Quality of Drinking Water During Rainy Season
Every year, outbreaks of waterborne diseases, specifically with increases in gastrointestinal illnesses, have been associated with heavy rainfall. Storm events and periods of heavy rainfall and runoff can result in increased raw water turbidity, and eventually, increased microbiological contaminants in raw water especially surface water supply systems which are open to the atmosphere and to direct runoff from the land.
Drinking water direct from your tap may be insufficiently filtered or inadequately disinfected during this time, thus resulting to increased waterborne diseases during this season.
Unlike surface water, groundwater is thought to be naturally protected from increases in turbidity and microbial contamination from rainfall and runoff; and therefore does not require disinfection or filtration for particle removal. However, unfiltered and non-disinfected groundwater may be vulnerable to contamination with viruses. Microbes can be introduced into the distribution system and without a disinfection treatment, there is no first line of defense which can increase the risk of waterborne diseases among those who get their drinking water from these sources. In fact, majority of drinking water-related outbreaks occur in communities that utilize groundwater source.
With the worsening global warning, severe weather events are predicted to occur more frequently; and with greater severity in the future, a more thorough understanding is needed of the conditions under which heavy rainfall may impact microbiological water quality and result in increased waterborne diseases. Regulators should work with water system providers to develop system specific prevention techniques to limit the impact of heavy rainfall on public health.
Flooding and erosion, as a result of increased precipitation (e.g. increased stormwater flows and discharges, soil erosion, sporadic high turbidity) and intense rain storms, transports large volumes of water and contaminants into waterbodies. More sediments and chemical runoff will therefore be transported into streams and groundwater systems. Flooding can also overload storm, combined sewer and wastewater systems, resulting in untreated pollutants directly entering waterways impairing water quality.
Water systems with surface water sources can play an important role in preventing waterborne diseases during and immediately following heavy rainfall. Municipal water systems may consider additional protection measures during heavy rainfall events such as increased filtration and disinfection.
Whatever you source if water maybe, your drinking water may be compromised during rainy season. Having your own home water filtration system gives you that piece of mind knowing that the water you drink is safe and free from sediments and other contaminants. And since water may even be more chlorinated during these times in order to intensify the disinfection process, a reliable water filter like SJ Wave Faucet Water Filter is able to remove 98% of chlorine smell and taste. It reliably filters small particles and traces of hard metals that may still be present in your tap.
Heavy rainfall alone is not responsible for seasonal poor drinking water quality. Irresponsible urban expansion as a result of increased urban development and deforested watershed reinforce the impact of heavy rainfall on drinking water quality as high variation of suspended solids become prevalent. Increased siltation of lake resources and erosion intensify during rainy periods, causing water sources to be more contaminated.
While rainwater is considered clean and good, the moment it reaches the ground and becomes groundwater, it gets contaminated and needs to be disinfected. Changing weather affects the quality of drinking water especially during the rainy season. This explains why outbreaks of water-borne diseases usually peak during this season. So don’t wait for the next rainy season. Visit the SJ Wave website and know more about their complete water solutions products.