Dealing with contaminated water in your home can be very stressful. There are many different ways to combat it initially, but temporary fixes need concrete solutions. Water contamination can occur due to a myriad of different things. It can come from your water source, meaning you may live in an area with many industrial pollutions being leaked into your waters. Some water contamination comes from faulty pipes or can become contaminated due to certain fertilizers or bacteria not being filtered out.

Below are some of the best ways to treat contaminated water in both the short and long term in your home. 

Short term treatments

There are various ways that you can treat your water at home in the short term if you find that your water supply is contaminated. Probably the most obvious and easiest solution would be to use bottled water. This is all well and good initially, but after some time, you may run out and, in some cases, be unable to reach a shop or uncontaminated water supply.

In this case, you should boil the contaminated water before using it. If the water is cloudy or filled with any sediments, you should filter it by using a clean cloth or a coffee filter. Then the water should be boiled for at least one minute. Then empty it into clean containers with covers or lids and let them cool naturally.

Another way to treat contaminated water is to disinfect it with household bleach. This option is considered quite extreme by many people, but it is safe and should be considered to ensure the water you ingest is safe. It is important that you only use regular, unscented chlorine bleach products. Most of these will itemize this on the label that they are suitable for disinfection and sanitization. Once you have added the correct amount of bleach to the water you want to treat, it must be left for at least thirty minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn't, you should repeat the bleach treatment process once again and let it stand for another fifteen to twenty minutes.

Treating contaminated water can also be done by using household iodine. Many people have these in their medicine cabinets or first aid kits. If you add around five drops of 2% tincture iodine to each liter of contaminated water and let it stand for thirty minutes, it will be safe to consume.

Now you can even buy water disinfection tablets in supermarkets. While you would definitely have to shop around to find these, they are a great addition to have in your home, just in case. They come with very clear instructions and offer you and your family access to safe water within minutes. 

Long term treatments

Now obviously, if you have a bad water source near your home, these short-term solutions are not the best way to tackle the issue. There are many long-term ways to ensure your water is treated and safe to consume. The best and most convenient way to do this is to install a whole house water filter. There are many different variations and brands to choose from, each of them ranging in the amount of time they last before needing to change the filters over to where the filtration system is actually fitted in your home.

The typical whole house filtration system is situated at the existing plumbing line, it will be installed at the point where the water supply runs off into your home. These filtration systems will need to be changed at least every six months; some brands suggest a three-month filter change but that is depended on the water contamination levels in your area. Usually, the person that comes to fit your filter will suggest an adequate time to change over filters with you. 

If this type of water filtration system is not always the best fit for everyone, there are many other variations that you can choose from. There are under-the-counter filter systems, these are best for households that want to have cleaner, better-tasting water. These can be connected at the tap that you use the most or multiple taps in your home. They are usually cheaper and easier to manage too.

The most robust water filter for your home is the reverse osmosis filter system. This is the most effective filter as it removes nearly all of the dangerous contaminants that could be present in your water. This includes heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, and chlorine, this filtration system even removes hormones. Whilst this system is very good, it is expensive and needs a lot of upkeep, it can also remove some of the goodness from the water too. These systems are the best for households experiencing a lot of heavy contaminants in their water and should be highly considered before purchasing. 

Conclusion

The best treatment of your household's water supply is dependent on the levels of contamination experienced any your own personal preferences. Some households may be dealing with water that needs some serious attention or a long-term solution. Others many only be experiencing issues for a few days due to an issue with the water supply that is fixable. Regardless of the issue, you should feel completely safe when consuming the water in your home and should find a solution that is best for you and your family.

It is quite common for most homes that do not have specifically bad water supplies to have water filtration systems fitted. This is to improve the overall taste and to allow for peace of mind when consuming the water. Many other homes do not feel the need to take these measures. Remember to keep your own needs in mind as a priority and develop a plan from there.