Water quality is important for your health and well-being. If you're concerned about the quality of your home's water, it's important to test for the presence of harmful contaminants. One such contaminant is manganese. In this blog post, we will examine the potential impact of manganese on the brass components of your home's plumbing system, as well as your health.
What is Manganese?
Manganese is a naturally-occurring element that is often found in groundwater. Small amounts of manganese in your water are not harmful and are actually beneficial to your health. However, higher levels of manganese can cause adverse health effects.
There are several ways that manganese can enter your home's water supply. Manganese can be found in the soil, in rock formations, and in surface water sources. When groundwater passes through soil and rock, it can pick up manganese. In addition, manganese can also come from industrial discharge or mining activities that pollute surface water sources.
Manganese and Brass Components
Brass is a common material used in plumbing fixtures and fittings in homes. Brass contains both copper and zinc, along with a small percentage of lead. When manganese is present in the water supply, it can also interact with the brass components in your home's plumbing system.
Manganese can oxidize and form a brown or black precipitate that can accumulate in plumbing fixtures, such as faucets, showerheads, and pipes. This can cause clogs and other plumbing problems. In addition, manganese can react with the copper and zinc in brass components, causing them to corrode and degrade over time.
The corrosion of brass components due to manganese exposure can cause leaks and other plumbing problems over time. These types of plumbing problems can be costly to repair and can cause damage to your home.
Health Effects of Manganese Exposure
Manganese exposure can cause adverse health effects, depending on the level of exposure. Long-term exposure to high levels of manganese can cause neurological problems, such as tremors, difficulty speaking, and Parkinson's-like symptoms.
In addition, manganese exposure may cause problems with cognitive function, memory, and learning ability. Children and infants are particularly vulnerable to the effects of manganese exposure, as it can affect brain development.
Testing for Manganese
Testing for manganese in your home's water supply is an important step in ensuring that your water is safe to drink and use. A professional water testing service can test your water and provide you with detailed information about the levels of manganese and other contaminants in your water.
If the test results indicate high levels of manganese, there are several options for treating the problem. One option is the installation of a whole-house water filtration system that can remove manganese and other contaminants from your water supply.
Conclusion
Manganese is a common contaminant found in groundwater that can adversely affect both your home's plumbing system and your health. It's important to test your home's water supply for the presence of manganese and other contaminants to ensure that your water is safe to use.
If you're experiencing plumbing problems, such as leaks or clogs, due to manganese exposure, it's important to seek professional plumbing services to address the problem. Additionally, if you're concerned about the health effects of manganese exposure, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional.
By taking simple steps to test and address manganese contamination in your home's water supply, you can help to ensure the health and safety of your family.