The water that comes out of your faucet may look clean, but it can harbor harmful germs that can make you sick. The water coming out of your tap is filtered and disinfected by a series of microorganisms, called the water stream.
These tiny organisms are necessary to keep your home sanitary and to remove germs from your drinking water. Knowing how clean the water stream is is important so you don’t end up getting sick from contaminated drinking water.
Swim or Don’t?
Deciding whether or not to bathe your baby with tap water can be confusing. It’s important for parents to know when it’s okay to bathe their baby with tap water. If a baby is less than one year old, parents can bathe their baby with tap water. But, if a baby is older than one year old, parents are recommended to use bottled or other sterile water to bathe their baby. Tap water may contain many harmful chemicals such as chlorine, lead, and bacteria.
Some tap water may also contain harmful minerals such as uranium and radium that are created by the breakdown of old infrastructure. If a baby is older than one year old, the baby may have a much higher risk of getting lead poisoning from bathing in tap water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents do not bathe their babies under 12 months of age with tap water.
Look for Bubbles and Scum
If you bathe your baby in tap water, you can check the water to see if it has any soap scum or bubbles. If these appear in your water, it may be a sign that the water is not safe for drinking. If you bathe your baby in tap water with soap scum or bubbles, you should change the water and try again.
You can also try using a different brand or type of soap. You can also try putting a cup of vinegar in your water to kill any bacteria that may be in the water. You can also use a water purification pitcher, which will filter out any harmful chemicals in the water.
Smell and Touch for Clean Water
If you bathe your baby in tap water, you can smell the water and touch the water to determine if it’s clean or not. If you bathe your baby in tap water and it smells clean, you should use this water to give your baby a bath. If the water smells foul, you should change it immediately.
You should also never use a bottle dipped in tap water to feed your baby. If you bathe your baby in tap water and the water feels clean when you touch it, you should use this water. You can also use a water filter pitcher to make sure you have clean water.
Know the Signs of a Toxic Stream
If you bathe your baby in tap water and it smells foul or has a toxic or ‘off ’ taste, you should change the water immediately. You should also never use a bottle dipped in tap water to feed your baby. If you bathe your baby in tap water and the water has an ‘off ’ taste or is toxic smelling, you should use bottled water for your baby’s bath. You can also use a water filter pitcher to make sure you have clean water.
If your water source is from an old or particularly dirty well or piping system, changing the water source may not be enough to make your water safe to drink. You should also have your well or piping system tested by a professional to make sure it’s safe to use. You should also have your water tested by a professional to make sure it’s safe to drink.
Safe Drinking Water Rules to Follow
- Follow the water temperature guide. Water that is too hot or too cold can make you sick. It’s best to bathe your baby in water that is between 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Check your water pressure. It’s important to have enough water pressure in your plumbing to serve all the water you want to drink. If your water pressure is low, you risk getting lead in your drinking water.
- Don’t drink from your hoses. If you drink from your hoses or other plumbing fixtures, you run the risk of getting lead or other harmful chemicals in your drinking water.
- Don’t try to save water by washing your car with your hoses. If you try to use your water hose to wash your car, you run the risk of getting lead in your drinking water.
Conclusion
Whether you decide to bathe your baby in tap water or not, it’s important to know the signs of a contaminated water source. If you notice any signs of a contaminated water source, you should change the water source. Additionally, you should have your water tested by a professional to make sure it’s safe to drink.
Tap water may look clear and smell or taste clean, but it can be laden with harmful chemicals, bacteria, or minerals. You should change the water source and have your water tested by a professional to make sure it’s safe to drink.
