Environmental Effects and Health Risks of Bad Plumbing Systems

April 26, 2018

Both residential and commercial properties can develop bad plumbing systems, through either damage or corrosion that comes with age. Bad plumbing systems can quickly cause significant negative environmental effects and health risks, especially when unnoticed, which is why it is important to have your property’s plumbing inspected periodically as needed or advised by a professional plumber.

Plumbing systems have been around for a very long time, as a means to maintain sanitary environs, and to ensure that human waste was kept as far away from human habitations as possible. Plumbing systems today are much more efficient than those of the past, but are still susceptible to failures and will cease to function properly.

There are many conditions that can cause damage to plumbing systems, most can be avoid with proper, regular maintenance. Some common plumbing problems that can be avoided, such as:

Avoid using drains to throw trash – whether it is a bathroom sink drain, a kitchen garbage disposal unit, or toilets, items such as food wrappers, plastic, cigarette butts, hair, and female hygiene products can cause blockage. Blocked drains create serious problems that can cause health risks and environmental effect from the back-flow and flooding of waste water.

Tree roots damaging sewer pipes – having your older sewer line inspected by a plumber, using a CCTV to discover the cause of poor draining or blockage often reveals tree roots as the cause. Catching this problem early on can prevent health risks and environmental effects from waste water seeping into the ground unknowingly.

Hire a professional plumber to fix your bad plumbing system – it is not recommended to attempt to fix serious plumbing problems on your own, especially without the proper tools and know-how because you may end up causing more damage.

Bad plumbing systems that allow waste water leakage from a damaged sewer line, or from a backed-up toilet or drain, can cause health and environmental risks, such as the following:

• Spread of disease – one of the most common, but most undesirable effects of a bad plumbing system is the inevitable spread of disease. Because most waste water is chock-full of bacteria and other pathogens, faulty plumbing may cause these hazardous materials to leach out, and subsequently release droves of pathogens into the environment that can cause disease.
• Contamination of drinking water, groundwater, and foodstuffs – a defective plumbing system doesn’t only cause the spread of disease due to exposure, it can contaminate drinking water, fresh groundwater, and food. This spreads not only through a localised area, but can also be carried outwards and onwards to other neighbouring areas.

If you are unsure of the health of your plumbing system, for safety’s sake, it is advised to consult with a professional plumber and schedule an inspection.

 

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