Have you ever wondered what is in your local Michigan tap water? According to an article by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Michigan has one of the highest per-capita rates of lead in drinking water pipes in the nation.
This means that many homes and businesses may potentially have lead leaching into their drinking water from older service lines in the area. Lead isn’t the only problem.
The Michigan Water Stewardship Program also notes contaminants in local tap water, including microplastics.
During National Water Quality Month, we want to help you understand what’s in your local tap and what you can do to address it.
What’s in Everyday Tap Water?
Lawmakers all across Michigan are working on ways to deliver cleaner, safer water to the local areas. Unfortunately, they haven’t reached a consensus on how best to remove some of the contaminants flowing from the Great Lakes right into your business.
Here are some contaminants you may have in your local tap that can affect taste and your health and wellness.
Lead and Heavy Metals
Lead is still a huge problem in many Michigan cities because many lead service lines remain, and some service lines are unknown. Lead and other heavy metals may leach into the drinking water and come through the tap.
Although the presence of it in the water isn’t really detectable because it is odorless and invisible, it may still have a bitter aftertaste. Over time, heavy metals can build up in the body’s tissues, causing elevated blood pressure, kidney damage, chronic joint pain, and cognitive fatigue.
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are “forever chemicals” that have been used in industrial manufacturing, firefighting foams, and stain-resistant coatings. Like lead, these substances have no taste and are hard to detect outside a laboratory.
Over time, they can compromise the immune system, damage the liver, disrupt the thyroid, and increase cholesterol levels.
Chlorine and Chloramines
Municipal treatment facilities add chlorine and chloramines to water to eliminate waterborne pathogens. These substances can give water a swimming-pool taste, ruining the taste of the water itself, along with coffee, tea, and other drinks or food made with the water.
Drinking too much chlorinated water may cause skin and eye irritation. It can also cause throat and respiratory problems.
Microplastics and Sediments
Microplastics are microscopic fragments of plastics that shed from synthetic materials. Sediments include rust flakes, sand, and mineral silt that pass through old pipes and enter drinking water. While most of it isn’t visible, when there is too much in the water, it can appear cloudy. It can also give water a gritty, mineral aftertaste.
Microplastics and sediments can cause inflammation in the body. They can also take a toll on the digestive tract and the endocrine system.
Harmful Algae Blooms
Algae blooms from Lake Erie are caused by runoff pollution. These contaminants in the local tap water can make it taste musty or swampy. Consuming these trace toxins over time can trigger stomach cramps, nausea, headaches, and allergic skin reactions in sensitive populations.
What Bottleless Water Does for the Local Tap
You may feel protected from the local water because you use bottled water in your company. However, bottled water can be pricey and may contain microplastics. If you’re using huge 5-gallon bottles, their weight could cause work-related injuries and create storage problems.
Bottleless water can help filter out the contaminants found in Michigan water that aren’t filtered through water plants in your town. By connecting a dispenser directly to your existing water line, you can have purified water delivered straight to your office or facility. You no longer have to worry about storage, heavy lifting, or recurring delivery charges. Our system also helps filter out most contaminants from your local water.
Celebrate National Water Quality Month with Pure Water
Not all filtration dispensers provide the same level of protection. Explore our lineup of bottleless water systems, ideal for any budget.
Ready for Pure Water Technology that Makes a Difference?
This National Water Quality Month, take control of what your team drinks every day. Upgrading to one of our bottleless water systems not only improves your employees’ health but also reduces plastic waste.
If you’re ready for a cleaner, safer drinking water experience, contact Michigan Clear Water at one of our locations in Wixom or Brighton to learn more about our top-of-the-line bottleless water services and products. Keep in mind that we offer a free trial for your workplace to ensure your satisfaction.