Keeping the water in your home safe to use is essential for maintaining the overall health and well-being of its occupants. Contaminated water can cause a variety of illnesses, ranging from mild to severe.
Gastrointestinal illnesses like diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach cramps are some of the most common. These can be caused by a variety of bacteria including E. coli and Salmonella. Other illnesses that can be contracted from bacteria in domestic water include respiratory infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. In rare cases, bacteria can even lead to more serious illnesses such as meningitis, sepsis, and Legionnaire’s disease.
In order to prevent these illnesses, it is important to make sure that the water in your home is safe to drink and use for cooking, washing and cleaning.
Drinking and cooking
Home owners should take care when using water that may have been sitting in pipes or tanks for some time, perhaps in a rarely used bathroom or after you’ve been away from home. In addition, checks should be made regularly for any signs of contamination, such as a strange taste or smell, and take immediate action if these signs are present.
If a tap hasn’t been used for a while, water will sit in the supply pipework and create an environment in which bacteria can grow. Always flush the sitting water through by running the tap, and only use water from the cold tap for drinking and cooking.
Equally, water that has been sitting in the sink or kettle, or stored in the fridge for over a day, should be replaced with fresh water.
Water jugs kept in the fridge should be cleaned regularly and, when in use, kept away from heat or light. Make sure you change the cartridge according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Never use water from the hot water system for drinking or cooking, as this can also contain bacteria.
Cold water tanks
Cold water tanks should have a secure and well fitting lid to prevent airborne bacteria, dust or other things from entering the tank. There should be an air gap between the inlet pipe and the surface of the water when the tank is full; this will prevent impurities in the tank from entering the mains water supply.
If the house is left empty for a month or longer, make sure you flush the tank before using the water.
Bathrooms, shower rooms and toilets
Pink, green or black mould can grow in areas that are not regularly cleaned. These can lead to the release of fungal spores and cause unsightly damage to the area.
Clean taps and spouts using a disinfectant and rinse by running the tap for a short while after cleaning. Remove and clean cleaning cloths and sponges after use.
Shower curtains, sealant and grouting
Mould can cause discolouration on shower curtains, around the bath and taps and between tiles. To avoid mould growth, clean the area regularly using a disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.
Washing machines
Take care to prevent mould growth in your washing machine, particularly in and around the soap drawer and the door seal. Leaving the door and drawer slightly open when not in use can help.
Use the washing machine on a higher temperature (60 degrees) every now and then, as washing on low temperatures can increase the chances of bacteria or mould growing.
Plastic pipework
Plastic pipework laid beneath the ground can affect drinking water through permeation or backflow. Some of the things that might contaminate in this way are petrol and diesel from car parking areas, driveways and roads, septic tanks, heating oil tanks or grazing animals.