Most everyone who has a spigot on the outside of their house has a garden hose. They use it, they hang it up, and then they don’t think about it until they have to use it again.
But it is this very simple thing in life that can harbor certain dangers. In fact, it probably seems like a lot of the simple things in life come with reminders that everything around us is trying to kill us in some way. When we think of garden hoses, we don’t think of the fact that there can be something about them that can hurt us.
Believe it or not, the plastic hose in your yard could leach chemicals into the water. The same water that you bathe with, cook with, and wash vegetables with could be contaminated once it comes out of the end of a garden hose because of the chemicals that the hoses can leach into the water. This means that the plants and produce that you may be growing in your yard could be contaminated.
It isn’t anything to do with your plumbing, although older pipes can have their fair share of issues, which is why many throughout the Twin Cities opt for a Minneapolis plumber to install new pipes that reduce the probability of led and other substances from making its way into drinking water.
When using your garden hose, the leaching that occurs each time the hose is used may not be much, but it does add up over time. And while the health risk may not be as high as some of the other health risks around you, the problem does exist. This means it is worth taking care of if you can so that you can reduce any risks to you and your family.
So why is this hose thing a problem?
Well, most hoses include softeners like phthalates to keep the hose from kinking and that makes it much easier to use. There are even some garden hoses that are treated with antimicrobial products so that the growth of mildew and mold can be prevented. Mold and mildew growth is something that is a common issue with garden hoses and these two issues can be harmful to human health.
But it is important to keep in mind that it isn’t just the hoses that contain health risks; the standing water that remains inside them creates a problem. It has been found that lead and other chemicals that leach from the pluming in hose bibs and other equipment make the hoses even more dangerous.
This is why it is important to not drink the water. Yes, many of us drank the water from garden hoses as children because we didn’t know about the issues that existed. Now, it is important to tell children to not drink from the hoses.
It is recommended to switch to a rubber hose in order to avoid the chemical leaching issues. Rubber hoses are not as prone to irritating cracks and kinks. Water should be discharged from them after use so that standing water doesn’t sit inside of them. It is also a good idea to let the water run a few seconds before watering plants so it can flush itself.
If your home or business has old copper pipes, it is good to use a filtration system anyway on your faucets so you can ensure you have the cleanest possible water for consumption. If you wish to have a complete piping overhaul, your plumber can install a new system for you.
