Worried about E. coli? How to keep your drinking water clean

With the recent E. coli outbreak in Lehigh County, many residents are concerned about how to keep their families and themselves safe from the deadly bacteria.

While there are solutions, such as boiling your water, to protect you and your family right away – there are specialized filters that can help you prevent E.coli from getting into your drinking water.

However, it is worth noting that any time you end up connecting and disconnecting piping, there is a chance that leaking or flooding may occur. So, if you’re not comfortable with that, you may want to bring in a professional.

Ultraviolet Water Purifiers

These water sterilizers use a lamp of ultraviolet light to clean all of the water that comes into the home.

The ultraviolet light destroys the DNA of the E. coli bacteria and is also capable of killing mold and other biological contaminants. They do so without introducing chemicals into the water, eliminating the risk of something else making you sick.

Plus, these filters are whole-house filters so that water from any sink, shower, or tap is clean. A whole-house filter means you don’t have to employ a separate filtration system to protect each faucet in your home but are solving the problem universally – giving you both convenience and peace of mind that your water is safe to drink.

Chemical Disinfectant Matrix Filters

An alternative to killing bacteria with ultraviolet light can be a chemical disinfectant matrix filter. These filters use structures with pores that let water through but trap bacteria such as E. coli.

Different filters come with different pore sizes, all of which are capable of trapping different bacteria varieties. Consult a plumber on which filter is best for catching E. coli and other bacteria that pose a risk to your health.

Reverse Osmosis Filters

Reverse osmosis filters use pressure to push water through a semi-permeable membrane, which can trap any minerals or bacteria present in the water.

After running the water through an additional sediment or carbon water filter, you are left with clean, safe drinking water. Reverse osmosis filters are cheap, reliable, and easy-to-maintain in comparison to other bacterial water filters.

While a water filter that can kill E. coli bacteria is ideal, they are not always a viable option in a pinch.

Immediate Solutions if your water is contaminated

Boil Your Water

E.coli are easy to kill, so boiling your water for one minute will leave it safe to consume.

During a contamination period declared by your local government, boil all water you want to consume for one minute. Once it’s been sterilized, it can be used to drink, brush your teeth, wash dishes, or prepare food.

Consume only bottled water

Bottled water has already been purified and sterilized, meaning it is safe to drink straight from the bottle. While it will cost more than boiling water, it is more convenient, and you don’t need to boil and cool more water continually.

If you currently do not have a water filtration system in place, it is crucial to follow the guidance of your local government agencies. For our region, visit the Lehigh County Authority website and check back regularly for updates: https://lehighcountyauthority.org.

Want to keep your home’s water safe with a new water filter? Contact the experts at Agentis. We’re ready to help.