Brown tap water is more commonly faced by homeowners using a well. However, other factors can cause this problem in homes connected to a city or county water supply. 

What is Legionella?

Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by bacteria called Legionella. You can get Legionnaires’ disease if you breathe in tiny droplets of water containing the Legionella bacteria that causes the infection. It’s usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals, or in office buildings where the bacteria has gotten into the water supply. It’s less common to catch it at home.

Water quality is vital for people everywhere. The water running from the tap is the water we consume, shower in, and give to our children and pets. Water contamination concerns have always been a reality, but since the lead-pipe crisis in Flint, Michigan, Americans are more concerned than ever about what is in their tap water. The Safe Drinking Water Act allows the EPA to set standards and regulations for what constitutes “clean” water. Some states have “cleaner” water than others based on a variety of environmental factors, like fires, droughts, bacteria like legionella, as well as more governable circumstances like lead found in pipes. 

The microbiologic sampling of contaminants in resources requires a variety of sampling methods, as well as analytical methods that are based on the substance and contaminant in question. Soil, air, water, metals, surfaces, along with other materials must be sampled according to a pre-given set of instructions and conditions, stipulated by the EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency’s information is based on the most recent studies and scientific methods available, and all licensed labs, such as San Air Technologies Laboratory, must adhere to directions from this agency. 

Contaminants in water pipes are all too common, and it is vital for building owners and managers to know the signs of contaminated water pipes so that any problems can be identified and rectified quickly. The latest research shows that between 9-45 million Americans get their water from a contaminated source. The gap is large because some levels of contaminants are higher in places, and some people don’t experience symptoms of poisoning from water, while others do – which means that many individuals may be drinking or using contaminated water without knowing. Experts estimate that the number of people who experience contaminated drinking water is much higher than documented by medical professionals.