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Most of us were taught that we should drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water every day. That’s basically two liters of the stuff. But what if water isn’t always good for you?

If we could insert a record scratch sound here, we totally would—because that’s probably what just happened in your head: What do you mean water isn’t always good for me? Here’s what we mean: Water is only good for you if it’s good-quality water. Like most things, water quality is complex—and a lot can happen to your water on its journey from the natural source to your faucet. 

Where does your water come from?

First things first: Where does your water come from? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), water comes from two sources: surface water and groundwater. 

Surface water comes from actual bodies of water like streams, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Groundwater is typically run-off that ends up in underground pockets—called aquifers—and is obtained through wells that pump the water to the surface.

Both surface and groundwater are collected by your local public water system, which then transports it to your washing machine, bathtub, and coffee cup. That water may or may not be treated when it reaches you.

Even if the water isn’t treated, it’s still held to standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA tests for 90 different contaminants and regulates all the pre-treatments, filtrations, and disinfectants in your water. Of course, if you have a private well, your water isn’t covered by EPA oversight. In that case, it’s critical to take extra precautions and test your water—at least annually.

What might contaminate your water?

Agriculture, commercial and industrial land uses, residential impacts, and other factors can influence the quality of your water. The most common culprits are:

  • The use and storage of fertilizers
  • Disposal of human and animal waste
  • Landfills
  • Sewer lines
  • Illegal dumping

 This handy chart from the EPA gives a more detailed picture of the factors affecting your water quality outside your home. (Ewwwww, right?) 

Now, what about inside your home? It’s all about the pipes. Pipes can be damaged or clogged with build-up, allowing contaminants into the water. Old pipes and fittings can corrode and lead to serious problems. (This is part of what happened in Flint, Michigan.) 

OK, so how do I know if MY water is safe?

If you’re on a public water system, you should receive a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) every year—usually with your July bill. The CCR can tell you:

  • Your local water source
  • Levels of contaminants in the water
  • Adherence to EPA standards
  • How often your water is tested

Note:  Again, if you have a private well, you won’t receive a CCR, and you’re responsible for keeping your water safe to drink. We recommend regular testing. 

Your senses can also give you a fairly reliable read on the quality of your water. It may not be safe to consume if:

  • It looks cloudy or discolored.
  • It feels slimy, if your laundry is stiff, or if you’re experiencing low water pressure.
  • It smells like chlorine, rotten eggs, or fish.
  • It tastes metallic, salty, or earthy.

Finally, if you seem to be constantly battling a stomach bug (you know what we’re talking about here), there’s a chance your water is contaminated by coliform bacteria

What can I do to keep my water safe?

Prevention should be your first priority.In addition to keeping your eye on that CCR, be sure to properly maintain your pipes and faucets.

Do you have Poly-B plumbing?

Additional articles about sewage issues can be found here.

To be extra safe, many homeowners choose to purchase a water filtration system. They range in size, cost, and point of attachment, and they can be as convenient as a filtered water pitcher or countertop unit. Before installing a whole-house filtration system, have your water professionally tested to ensure you purchase the right unit.

The best policy? Be watchful and ask questions! If you have concerns about your water, we’re here to help. As your Calgary plumber, the quality of your water and your family’s safety are important to us. Give us a call today!

See all of our emergency plumbing Articles.

Did you know ClearView Services is an award winner?

Serving Calgary, AB and surrounding areas

We take immense pride in providing Calgary, AB and surrounding areas with top-notch plumbing, heating, and cooling services, ensuring every home and business operates smoothly year-round. Our team’s expertise and dedication shine through in every project, earning the trust and satisfaction of our valued customers across the city. Serving you isn’t just a job for us; it’s a commitment to excellence and a testament to our passion for keeping our community comfortable and thriving.

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A job well done.

We could not do the water valve replacement because the city could not shut the water off. I was warned ahead of time that this might happen so was not worried. Yamil was courteous and professional and I look forward to his return when the city can fulfill there end of the job. Justin and Sean were great with the furnace install. It went smoothly and Justin explained the new thermostat fully. The walk through on the furnace was useful and timely. Justin and Sean were friendly and professional and great to work with. John who came out for the initial inspection…

Paul Palardy

Barry did a great job in replacing a leaking Hot Water tank. Just a bit shocked at how much the cost of a new tank has increased over the years. We would certainly use ClearView for future jobs.

Ken Stowell

Jon was on time and dispatch team did their best to get him to the property to do an inspection on leaking pipes and backup sewer system. Jon then immediately got another job into the system to have a deeper inspection of the entire system to determine where the blockage was.

David Crawford

John came out to review our heating and AC set-up. He was very knowledgeable and patient as he walked us through the various units and proposed maintenance program. Would highly recommend.

Lucus Tomei

Drake Ahern did an awesome job cleaning the ducts. Was very friendly and professional. Worked hard and paid attention to all the details. I’d definitely have him back next time.

David Dickinson

Thank you! Your service has always been reliable, professional,and friendly.
Rural folks can depend on you, as We have for more than 30 years, for both our property and others.
If you say you’re coming – you show up- or you promptly let us know of any delays! AND do a fantastic job. We’d asked for certain day & hours, as our neighbour has a B&B, didn’t want to cause issues with septic removal smells for them. YOU DELIVERED! Thank you. The Jackson’s.

Robert Jackson

Arrived on time and did a quick and efficient replacement of my kitchen sink faucet. Also took the time to further explain the operation of the water softener installed on the last visit.
Richard was friendly and knowledgeable. Great service!

Marybeth Marrow

I had furnace venting replaced. This company is efficient and very professional. You know who is coming to do the work and given notice of when they’ll arrive. Heinz was very knowledgeable, professional, was not bothered by all my questions. He gave full explanations, reasons why, and great advice on maintenance care. He showed that he cared about what he was doing and was very efficient in getting the work done quickly. I highly recommend this company and Heinz.

Elsa Krienke

Clearview was excellent to deal with. Very professional in their approach and the picture sent of the plumber before hand is an excellent idea. Richard was great to deal with. He gave me different options to resolve the problem.

Rick Pultz

I felt the company is oriented on quality of customer service , they send me the track link when dispatch the plumber, and the plumber is super on time too . I really appreciate Richard , he is supper patient to help me find out what is the best solution, focus on customer’s interest . Thank you again , I will definitely use your service again when I having plumbing problems, which I hope it will never happen.

Jing Huang

Barry was fantastic. Explained the steps that would be required to detect the leak and then proceeded with the work. He was professional and managed to fix our issue same day. He left our home clean and tidy before leaving. Overall very happy.

Jonathan Wilson

Heinz was professional and honest. He gave me options and the price. The price was the price and there were no extra charges. He worked on a boiler system that was having issues. He flushed and cleaned system and everything is back up and running. When he was finished he asked if I had any question. I look forward to him coming back to service this system again.

Curtis W.

Had them update and install our infloor heating two zones, and add tank less hot water on demand and install a water softener. Our technician was very professional kept his work area tidy, cleaned up after himself. He also wiped down all the equipment used including piping and tubing. He was friendly, kept us informed on his progress. You could tell he enjoys what he does… great job Thank you so much.

Carol Hill

Our hot water tank blew and fortunately we noticed right away. We called Clearview Services late in the evening and we were answered right away. We were kept in the loop throughout the entire experience and Gabe Colpitts was the service technician who visited the next morning. He was very professional and spent the time to explain and educate the different options that were available. We were up and running with hot water the very next day.

Mike Mario

Can’t say enough about the great service I received from Heinz regarding some concerning alerts we got on our Ecobee Smart Thermostat yesterday. I felt cared for and trusted that he was focused on the necessary followup to assure our safety. Heinz is very good at his job.

Kim Koch

The appointment to come to check my boiler was prompt and early I’m the day so I didn’t have to wait the whole day. I received a call 15mins before the arrival. An email and a text was sent earlier. Gerry introduced himself and told me his purpose. He checked my boiler for a while then explained clear to me what the problem was, it was relief to know that it is nit necessarily a serious one. He made further checks and made some recommendations for change of some worn out parts, the re-glycol – 10yrs overdue and some leak that…

Roland B.

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