Water is essential to our survival and touches every aspect of our lives. We use it for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and a variety of other tasks. However, the water we utilize every day is constantly being recycled and likely contains a host of contaminants, both from nature and man-made sources. In this essay, we will explore the impact of water quality on our daily lives and the steps we can take to ensure that we are consuming the highest quality water possible.

First, let’s consider the water system in our own homes. As the water enters our homes, it travels through our walls through a series of pipes and plumbing. These pipes lead to water-using appliances, faucets, and fixtures where the water is utilized or dispensed. All of our plumbing, appliances, faucets, and fixtures are affected to some degree by the quality of the water. Common contaminants like calcium, lime, magnesium, and iron can and will prematurely plug up our plumbing, damage water-using appliances, and stain and plug up fixtures. Deposits from these minerals will also interfere with the actions of household soaps, combining to form soap curd which is then deposited on our dishes, sinks, showers, tubs, clothing, linens, skin, and hair. This soap curd creates that “squeaky” feeling on our skin and hair after we bathe. These unsightly deposits cause lots of extra household cleaning, which in some cases require harsh toxic cleaning chemicals which are then introduced into the environment.

Beyond the hardness minerals that negatively affect everyday household water use, there is also the higher water quality demand of the water we consume. We drink it, cook with it, make coffee, juice, tea, and ice cubes with it. This water should be of the highest water quality. Most homeowners today augment at least some of their consumption water with either bottled water or some sort of filtered water. Whether it comes from the tap, the bottle, or some type of filtering device, it is important to consider the quality of these sources and ensure that we are consuming the highest quality water possible.

Water quality is a critical aspect of our daily lives and it is essential that we take steps to ensure that we are consuming the highest quality water possible. Whether it is through regular maintenance of our plumbing, using water filtration systems, or purchasing bottled water, it is important to be aware of the quality of the water we consume and take action to ensure that we are getting the best possible water. It is also critical to consider the potential impacts on our environment and to be mindful of the cleaning chemicals we use in our homes. By being aware of water quality and taking steps to ensure that we are consuming the highest quality water possible, we can improve the quality of our lives and the environment.