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Is The Water In Residential Apartments Safe To Drink?

Among many things, apartment amenities are one of the key deciding factors that make people decide whether to rent a place or not. There are certain ones tenants assume are automatically included, such as safe, drinkable water. Though water as a utility is typically part of a rental agreement, it doesn’t always mean it’s safe for drinking. 

When answering the question of: is apartment water safe to drink, it depends on where it’s sourced from and an apartment building’s filtration process, if any. To err on the side of safety, the FloWater Touchless Water Dispenser is a refreshing, convenient, purified water solution that’s perfect for residential buildings. Though there are standard city regulations to filter tap water, FloWater still removes up to 99% of impurities typically found.

Checking the Quality of Tap Water in Apartments

Making clean water readily available promotes healthier living and is the starting point of developing sustainable apartments. Determining whether tap water is safe to drink is first decided on sight and smell. Once the faucet is turned on, what’s the color of the water that comes out? Even the slightest discoloration can be a sign of heavy metals and other pollutants still contaminating the water. It can also be a sign of old pipes that can leach chemicals and other harmful substances into the water supply. It also doesn’t make it very appealing to drink rust-colored, yellow, or brown water. 

Another indicator of poor-quality tap water is the smell. If there’s a distinguishable odor when running the tap, it’s likely it’s contaminated through the water source, and isn’t the healthiest option for drinking. An excessive amount of hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, and other chemicals can cause the water to smell like rotten eggs, swimming pool water, or worse.

Community Water Quality Standards

A quick sight-and-smell test can instantly reveal a lot when asking, is apartment water safe to drink? However, residential apartments are part of the community water supply, which means they must undergo the safe drinking water standards and regulations set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as any state and/or county regulations. 

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act passed in 1974, the EPA establishes the safety standards for drinking water quality and oversees all water authorities to enforce the standards. This includes setting a maximum level of over 90 different contaminants found in public drinking water, which means that while there are regulations on how much is considered safe, it doesn’t mean tap water is contaminant-free.

Furthermore, the EPA has issued National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, which are the standards and treatment methods that must be applied to all water systems. This includes adding disinfectants like chloramine and chlorine, both of which are also contaminants that can cause stomach discomfort and eye and nose irritation.

How Contaminants Get Into Tap Water

Water is either contaminated at the source or picks up chemicals and pollutants from the pipes it streams through to get to public faucets. Water sources near industrial plants, farmland, and busy metropolitan areas are all highly susceptible to water contaminated due to the runoff from chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, bacteria, and other pollutants that make their way into the soil and eventually the water. 

Additionally, many cities’ water systems still run through old, outdated pipes made out of lead or that use lead fixtures, which can leach into the water. Pipes can also pick up dirt, dust, rust, and other impurities that affect the quality of water and don’t make it safe or desirable for drinking. The only way to remove these contaminants is to make sure tap water is treated thoroughly and properly. 

Types of Water Filtration

There are several water filtration steps community water must undergo to reduce the level of contaminants as regulated by the EPA. In addition, there are at-home methods that can be used on an individual basis through advanced water filtration systems that connect to kitchen faucets. 

Coagulation and Flocculation

The first step in public water treatment adds positively charged chemicals to neutralize the negative charge of dirt and other dissolved pollutants in the water. The particles and chemicals bind together to form larger particles referred to as floc.

Sedimentation

Due to its weight, the floc settles to the bottom and separates from the rest of the water supply, which is referred to as sedimentation.

Filtration

The clear water remaining on top passes through filters of varying pore sizes and compositions, such as gravel, sand, or charcoal. This step helps to remove dissolved particles, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites from the water.

Disinfection

Once the water has been filtered, a disinfectant, like chloramine or chlorine, is added to kill any remaining bacteria, viruses, and/or parasites before it makes its way into people’s homes and businesses.

Reverse Osmosis

This water treatment technology uses a semipermeable membrane to push the water through and remove impurities.

Distillation

Distillation occurs when water is boiled. The steam is collected and condensed in a separate container, leaving behind many of the solid contaminants.

Advanced Purification Through FloWater

The safety water standards for drinking water are in place to meet what’s federally required. However, the quality of water differs from state to state depending on the quality of the water sources, water treatment frequency, and a number of varying factors that can affect a city’s water system prior to its next testing. 

Every community water supplier is required to provide a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to customers on an annual basis. It provides water quality information with the type of and level of contaminants found in the tap water, the treatment methods used, and any safety warnings regarding drinking the water there may be. Since conditions can change throughout the year, a safer route is relying on FloWater as your purified water source, which removes nearly 100% of all impurities still left behind.

FloWater goes through many of the same steps as the typical water treatment process but adds more back to the water to get the healthiest, best-tasting water every time. Through an advanced, seven-step process, it ensures water available to residents is safe to drink. Below are the filters tap water goes through as it transforms and becomes ready for people to enjoy.

Sediment – As with the sedimentation process set forth by city standards, this water filter catches dirt, dust, rust, and other solid impurities that often exist in tap water and pipes. As the first step in the purification process, it sets the rest of the filters in motion to deliver clean, chilled water.

Sediment – As the first step in the purification process, the sediment filter catches and removes suspended solids, such as dirt, dust, and rust that may exist in the tap water or be picked up through the pipes.

Carbon – Removes smaller particles often associated with unpleasant tastes or odors, like chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, radon, and other heavy metals. Sometimes tap water can have a metallic or chemical-like taste; this filter removes these elements to produce pure water that tastes great.

Advanced Osmosis – Filters out the next phase of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, lead, pesticides, and other dissolved solids through a semipermeable membrane. This water filter in particular sets a new standard for water purification, as it’s five-time more efficient than any other reverse osmosis system on the market. This step is in place to remove all the remaining, unseen impurities from your existing water source.

Activated Oxygen – After purifying the water, the next steps involve improving it. This step adds small amounts of activated oxygen, and this phase works two-fold. First, it increases the level of oxygen in the water available to the blood and muscles while also improving the taste. And second, it works as a self-sanitizer for the tanks and internal system by removing impurities through the addition of a third oxygen atom.

Alkaline – Neutralizes acidity by adding a proprietary blend of ten trace minerals to raise the pH level of the water from the tap. Acidic buildup in the body is due to a variety of factors, including an unbalanced diet, stress, and environmental impurities. The alkaline enhancement creates a healthier drinking water experience.

Electrolytes – Supports healthy body functions like cell repair, bone strength, and immune defense. Four electrolytes – magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium – which are typically found in sports drinks and coconut water are added to FloWater to boost hydration and energy.

Coconut Carbon – Finishes the newly transformed, purified water with a crisp, refreshing taste by using a natural coconut carbon filter made from coconut husks which capture and absorb tiny contaminant particles and any lingering odors and tastes.

Access to clean drinking water is a must-have. When the quality of a city’s tap water is in question, there needs to be another option available. That’s where FloWater comes in. FloWater’s Touchless Water Dispensers are easy to install throughout a residential community where there are the highest traffic areas.

They can fill reusable water containers, large and small, helping curb the single-use bottled water problem, and gives residents access to clean, filtered water on-demand. 

People want a water source they can trust as safe. FloWater delivers a purified, refreshing water experience everyone can count on.