19Nov/22

The Biggest Factors That Affect Water Quality

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Water quality is an often-debated topic, and there are a number of different factors that can affect it. For example, the quality of the water in your area might depend on what kind of ground materials are below the water supply pipes. When you have substances such as lead or copper underground, they could leak into the water and contaminate it, contact plumbers near me.

The Following Are The Biggest Factors That Affect Water Quality:

1. Used Pesticides

There are times when used pesticides end up in the water supply even though they were erased from the garden or fields where they were used. All pesticides eventually leak into the water, causing a variety of detrimental effects on aquatic organisms. Some insects, like mosquitoes and ticks can also end up in the water and cause disease in the people who drink it. These substances are hazardous to people’s health and are harmful to the environment as well.

2. Oil Spills

Also referred to as booms or oil slicks, these are very common in coastal waterways around the country. Oil spills come from crude oil tankers, offshore oil drilling operations, and fuel terminals. Booms have been used by ship accident investigators since they were invented in 1913 as a way to recover spilled oil without damaging the environment or wildlife. These are made out of a very lightweight material that will not degrade or disintegrate.

3. Petroleum Distillates

These distillates are the waste products from oil refining that make their way into the water supply. They are highly toxic to aquatic creatures and animals, and could cause numerous different health problems if ingested in large amounts. These substances are typically discharged from refineries into the waterways, which is considered a form of environmental pollution.

4. Toilet Paper Waste

These types of materials end up in streams and rivers as a result of people flushing their toilet plungers down them. They break down very quickly, but also adsorb substances that might otherwise harm the water quality. These materials can also bind to pollutants and lead to blockages downstream. Wastes like this are known as non-biodegradable matter.

5. Tires

Tires used on roads and highways can end up in waterways when they get worn out and are dumped on the ground or into nearby rivers or creeks. Because tires do not biodegrade, they can be a serious pollution threat to the aquatic environment. They contain harmful chemicals such as lead, which is a very toxic substance that could cause numerous health problems if ingested in large amounts by fish or other creatures in the water supply.

6. Plastics Pollution

There are a number of different plastics in our environment today, and these types of materials can absorb chemicals that are harmful to our health and the environment. These substances can also lead to blockages downstream that could cause microbes to build up and multiply, causing fish kills and other problems with the water quality. There are also microorganisms in the water, like bacteria or fungi that eat plastic debris and end up stuck in the gut of fish. These organisms could contaminate our drinking water supply if they make their way into a stream or a river.

7. Erosion

This type of pollution occurs when sediment and dirt flow into the water supply from nearby construction sites or man-made ponds or lakes. When there is excessive runoff, erosion and sediment build up could contaminate the water source, which will certainly have a negative effect on aquatic wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 

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01Jul/22

Best Ways To Clean Your Storm Drains

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If you haven’t pulled out the rake yet this season, chances are it won’t be long. The leaves are already falling and leaving a crisp, colorful mess for you to clean up. But the job isn’t done once you’ve tied off the last bag of leaves from the ground — there are sure to be plenty more stuck in your home’s gutters.

Cleaning out your gutters may feel like a hassle, but getting the job done twice a year will go a long way toward helping you avoid water damage all over your home, especially at your roof-line and in your basement. Contact us at AC Plumbing Construction and read on to learn more about what can go wrong and how to avoid serious problems.

What’s the Worst That Can Happen?

All sorts of debris can land in your gutters. Usually it’s leaves, twigs and seeds, but wind-borne trash like plastic bags can easily end up jamming up the works.

When this happens, the first part of your home in danger of water damage is your roof. Pooling water in your gutters can rot your fascia, shingles and the edge of your roof-line.

During heavy rains, water will eventually spill over the top of the gutter and hit the ground right next to your home. This can cause a trench to form along the edge of your home, affecting grass growth and leaving a wet, muddy mess. During the summertime, this may even attract mosquitoes and other insects that breed in water.

But the biggest problem with over-topped gutters is that the water will saturate the soil right next to your home’s foundation. This can put enormous pressure on the foundation and the walls of your basement, causing cracks that will grow over time. Basement leaks and even floods can directly result from these breaches if the occurs contact AC Plumbing Construction with no hesitation.

Cleanup Time

Most homeowners can take care of their gutters with just two thorough cleanings each year: one in fall and one in spring. But homes with many nearby trees may need more than one cleaning in fall, and it’s important to always keep an eye on your gutters during rainfall to spot signs of clogs or overflowing.

Cleaning your own gutters is easy but messy. It also involves standing on a ladder, so it’s not a great task for those with mobility problems or a fear of heights.

To clean your gutters, begin by observing ladder safety — make sure your ladder is placed on level ground and properly locked in place. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes.

Hook an empty bucket to the top of the ladder to collect the debris you remove. Wear work gloves, and consider taking along a handheld garden tool like a trowel or hand rake. These can be helpful for scraping waterlogged sludge from the bottom of the gutter.

When the gutter is clear, use a hose to wash it clean and watch to ensure it’s flowing freely through the downspout. If it’s not, you have a clog in the downspout that needs clearing. Use your garden hose at full pressure to hose out the downspout from the bottom up. You might need to remove the bottom section of the downspout to do this. If the hose doesn’t work, a plumbing snake will almost always get the job done.

If gutter problems end up causing moisture issues in your basement, don’t wait to address the situation — it will only get worse. Reach out to your local licensed plumbers at AC Plumbing Construction without delay.

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