Common Side Effects of Drinking Tap Water
You probably already know the benefits of bottled water: it doesn’t have any unpleasant aftertaste and is more enjoyable to drink, and it’s available almost everywhere and can be a good option for on-the-go hydration. However, switching to bottled water isn’t just about taste and convenience: it’s also about health and safety! This comes from the fact that bottled water is often cleaner than tap water, which can be contaminated with germs and minerals from its source and/or distribution system.
It’s important to note that tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and goes through several processes to be safe to drink. However, despite regulation and processing, there are still instances when tap water becomes unsafe to consume. If you drink contaminated tap water, you might experience one or more of the following:
Digestive System Issues
When tap water contains high levels of certain chemicals and minerals, it can upset your digestive system and cause you to experience nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If you drink severely contaminated water, you might experience more serious signs and symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and greasy and/or bloody stools.
Cardiovascular Problems
In areas with a large number of agricultural businesses, tap water can be contaminated with nitrate, which comes from fertilizers, pesticides, and animal feed. High amounts of nitrate in the body can be incredibly dangerous since it can severely lower your blood pressure while increasing your heart rate. It can also prevent your blood from carrying enough oxygen to your cells and tissues.
Arsenic can also lead to cardiovascular problems. It can damage your blood vessels, promote abnormal heart rhythm, and even decrease your body’s production of red and white blood cells. Arsenic can contaminate tap water through agricultural and industrial pollution and even through natural deposits in the earth.
Infections
Minerals and chemicals aren’t the only things that can contaminate tap water. Depending on how careful your local water treatment plant is and how well-maintained the water distribution systems are, you might also find that your tap water is rife with bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These germs can pave the way to infections that can take a lot of toll on your body and require expensive medications and other treatments to resolve. Salmonella, E. Coli, and the Hepatitis A virus are some of the most common culprits, although legionella, shigella, norovirus, rotavirus, giardia, and cryptosporidium can also show up in tap water.
Public water systems are heavily regulated by the EPA but, if contamination occurs, consumers can experience the health effects listed above. So, if you find yourself asking, “Why is bottled water good for you?”, the list above can provide most of the answers that you’ll need. The good news is that avoiding these health dangers can be easy if you’ll switch to bottled water. Here at The Water Depot, for example, we offer high-quality purified and spring water that’s packaged in 100% BPA-free bottles, and we can provide you with custom water bottle labels so you can offer first-class drinking water to your customers while promoting your business. Learn more about our branded water bottles by giving us a call today!
