The biggest necessity to stay alive and healthy is clean drinking water. A natural resource found abundantly on Earth. However, tap water is not healthy anymore. People could drink tap water or water from clean lakes for a long time and stay healthy. The situation is changing because the water sources are contaminated. The tap water comes from lakes, reservoirs, and other sources. Unfortunately, all of them are contaminated with chemicals, bacteria, arsenic, and other materials. Therefore, without using a water purifier, drinking tap water will lead to gut issues, cholera, and other health issues. If you wonder what damage drinking tap water can do, read below.

Exposure to multiple health issues

Your local authorities might make claims regarding the safety of the tap water. However, a few specific regulations are insufficient to ensure the water is safe. Tap water always comes with multiple health problems. And drinking the same water can expose your family to the same. These health issues are:

• Metal poisoning: Tap water can have heavy metal contaminants. It can lead to nerve damage, diarrhea, and cramps. A good water purifier filters out the heavy metals, leaving the good stuff behind. Shop water filters for your home here.
• Lead poisoning: Old water systems use lead piping. It can increase the chances of lead poisoning. Thus, know what types of pipes are used in the water system. If you cannot get that knowledge, you should never consume water from the tap. Otherwise, lead poisoning can happen, which leads to kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
• Arsenic poisoning: The groundwater also has arsenic, a metalloid chemical. Consuming it in high doses can lead to health issues like partial paralysis, blindness, numbness in the feet and hands, and stomach issues. Due to industrial and agricultural pollution, groundwater can contain arsenic. So, tap water in residential areas may be high in this chemical. Continuous use can lead to arsenic poisoning. Here are the signs of arsenic poisoning.

It is full of pesticides.

Other chemicals found in tap water are chemicals used for controlling insects and unwanted plants. These pesticides are toxic, and when they sneak into residential water systems, they can lead to headaches, allergic reactions, and other skin and eye irritation.

It has an unpleasant taste.

The water you drink should have a pleasant taste. Otherwise, it can lead you to stop drinking only water. Dehydration is a cause of many illnesses. Unfortunately, tap water never tastes pleasant. It has horrible taste, and that can imply a few things:

It is high in chlorine.

A bit of chlorine in the water is necessary to kill germs and make it drinkable. It is not harmful, but it does taste weird. Also, when it reacts with kettles, taps, or washers, it can leave a buildup that can lead to dry hair, dry skin, and minimal gut issues.

It has an earthy taste.

Tap water has an earthy or musty taste, which is due to the presence of algae, bacteria, and other organic material. It can happen due to tap water from long pipes going through peaty lands.

Metallic or bitter taste

If you are tasting metal in tap water, it is time to get a water purifier. It happens due to internal pipework. If the pipes use iron or copper, the standing water is exposed to them. It tastes bitter, and regular consumption can lead to metal poisoning.

It can affect reproductive health.

Water is crucial to staying healthy and alive. However, drinking contaminated water can lead to severe issues. One of them is reproductive issues like infertility. Tap water with high chemical numbers can weaken the immune system. It can decrease fertility and lead to problems with reproductive health.

It leads to digestive issues.

Contaminated water can upset the gut. It can lead to constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or a loss of appetite. Moreover, regular tap water consumption can lead to bloody stools and other severe stomach issues. And as your stomach is your second brain, any issues in the gut lead to inflammation and other health issues. Therefore, drinking clean water is necessary for good gut health.

Tap water can lead to infections.

Apart from chemicals and minerals, tap water is also home to bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It depends on your water distribution system, but tap water is rife with these things. Without a water purifier, these germs have higher chances of paving the way for infections. Gut infections from E. coli, Hepatitis A, and more weaken the body. The treatment for the same is expensive.

Understandably, not everyone can afford a water purifier or access clean drinking water. However, drinking tap water can lead to other severe issues. So, people not using water purifiers should boil the water before consumption. Also, do not trust all bottled water brands. Most just put unfiltered tap water in it and sell it to you. If you use bottled water, research the brand and get the best water purifier.