Signs of Contaminated Water: Don’t Drink It If It Looks or Tastes Like This

In Nigeria, the place entry to secure consuming water is not at all times assured, it’s essential to know when your water might be doing extra hurt than good.

Whether or not you’re consuming sachet water, borehole water, or from a house filtration system, not all water is secure. In truth, contaminated water can result in severe well being points like cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, and even long-term organ harm. So, how will you inform in case your water is not secure to drink?

Listed below are 5 warning indicators to look out for:

1. Unusual color

Secure consuming water ought to be utterly clear. In case your water has any kind of color, like brown, yellow, or perhaps a faint inexperienced or cloudy tint, it might be contaminated with filth, rust, algae, or chemical substances. Brownish or yellow water may point out the presence of iron, manganese, or rust from corroded pipes. Cloudiness will also be an indication of bacterial development.

In case your water isn’t crystal clear, don’t drink it.

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2. Bizarre odor

Water shouldn’t have a robust odor. If it smells like chlorine, rotten eggs, fish, and even metallic, one thing’s fallacious. A powerful bleach or chlorine odor may imply extreme chemical therapy, whereas a rotten egg odor often signifies hydrogen sulfide, a gasoline produced by micro organism. A metallic odour is likely to be an indication of lead or different heavy metals in your water.

In case your nostril is wrinkling, don’t threat consuming it.

3. Humorous style

Good water ought to style like nothing. So if it tastes salty, bitter, metallic, or like bleach, take that as a purple flag.

A salty style may imply there’s an excessive amount of sodium or chloride. A metallic style might be resulting from iron, copper, or zinc. Simply be careful for any bizarre style.

READ MORE: Here’s why you should never drink tap water on planes

4. Particles floating inside

This one’s simple to identify. In the event you see sand, sediment, or any particles floating in your water, it’s seemingly unfiltered or contaminated. Typically, these particles can carry dangerous micro organism or chemical substances that may trigger sickness. Even when the water appears to be like clear in any other case, don’t drink it if there’s something inside that shouldn’t be there.

5. It makes you sick

In the event you begin experiencing abdomen ache, diarrhoea, vomiting, or different digestive points shortly after consuming water from a selected supply, your physique is likely to be reacting to contaminated water. Waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid are nonetheless widespread in components of Nigeria resulting from unsafe drinking water. If a number of individuals in a family fall unwell, it’s much more seemingly the water is accountable.

READ MORE: World Water Day: This is why we should keep our bodies clean

So, what must you do?

In the event you discover any of the above indicators, don’t panic, however don’t drink the water both. Listed below are a number of easy precautions you possibly can take:

• Boil your water for at the very least 3-5 minutes to kill micro organism and parasites.

• Use water filters or purifiers that take away sediments, micro organism, and heavy metals.

• Retailer water in clear containers and keep away from utilizing plastic bottles which were uncovered to the solar.

• Purchase licensed sachet water with NAFDAC approval when doubtful.

And if you happen to’re uncertain, it is higher to be secure than sorry.

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