You may have recently found yourself becoming more concerned about the quality of your food and water supply. The effects that contaminants can have on our bodies is becoming a more frequent topic of conversation. So, what are the factors that affect water quality?

The factors can be naturally occurring or caused by human interference. Natural causes include geographical location or climate. Manmade factors include pollution, agriculture, or poor practices.

Let’s take a look at the five factors most likely to affect water quality in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

1. Natural Environmental Factors

Naturally occurring minerals and other contaminants have been known to leach into streams and the public water supply in New Jersey. These include:

The Atlantic County public water supply is from groundwater sources, and one particular area of concern in New Jersey has been the levels of arsenic found in groundwater.

2. Manmade Environmental Factors

With a dense population and booming industry, manmade changes to the environment can also add contaminants to the drinking water. These include

3. Manmade Contaminants

Human activity can result in water contamination through the direct application to land or discharge into bodies of water:

  • Biological contamination from sewage or livestock

  • Pesticides and herbicides from farms and lawns

  • Volatile organic contaminants from industry

4. Improper Treatment

Many water treatment facilities rely on disinfectants to treat the public water supply. In many cases, these chemicals remain in drinking water:

  • Bromodichloromethane 

  • Chloroform

  • Chlorine

Outdated and damaged equipment can also affect water quality, including aged water mains from the treatment facility.

5. Outdated Equipment

Finally, the fifth factor that affects water quality is the one you have the most control over. This includes the integrity of your plumbing pipes, plumbing fixtures, water heater, and faucets.

Both the materials used, as well as any buildup on the interior surfaces, can leech into your drinking water.

Old lead pipes and solder connections can affect the safety of your water. The buildup of sediment in supply pipes can harbor biological contaminants, like molds and bacteria.

Improving Water Quality

While you may not have any control on industrial practices or population density, that doesn’t mean you’re helpless when it comes to your public water supply. Take time to read your local water quality report and share it with others in your neighborhood.

You can become more aware of the challenges water treatment facilities are facing in providing safe, clean drinking water.

More families are also relying on whole-house water filtering systems to directly improve the water quality in their homes. Water filtration systems can improve

Make an appointment today with your local plumbing pros at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Pleasantville. We can install a water filtration system for better-tasting and safer drinking water.