Have you read the latest water quality report from the City of Port St. Lucie’s Utility Systems Department? The Director offered advice on how to remove the pink stain around toilets caused by Serratia marcescens bacteria! If you’re concerned about the safety of your water supply, understanding the five factors that affect water quality goes a long way in offering clarity.

Florida’s Toxic Water Crisis

Issues with Florida’s water supply are a regular feature in the news and local politics. It’s also an issue of deep concern for conservationists and families alike.

High levels of nutrient runoff combined with an annual rainy season pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. Understanding the factors that affect our water quality helps us understand where to focus efforts to ensure clean, fresh, and safe water for all of Florida’s residents.

Naturally Occurring Environmental Factors

In some cases, water contamination is caused by naturally occurring minerals in the soil. Naturally occurring radioactive contaminants may also pose a problem.

Thankfully, recent testing revealed negligible amounts of these contaminants in the Port. Lucie water supply.

Manmade Environmental Factors

South Florida is booming with rapid development. With all this activity, it's no surprise that construction and agriculture result in contamination of the groundwater.

Florida is known for agricultural runoff and high nitrates flushing into both fresh and saltwater. This problem results in red tides and blue-green algae blooms.

While the city utility system is skilled at removing them, residents still need to remain mindful of fertilizer use by reducing its use and going organic in food and landscaping.

Manmade Contamination

In some cases, industry results in direct dumping of contamination into our waterways. This includes sewage from residential districts and livestock runoff from factory farming.

Other manmade contaminants include fluoride and barium found in industrial discharge from metal refineries and drilling operations.

Unskillful Water Treatment Practices

Some people feel that the chemicals used to treat public water supplies are as distasteful as the organisms they’re used to kill. Port St. Lucie uses chloramine disinfectant and tests regularly for byproducts of the process to ensure a safe, healthy drinking water supply.

Obsolete Equipment

While we may not have much power over how our municipal water supply is treated, there are steps to take to improve it even further.

Old supply pipes are one of the five factors that affect water quality. Outdated lead pipes render your water unsafe and must be replaced immediately.

The buildup of rust and corrosion on pipe interiors also harbor biological contaminants, which affect your drinking water.

Taking Action

To ensure a safe, healthy, and palatable water supply in your home, consider installing a whole-house water filtering system. While Port St. Lucie water is safe to drink, filtering improves the flavor and removes mineral particulates.

Make an appointment today with the team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Port St. Lucie. We’ll install a water filtration system for better-tasting and safer drinking water.