One of the biggest troubles of travelling is finding out what’s safe to consume and not.
We’re not only talking about their exotic dishes, but also the water you’ll be drinking throughout your visit.
Bottled water may save you from this trouble. However, it’s important to note that it contains many chemicals and their packaging ends up as waste.
Let’s talk about the water in Colorado and all the aspects you need to know about it.
Is The Drinking Water Good In Colorado?
Public water systems worldwide go through mandatory water testing from time to time. This law ensures the cleanliness and safety of drinking water everywhere.
And just like every place in the world, Colorado also tests its water to ensure it meets the set health-based standards.
So, how do they do this?
Water testing is done by collecting water samples from all the main sources in Colorado. These samples are then sent to laboratories.
The laboratory must be certified by the state or the Environmental Protection Agency. If not, the testing will be invalid.
The results from the lab tests are sent to the Colorado Safe Drinking Water Program. In turn, they will be compiled along with the previous tests and approved.
What Is Water Quality?
The drinking water quality is a government standard. It identifies whether a sample of drinking water contains harmful or deadly contaminants.
Water quality consists of several factors. Some of them are the concentration of dissolved oxygen, bacteria levels, salinity, and turbidity.
It’s important to ensure water quality because these contaminants sometimes come from the environment itself. Meanwhile, some come from human sources like waste and pesticides.
This standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency ensures the drinking water quality in the United States. Of course, that includes Colorado.
Things To Think About Before Consuming Public Water
Health Concerned Outcomes Of Contaminated Water
The contaminants do not only harm us through our drinking water. They also get the chance to enter our bodies when we cook, clean, and bathe.
Community water systems are where the majority of the residents of Colorado source their supply. Imagine the impact when a single water system gets exposed to harmful substances and contaminants.
However, not all contaminants make us sick or risk our health. Even so, some of them can lead to terminal illnesses and even death. Some of these hazards include:
- Gastrointestinal Illnesses
- Cancer
- Kidney Disease
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Neurologic Disorders
What makes it worse is that everyone is at risk when it comes to water contamination. Children, pregnant women, elderly people, and those with weak immune systems and pre-existing conditions are of the most concern.
What To Do If You Are Concerned
If you are unsure of the cleanliness of the drinking water in your place, some research may help.
Several websites can help. Some will allow you to input your location and will provide you with information regarding the drinking water in that area.
You may also inform yourself regarding your water provider. Ensure that they follow the correct procedures and do regular water testing for your peace of mind.
Further, you can also help in reducing the risk of water pollution and contamination in many ways.
One thing you can do is to lessen or eliminate pesticides and fertilizers in your garden. You may also use natural cleaning agents instead of harmful chemicals and commercial cleaners. Make sure to keep all strong substances away from the earth and storm drains.
Lastly, if you own private wells, you are responsible for doing regular water sampling and testing.
