Living in Fort Myers is a dream come true for anyone who enjoys living near the beach. Being close to the sea makes it easy to enjoy your favorite aquatic activities. But, you also want to know that your water is safe to drink when it’s time to hydrate.
Diving a bit deeper into the water’s safety in Fort Myers can help you decide if it’s best to install a home water filtration system.
Quick Takeaways
•The water in Fort Myers meets or exceeds federal safety standards.
•Meeting safety standards still could include containing chlorine, minerals and trace contaminants.
•Just because water is safe doesn’t always mean that it tastes good or meets personal standards for cleanliness.
•Whole home water filtration systems add extra protection and can improve the taste of your water while safeguarding the plumbing system.
Understanding What “Safe” Water Actually Means
The EPA standards for water include legally binding regulations that utility companies and other suppliers must meet. These are designed to prevent you from drinking harmful bacteria and other contaminants that could cause serious illness.
Meanwhile, actual water quality refers to different characteristics that you can assess to consider it good for specific uses. If you’ve ever been camping, then you might have run across a faucet that said the water was good for cleaning but not for drinking.
In Fort Myers, the water that comes into your home is specially treated to eliminate contaminants such as algae and heavy metals that are dangerous to consume in high levels. But, this process doesn’t always fix all of the water quality issues.
Legally-compliant water might still have hardness, chlorine and trace metals that you prefer not to drink or use for bathing.
Where Does Fort Myers Water Come From?
While many people never think about where water comes from, it’s pretty clear that it must derive from a natural source. Our water in Fort Myers comes from several sources, but the Caloosahatchee River is the primary one. We also get water from underground wells that draw from the Floridan Aquifer.
Both surface and groundwater are treated locally at municipal treatment plants. The water treatment process helps to remove contaminants and improve the color and taste of the liquid you see running out of your sink.
By the time the water reaches your house, it should be clear and relatively tasteless. However, many people still detect a hint of chlorine as they drink unfiltered local water.
So, What’s Actually In Fort Myers Tap Water?
Whether you’ve lived here for years or just moved to the area, it’s worth digging into to find out what you might be drinking.
1. Expect Normal Chlorine and Disinfection Byproducts
There’s no way around it. Some disinfection chemicals that treatment facilities use to meet EPA guidelines remain in the water. Although they help sanitize the water, they can leave an unpleasant taste and odor.
2. Understand How Hard Water Minerals Impact Water Quality
Fort Myers is especially known for having hard water that contains calcium, magnesium and iron. Although these minerals won’t typically harm your health, they can cause scale and other buildup in the pipes and on your hair. You could also detect a metallic taste in your home’s faucet water.
3. Recognize the Potential of Consuming Trace Contaminants and Sediment
You might not sense grittiness in the water, but it can still contain sediment from old pipes when it gets through your home’s system. Lead and rust could also be present in unfiltered home water. Fort Myers water that is sourced from the river can also have a higher risk of containing rain runoff or algae, especially during the warm, rainy parts of the year.
Well, Can You Drink It Without a Filter?
Technically, anyone can drink the water here without using a filter as long as it comes from the local water suppliers. But, you will need to accept a few trade-offs.
Unfiltered water from the public supply may not taste as pleasant as it does after running through a home filtration system. You could also risk long-term exposure to byproducts that occur from the sanitizing process.
Plus, hard water can lead to serious damage to your home appliances and plumbing system. You might even be able to see the effects of hard water on the plumbing right now if you notice buildup around your faucets or shower head.
What Do the Water Quality Reports for Fort Myers Say?
The Fort Myers Annual Water Quality Report is worth checking out when you worry about contaminants in the water you drink. In most cases, the water exceeds or meets standards for healthy drinking water. But, there are a few areas of concern.
For instance, the local water report often shows that Trihalomethanes are higher than the recommended guidelines. These disinfection products occur when chlorine reacts with certain types of organic matter in the water, and they could potentially cause long-term health issues.
When Should You Absolutely Use a Filter?
Knowing when you should use filtered water helps you maintain your health and care for your loved ones’ well-being.
•If you or someone in your household is immunocompromised, pregnant or a young child
•Your home has old plumbing
•You notice strange tastes, odors or colors in your home’s water
What Are the Many Benefits of a Whole Home Water Filtration System?
Exploring this list of benefits gives you an idea of just how much installing a water filtration system can impact your quality of life.
•Filter out chlorine, metals and other contaminants from every tap in the house.
•Improve the overall taste, smell and water quality for bathing, drinking, cleaning and performing other essential tasks.
•Extend the life span of your home appliances and pipes.
FAQs
Making a decision on having our plumbing tech install a whole-home water filtration system is easier when you have all of the answers to your questions. We hope these help!
Is Fort Myers tap water noticeably chlorinated?
The treatment facilities in Fort Myers do use chlorine for disinfection, and lots of people notice that it impacts the taste and smell.
Is bottled water safer to drink compared to Fort Myers tap water?
Not always. Bottled water isn’t even always filtered. Plus, it’s way more expensive over time compared to installing a filtration system.
Can I just boil water to make it safer?
Boiling is great for removing bacteria, but this should already be at a healthy level by the time it reaches your house. Boiling won’t remove minerals, chlorine or other chemical contaminants, unfortunately.
Is hard water unsafe for drinking every day?
It’s technically fine to drink hard water, but it often tastes unpleasant. People also find that hard water impacts their skin and hair health by leaving residue that also impacts plumbing systems.
Get the Unfiltered Answers to Your Questions About Home Water Filtration
Do you want water that’s clear, clean and tastes delicious straight from your home’s taps? Our Fort Myers-based plumbing company performs whole-home water filtration system installations that are customized to address your specific water concerns.
Reach out to our plumbers today to get the unfiltered truth on how installing a filtration system can make staying hydrated more pleasurable.