Into the third week of October, the area of Charlotte, NC experienced what has been
touted as a historical main water break. As a result, widespread outages ensued throughout the state’s capitol,
affecting services within a 16 zip code area. While services have been restored since, residents are concerned
in regard to taking precautions, in addition to corporate customers.
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the latest news here.
Since then, a second main water break occurred. Unfortunately, once an event of
this magnitude takes place, it’s often difficult to maintain consumer confidence, especially in regard to water
quality. If you are one of the consumers currently worried about the safety of your tap water, read on to
understand whether or not you could be affected well after the break.
Is It Safe to Drink My Tap Water?
The city of Charlotte was swift to release a water advisory out of an abundance of
caution, in order to direct citizens to boil tap water before consumption. And while there have been no reports
of illness, you might be curious as to whether or not our water is safe to drink. Well, the good news is if you
aren’t experience low to zero pressure, you have the go ahead to drink your tap water.
What If My Water Is Discolored?
If you turn on your tap, and notice a bit of discoloration, don’t be greatly
concerned. Simply turn on your faucet, and allow it to run on cold for anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes. Once
the water begins running clear, and the iron particles have flushed away, you are safe to utilize the tap water.
According to Charlotte Water, this occurs when particles settled out of the water, accumulating in the bottom of
the water mains. Mineral deposits become dislodged, which creates discolored, or cloudy water.
How to Drink Water During The Historical Damage?
Workers of Charlotte Water have been actively monitoring the quality and operation
of over 300 water quality stations. Samples are taken regularly by technicians for thorough lab testing, whereas
sample results will help shape the future of Charlotte Water. If you are interested in obtaining an alternative
source of water for future catastrophic events, we have a few suggestions for your consideration.
Bottled Water
While bottled water can serve as an alternative water source in an emergency, it is
not recommended by Waterdrop. This is because of the environmental implications surrounding the use of plastic
bottles, as well as the manufacturing, and bottling process.
Environmental Impact
Why
You Need to Stop Drinking Bottled Water? Did you know that plastic water bottles have a lifespan of 450
years before they’ve decomposed? In fact, every sixty seconds, a dump truck full of plastic finds its way into
the ocean. Not only have we created an unnecessary scourge of the environment, we have also caused the leaching
of chemicals into the ground that have serious health consequences.
The fact of the matter is, up to 80% of water bottles are never recycled. While
plastic is recyclable, there aren’t enough measures in place to ensure bottles are recycled appropriately. Over
60 million water bottles are thrown away on a daily basis, in the United States alone. The majority of these
bottles wind up dumped into landfills, where they wait to decompose. After considering the resources it takes to
create a plastic water bottle, 1.5 million barrels of oil, cutting out disposable plastic is a no-brainer. What
can you do instead?
Water Filter Systems
According to the CDC,
most residential water filter systems are capable of removing the majority of disease causing microbes from
drinking water. Whether you find your home equipped with tap water, spring water, or even a well, a filter
system can accommodate either method, producing completely safe drinking water. In the case of tap water,
though, water filtration removes the chemicals commonly utilized to kill bacteria, as well as the contaminants
that remain. This is why it is highly recommended that consumers pick a filter offering a pore size that is
small enough to remove parasites, solids, and chemicals.
Why Choose Filtered Water?
Regardless of your water source, water filtration can provide your family with safe
drinking water – even in the midst of a disaster. Depending on your chosen water filter system, you may or may
not need electricity for it to operate appropriately. This method transforms tap water into a liquid that is
safe for human consumption, removing pesticides, herbicides, farming and pharmaceutical byproducts, and much
more.
How to Choose A Water Filter?
Each form of water filtration may utilize a separate mode of purification. Various
technology provides us with a plethora of water filtration, from Reverse Osmosis, to distillation, and more.
While some methods remove every type of impurity, others may simply skim away light chemicals. By doing so,
consumers are better equipped to match their chosen water filter to their needs.
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Reverse Osmosis System
Aside from the amount of wastewater produced, an RO system is efficient
at removing dangerous contaminants. A Reverse Osmosis system is completely dependent upon
electricity to operate, however, so that is a detail to keep in mind. Because it also removes
beneficial minerals from tap water, it could lead to various health implications. The way around
this is to install a stage the reintroduces necessary minerals, especially for long term uses.
Check more information about the
reverse
osmosis water filter
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Whole House Water Filter
Many homeowners opt to have a water filter installed closer to the
main, in order to enjoy whole house filtered water on demand. This further prevents contaminants,
such as chlorine, from coming into contact with your pipes, appliances, and so forth. This also
means you are showering in completely filtered water, when it’s maintained properly. This type of
water filtration works as long as you have water running.
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Refrigerator Water Filters
Refrigerator water filters remove the contaminants and other
particulates from the water that goes through your refrigerator’s water and ice dispenser. It
requires in-time filter replacement normally every 6 months to ensure optimal filtration
performance. Prepare the
replacement filter
cartridge always, ensuring clean, filtered water from your fridge.
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Under sink filter
An under-sink filter makes sense when counter space is in short supply,
and like the plumbed-in, countertop filter, an under-sink filter does not require refilling.
Waterdrop
ultrafiltration water filter can be installed under your kitchen sink. The unit features
0.1-0.01 micron pore size, eliminating tiny contaminants in tap water, such as bacteria, viruses,
heavy metals, fluoride and more.
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Countertop Unit
When you are short on space, a countertop unit can act as the perfect
solution. Suppose you are unfortunately in a place where tap water is not of sufficient quality,
facing an emergency without water, or living in an area with water supply problems. In this case,
Waterdrop
gravity-fed
water filters can help. One of the best things about gravity filters is that they tend to
work with gravity, which means you don't necessarily need electricity.
Latest News
Charlotte water service restored after main break BY WBTV OCTOBER 19, 2021, 7:53 AM
Service has been restored to thousands of Charlotte Water customers after a water main break on Monday night.
Boiling water is recommended for many affected customers.