4 Ways That Weather Can Affect the Water Quality in Your Home
The quality of water in your home can be affected by a variety of different factors. Many of these are carried out at water treatment plants, but some are far less obvious. Many people may be surprised to learn that the weather can affect the quality of water in our homes. Here are four different kinds of weather conditions and how they can affect our water supply. 
1. Rainfall
Of course, we need rainfall to replenish our water supplies, but rain can also have negative consequences. The largest problem comes in the form of runoff which is a major source of water contamination. The problems are different depending upon whether the runoff occurs in urban or rural areas. In urban areas, the rain hits and then flows over hard surfaces such as streets and sidewalks. The rain picks up surface contaminants, washes them into storm drains, and they then enter large bodies of water that supply our domestic water. More rural locations have farms and industrial plants that use pesticides and chemicals. The rain flows over the ground collecting these contaminants and seeps into the earth. This can affect underground sources of water such as aquifers and pollute private wells.
2. Drought
When we experience a drought, it can have a dramatic affect on the quality of our water. The levels of our surface water supplies drops, and this causes a concentration of contaminants, such as industrial chemicals, pesticides, sediment and heavy metals. These materials were already present, but they were diluted in larger quantities of water and thus less dangerous. The level of contaminants present in our water rises dramatically during periods of drought.
3. Hot Weather
Periods of hot weather can cause droughts, but they also have another consequence for water quality. If your water is supplied from a water source that has a high amount of algae it may have a strange smell and taste. During a hot summer, toxic algae are in bloom and drinking it can make you feel nauseous.
4. Cold Weather
Colder weather doesn’t have a direct effect on the water quality in your home, but it can worsen it in other ways. In winter we typically endure conditions where we experience lower humidity levels. This can dry out your skin, and it is further exacerbated if you live in a hard water area. Washing can become an uncomfortable activity, and a variety of skin conditions can occur.
There are steps that you can take to protect your domestic water supply from the effects of mother nature. If you are concerned about the quality of your water, speak to your local water treatment professional. There is no reason to suffer with a lower quality of water; there are water softeners/water conditioners and filtration systems that can address a wide variety of issues. Always ensure that you seek advice from a WQA certified local water treatment professional. This will ensure that you receive the best advice and a quality of work that will meet and exceed water industry standards.
About The Author, Terry Reeh, EcoWater Systems of Nebraska:
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state.