Categories: Tips and Resources

How to Ensure Your Home Has Good Water Quality

Quality drinking water is essential in your home. It’s something we all take for granted. And it’s not always obvious when your home’s drinking water goes bad. To help you gauge the quality of your drinking water, here’s a look at how to determine the quality of your water in the Harrisburg area, as well as what to do if your water needs improvement:

Gauge Your Water’s Quality

Before you take steps to improve the quality of your home’s drinking water, you must first gauge your home’s water quality. Where do you start? Here are a few ideas:

Go to the Source: Ask your water company about its quality measures. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires residential water providers throughout the country to provide a Consumer Confidence Report that describes the quality of your water as well as any contaminants that may be present. You shouldn’t have to look hard to find this report: The deadline for publishing each year is July 1, and most water companies send it along with your monthly bill.
Check With a Watchdog: Independent groups like the Environmental Working Group keep an eye on water quality around the country. The EWG even maintains a database of water quality reports that you can check for background on the quality of water in your area. Here’s the real benefit, though: The EWG will deliver information on chemicals that the EPA does not regulate. That means you get a more in-depth look at the quality of your water.
Visit the EPA: Pennsylvania is one of 18 states that participates in the EPA’s Drinking Water Watch program, which provides in-depth information on violations of water quality standards. If you’re interested in health hazards reported in your area, as well as actions taken by state officials to maintain or improve water quality, this is the place to go.
Do Some Research: Using these other sources, you can look for more detailed information on contaminants that are of specific concern to you. If there’s a chemical that’s appeared in your area in the past, or one that you’re especially worried about, look into it. The Water Quality Association is just one source that provides comprehensive information on contaminants that are appearing more often in drinking water.
Have us Break Out the Beaker: We can always do water quality testing in your home. We are capable of testing municipal and well water deficiencies – we will send some bacteria testing for wells to a lab for testing.

What About Well Water?

Does your water come from a well? That’s a little different, of course. The EPA provides a guide to privately owned drinking water wells in each state, but this information is a little spotty and not always to be trusted fully. Here in Pennsylvania, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources offers information on private water wells, how to check water quality and how to properly maintain a private well in the Keystone State.

Water Filtration When You Need It

When your water quality is poor, there’s only one question to ask: What do I do about it? Water filtration, conditioners and purifiers can help, and these systems don’t have to be intrusive and burdensome appliances in your home. At Zimmerman, we offer whole-house water filtration systems that improve the smell and taste of your water, but most importantly the healthiness.

We offer whole-house water conditioners that remove hardness and iron and that correct pH, while also controlling odor. Ultraviolet purifiers destroy contaminants in your drinking water, and some of our drinking water systems use reverse osmosis (RO) to dramatically improve water quality in your home.

As with so many home products and services, what you need depends on your unique situation. At Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, we conduct testing that identifies issues with your drinking water, and we can also deliver the product and installation services that help improve your drinking water’s quality.

We’re here for you after installation, too, offering water filtration maintenance and repair services. Don’t let poor-quality drinking water pose a threat to you or your family. Let Zimmerman perform a home water quality test in the Greater Harrisburg area, and then help you take steps to fix any problem.