosion over time. This corrosion may flake off into the water supply resulting in costly clogs in your plumbing fixtures as well.
What should you do?
If you are living in an older home with lead or galvanized piping, you should consider having your supply line piping replaced with more modern materials. In addition, it is wise to have your water tested for various impurities. In addition to the potential piping issues referenced above, your water source may also be impacted by emerging contaminants. These contaminants may include things such as pesticides, detergents, and medications. Ultimately, these items may impact the color, taste, and odor of your water in addition to potentially being health concerns.
As for addressing your drinking water supply, it may be wise to consider having a water purification system installed in your home. A common type of water purification system is called Reverse Osmosis. Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses a semi-permeable membrane (synthetic lining) to filter out unwanted molecules and large particles such as contaminants and sediments like chlorine, salt, and dirt from drinking water.
Summary
It is perplexing how the most basic necessity in human life is all but ignored by many homeowners as well as home buyers. Although it is easy to take for granted that the water coming out of a home’s faucets is safe to consume, you can never be too safe. Although installing a water purification system in your home may result in added expense, it is likely well worth it.
Are you thinking about buying or selling real estate in South Florida? We can help! Contact one of our team members at Live South Florida Realty, Inc. today! Also, feel free to download our free Florida Home Search app for your smartphone or tablet! You will be glad that you did and can even contact us from within the app.
