How to Check if Your Drinking Water is Clean and Filtered?

Quinn Tran • Mar 20, 2023

Nothing is more important than safeguarding your drinking water to protect yourself and those you love from potential health risks. But how can you be sure that the drinking water coming out of the tap is safe? Don't worry; we have some insider tips on how to test if it's clean and filtered—so don't take any chances with just assuming your tap water has been adequately purified!

Our team of water experts are here to guide you through verifying whether or not your drinking water is clear, filtered, and ready for consumption.

water hand wash

1. Test the Taste and Smell of Your Water

contamination water quote

One way to tell if your drinking water is clean is by testing its taste and smell. If it has an off-putting odour or a strange taste, chances are it hasn't been filtered properly. Many types of parasites and bacteria can cause an unpleasant smell in tap water, which may indicate contamination. Additionally, if your tap water has a metallic taste or any other unusual flavours (such as rotten eggs), that could also mean something is wrong with the quality of your drinking water. If you notice any strange odours or tastes coming from your tap water, it’s best to get it tested by a professional before consuming it.

2. Check for Cloudiness

cloudy water

Another easy way to find out if your drinking water is safe to consume is by checking its clarity. Fill up a glass with the suspected water and take a closer look at it. If the water appears cloudy, murky, or hazy then that could be an indication that there are impurities present in the water. If this happens, contact your local municipality or county health department for further advice on how to proceed with cleaning up the water source. 

3. Check for Sediment or Rust Residue

tap water sediment or rust

If you notice any sediment or rust residue floating around in your glass of water then this could be another sign that your drinking water isn't as clean as it should be. This may happen due to old pipes in your house, which means that the rust particles from these pipes have made their way into the tap water supply. Faucets should appear shiny without any discolouration or corrosion; pipes should be securely connected without any obvious leaks or cracks; and any hoses used should be free from visible wear or damage. All these factors can indicate whether or not the water flowing through them is clean enough for drinking purposes—if not, it’s best to have them inspected by a professional plumber/ water inspector before using them again. 

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4. Check for Discolouration

discolouration water

If your tap water looks oddly yellowish-brown or greenish-blue when poured into a glass, that could indicate high levels of iron and copper in the pipes leading to your home. These metals can cause discolouration in tap water; however they don’t necessarily mean the drinking water is unsafe to consume—but it should still be tested just in case! 


5. Testing Your Water Quality

The best way to determine whether your water is safe for consumption is to have it tested. You can contact any local lab or water company for a water test, which will analyze the quality of the water in detail. It's also useful to check with your neighbours—if they have recently had their water tested, it may save you time and money. Additionally, check with your local health department—they should be able to provide you with an up-to-date report on the quality of drinking water in your area. 

Learn more:

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6. Installing a Water Filter System

If your test results indicate that there are harmful contaminants present in your drinking water then installing a home filtration system may be necessary. There are 3 popular water systems available for city municipal water in Ontario:

If you are on private well water, read more here:

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Carbon Filters

carbon chlorine removal filter

Carbon filters are a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable way to filter out chlorine, lead, sediment, pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals commonly found in tap water. Carbon filters come in a variety of sizes and types including countertop pitchers, under sink models, whole house systems, and more. 


They work by passing the contaminated water through activated carbon granules which trap contaminants before they reach your faucet or shower head. Some carbon filters also contain additional components such as sediment filters to further purify the water before it reaches you.  

Reverse osmosis drinking water systems

Reverse Osmosis (RO) drinking water systems are ideal if you’re looking for ultra-pure drinking water that tastes great straight from the tap. RO systems use multiple stages of filtration including pre-filters (to remove large particles), activated carbon (to remove chlorine & VOCs), sediment filters (to remove fine particles) ,and reverse osmosis membranes (to selectively filter out dissolved solids). At Quinn Water Systems, we add the mineral filter as the last stage that adds back essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium into the filtered water so that it tastes better and provides health benefits for those who drink it.The result is high quality drinking that rivals even expensive bottled waters at a fraction of the cost!
Learn more about your drinking water:

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Regularly checking the quality of our drinking water is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy home environment. Whether you decide to purchase an at-home test kit or hire a professional service provider, ensuring that all contaminants are detected sooner rather than later helps avoid expensive repairs down the line while promoting good health overall. If there are any problems with your drinking water supply—no matter how minor they may seem—it's always better to take action sooner rather than later!


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