Does Your Tap Water Have pH Problems?
Understanding the pH of your tap water in Florida is not just a matter of curiosity—it’s a vital step in safeguarding your health, enhancing your water quality, and prolonging the life of your plumbing and appliances. The pH level can significantly affect the taste of your water and the ability for your body to absorb essential nutrients. By regularly testing your tap water, you can ensure a perfectly balanced pH, which is key for promoting your well-being and successfully maintaining your home. Don’t leave it to chance; make informed choices for both your health and your environment by knowing what is in your drinking water!
Measuring the pH of Tampa Bay Water
Understanding the pH of your tap water is crucial for both health and maintenance reasons. Ideally, water should have a neutral pH of around 7. However, water classified as acidic has a pH below 7, while alkaline water has a pH above 7. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers a pH range of 6.5 to 8.5 as acceptable for drinking water supplies.
According to the City of Tampa’s 2022 Water Quality Report, the average pH was 7.87. This falls well within the safe level, meaning the water is safe to drink and meets regulatory standards. The slight alkalinity helps reduce the risk of corrosion in household plumbing, preventing the leaching of metals like lead or copper from pipes. Alkaline water might have a smoother taste compared to more acidic water.
Possible Causes of this pH Level:
- Source Water: Tampa Bay’s tap water is sourced from surface water like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and is treated to stabilize the pH.
- Water Treatment: The slight alkalinity might result from the addition of chemicals like lime or sodium carbonate during the water treatment process to prevent pipe corrosion.
Signs Your Home Has Acid Water
- Blue/green stain in your sinks, tubs and other bathroom/kitchen fixtures
- Rust stains (if you have iron pipes)
- Low water pressure could be a sign of pipe corrosion
- Metal corrosion can also cause your water to have a sour or metallic taste to it
- Your hot water heaters, washing machines or dish washers are not functioning correctly
- Acidic water, much like mineral-rich hard water, can be tough on your hair and skin
Monitoring pH Levels in Tampa’s Tap Water
The Tampa Water Department utilizes both caustic soda and lime to effectively manage and regulate the pH levels and alkalinity of the drinking water provided to the residents. This critical process forms a key component of the utility’s comprehensive corrosion control strategy, significantly reducing the risk of harmful metal leaching occurring into the water supply. By diligently adjusting the alkalinity, the department ensures the maintenance of a neutral pH level in the water.
What a Low pH of Tap Water Means for a Household
A low pH in tap water means the water is acidic (pH below 7). Acidic water presents several challenges for households in Tampa Bay, FL, including plumbing damage, health risks, and aesthetic issues. Understanding the pH of your water and taking appropriate steps to mitigate its effects is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water.
Acidic water can be a problem within your home, causing a metallic and sour taste, stained laundry, or blue/green stains in your sinks and other fixtures. Furthermore, acid water could be a sign of other major household water issues that stem from public water systems and the water treatment process.
Signs Your Home Has Acid Water
- Blue/green stains in your sinks, tubs, and other bathroom/kitchen fixtures
- Rust stains (if you have iron pipes)
- Low water pressure, potentially caused by pipe corrosion
- Metallic or sour water taste
- Malfunctioning water heaters, washing machines, or dishwashers
- Acidic water, like hard water, can be tough on your hair and skin.
Sources of Acid Water in Tampa Tap Water
- Groundwater tends to have a lower-than-average pH compared to surface water. Water’s pH can change with the geological composition of rock formations. Limestone acts as an acid neutralizer, while granite does not.
- Acid Rain: In areas with industrial pollution, such as areas with factories and coal power plants, acid rain can infiltrate the groundwater supply. This reduces the pH level and introduces harmful contaminants, such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.
- Agricultural Runoff: Fertilizers and pesticides can runoff into water sources, altering the pH of nearby drinking water supplies and introducing harmful chemicals.
- Stormwater Drainage: In Tampa Bay and surrounding areas, stormwater systems can exacerbate the effects of acid rain, bringing pollutants like oil, heavy metals, and other chemicals into the local water supply.
Impact of Acidic Water on Household Plumbing and Appliances
- Pipe Corrosion: Acidic water can corrode metal pipes, potentially leaching harmful metals like lead, copper, or iron into the water.
- Staining: Blue or green stains may appear in sinks, tubs, or toilets due to the reaction of acidic water with copper pipes.
- Reduced Lifespan of Appliances: Water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers may experience internal corrosion, leading to breakdowns.
Effects on Water Taste and Quality from Acid Water
- Sour or Metallic Taste: Acidic water often has an unpleasant taste due to corrosion from pipes and contaminants in the water.
- Increased Contaminant Levels: Corrosion from pipes can introduce harmful contaminants into the water, which can have adverse health effects, especially for sensitive individuals like pregnant women or children.
Acidic Water Impact on Health
The risk associated with more acidic water, defined as having a pH below 6.5, is its ability to leach harmful metals from both the well and the plumbing that delivers it to your home. These metals, including lead, manganese, copper, and iron, can become toxic in elevated concentrations. As a result, acidic water presents a significant health concern, according to UCLA Health.
Consuming water with leached metals from corrosion can lead to intestinal discomfort, skin irritation, and long-term exposure and health concerns like neurological damage (in the case of lead exposure). Chronic exposure to acidic water may lead to health issues such as abdominal pain or skin irritation.
Solutions to pH Problems in Your Tap Water
If you suspect that your tap water has a low or high pH, there are several solutions to address the issue:
- Reverse Osmosis Filtration Systems: Reverse osmosis systems can effectively reduce acidity and improve water quality. These systems work well for both acidic and alkaline water.
- Water Testing: Give us a call! Our free water analysis can determine the pH levels of your tap water. These tests are also able to identify water contaminants which could be harmless, but could also potentially exceed health guidelines or legal limits.
Solutions
Suggested Products
AC-30® Drinking Water System – 4 Stage Filtration
- Reduces Chromium-6.
- Saves money compared to using single-serve bottles from the store.
- Go green by eliminating wasteful plastic bottles.
- Improve the taste of coffee, tea, powdered drinks, soups, recipes and baby formula.
- Free up valuable refrigerator space by eliminating pitchers and bottled water
- Meets strict standards of NSF International and WQA.
- Third-party certified to perform as promised and are backed by one of the most comprehensive warranties in the industry.
- The Culligan® AC-30 Good Water Machine® is maintenance-free. Your local Culligan Man handles everything, and it comes with an elegant designer faucet in a variety of styles to match any kitchen.
Aquasential™ Smart High Efficiency Whole House Water Filters
Reduce sediments in your water and contaminants that cause your water to appear, taste, and smell unpleasant. Your system can also lessen the taste and odor of chlorine, and prevent pipe damage and staining from low pH water. Additional customizations include:
- Culligan® Filtr-Cleer® Water Filters – Reduces Sediment Problems
- Culligan® Cullar® Water Filters – Reduces Taste and Odor Problems
- Culligan® Cullneu Water Filters – Reduces Acid Problems
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