Talking About Preventing and Reversing Environmental Damage
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Talking About Preventing and Reversing Environmental Damage

Hello, my name is Vanessa. I would like to welcome you to my site about the environment. Growing up, I lived along a beautiful river full of jumping fish. The birds flew overhead, ready to catch their next meal in their talons. I watched as the wildlife lived in relative harmony along the riverbed. Unfortunately, as I reached my adult year, the river’s water quality and wildlife populations started to decline. Pollution was cited as the cause, which broke my heart. I will use this site to explore the way societies are damaging the world around them and propose solutions to solve this problem. Thanks.

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Talking About Preventing and Reversing Environmental Damage

Smelly, Bad Tasting Water

Sarah King

One day, you filled your glass with water and noticed a strange smell. Then you took a sip, and the taste was musty or just peculiar. Even though you have a safe municipal source of water, you were worried. Is bad tasting and smelling water safe to drink?

Algae

Many towns and cities get their drinking water from rivers or lakes. No matter how careful the authorities are, they cannot control all aspects of the water. For instance, in the summertime, algae blooms can thrive in water sources, leading to an unpleasant smell and/or taste. When the water testers detect algae in the supply, they may add activated carbon into the system to counteract the negative effects. The water is safe to drink because the quantity of algae in the water is so small. If a truly significant amount ended up in the water, it would be too unpleasant to drink. Although you can invest in a whole house filtration system, a simple carbon filtered water pitcher may be enough to make your water palatable again. If not, invest in bottled water for short term relief. The issue should resolve itself, often when more rainfall gets the water moving again. 

Sulfur

If your water has that rotten egg smell and bitter taste, you are understandably repulsed by it. It can be caused by either sulfate or hydrogen sulfide. Both substances occur naturally and can end up in the groundwater. Sulfates can cause health issues, such as diarrhea, both in humans and in livestock. Hydrogen sulfide can be dangerous in large quantities, but usually, the amount in your drinking water is low. High levels can cause extreme illness, on occasion. If you smell "rotten eggs," experts recommend that you check the community hazard reports to see if your area has unusually high sulfate or hydrogen sulfide levels. You should also consider having your water tested to make certain the odor is not coming from sewage pollution in your water source. Carbon filters and reverse osmosis filtering systems can help these issues although high levels may mean you need more sophisticated methods. Consult with a professional about how to best treat your problem.

If your water smells or tastes bad, you need to find out the source for these issues Usually, the substances making your water unpleasant are not harmful, but you need to investigate to be certain. Contact your municipality about possible pollution issues. Also, try filtering your water at home. Hopefully, these issues are temporary.  To learn more, contact a company like Imperial Water Conditioning Co


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