Diarrhea from Drinking Water
Diarrhea from drinking water can be the cause of years of stomach pain and migraines. Not only in wells but also in controlled tap water, previously unnoticed pathogens or heavy metals can sometimes lurk. A water test for coliform bacteria can save lives, not just for people with weakened immune systems, young children, and the elderly!
Diarrhea from Drinking Water Due to Dirty Water?
Bacteria in water are often the reason for sudden headaches, stomach pains, and vomiting. Even with the greatest hygiene, E. coli and enterococci can occur. Why do these pathogens proliferate worldwide in well water, shallow lakes, rivers, reservoirs, pools, and pipes? Are swimming animals and fertilizers to blame?
Indeed, during heavy rains and floods, animal and human fecal germs can seep into leaking pipes or covers. Germs can also settle in defective boilers and other disturbances in reservoirs, pools, or pipes. Coliform bacteria also like to settle on gaskets of water dispensers, filters of humidifiers, and filtration systems. Bacteria are also active in places like the moist, scaled screens of many faucets.
However, not all coliform bacteria from the digestive tract are harmful. Some are beneficial bacterial strains. For example, Escherichia coli produces useful vitamin K in the intestine. On the other hand, pathogenic bacterial strains often cause fever and inflammation. Eyes, appendix, peritoneum, intestines, gallbladder, urinary tract, meninges, stomach, ears, and wounds can be affected.
In severe cases, an E. coli infection can even cause blood in urine or diarrhea as well as sepsis, which is blood poisoning. Babies under six months old risk dying from blue baby syndrome. In addition, coliform bacteria and Legionella sometimes trigger life-threatening pneumonia. Some bacteria also damage the kidneys of children and seniors or are resistant to antibiotics.
Furthermore, groundwater and surface water contaminated with E. coli from fertilizers are suspected of damaging the liver and genetic material. This can happen if nitrate is converted into carcinogenic nitrite. Diarrhea from drinking water mainly affects people with weakened immune systems, the injured, diabetics, and children.
Why Test Tap Water or Contaminated Water in Rivers?
Home and well owners are responsible for ensuring the health of all who use their drinking water. Although water utilities in German-speaking countries thoroughly control their outgoing drinking water, they only do so up to each house connection. From there, homeowners or renters are responsible for regularly checking water quality.
Water tests for Legionella and compliance with lead limits are mandatory. This also applies to water in wells and pools. Even if you or pets bathe in nearby rivers and lakes or travel, our bacterial analysis is helpful.
The drinking water regulations in Switzerland and Germany require regular water samples and compliance with heavy metal limits. This also applies to tap water. In metal pipes with standing water, higher concentrations of lead, copper, and nickel, for example, can occur.
How does a bacterial analysis for dirty water work? It is enough to put some contaminated drinking water into the supplied test container. Please fill out and include the data sheet so we know where the sample comes from. Then send the test set to the lab in the supplied box. We will promptly conduct the bacterial check.
>> Tip: Beware, even clear freshwater from streams or wells can contain germs, nitrate, and heavy metals!
Selecting the Appropriate Drinking Water Test
We offer the perfect water analysis for every occasion:
- Opti Water Test is a bacterial test with instructions for immunodeficiency, preparing baby food, using calcified water dispensers, suspicion of lead or copper pipes, and pipe damage. It tests the limits of aluminum, chromium, cobalt, and other pollutants. The Opti water analysis also measures minerals such as calcium, magnesium, nitrite, sulfate, and water hardness.
- Ideal Water Test is for tap water analysis. With easy instructions for sample collection and submission! This lab test for water measures heavy metals in pipes and fittings and identifies them. Whether aluminum, barium, iron, copper, strontium, zinc, and more. The water analysis shows whether there is corrosion or deposits in the pipes.
- Bacteria Water Test detects the total germ count, that is, how many germs are present per milliliter in the water sample. The lab test for pathogens such as coliform bacteria and E. coli provides clear test results for diarrhea.
Expert tips: Be careful that no germs from gloves or sponges get into the sample during testing! Regular cleaning, descaling, and disinfection of aerators, that is, faucet screens, and water dispensers are the best prevention against coliform bacteria. It also helps to chlorinate standing water in pipes. Check public and private wells at least once a year, preferably more often.
The test for contaminated drinking water is a surprising success factor for many. Each drinking water analysis provides long-sought answers. Our test set for detecting bacteria and heavy metals thus helps to eliminate acute and chronic illnesses. Take the chance for better health with water tests from Umweltcheck.de!