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The last thing you want to do when enjoying
your vacation properly, is worry about the water you drink while you're
there. Water should be for fishing, swimming in or boating on.
If you take a few basic precautions, that's exactly how it will be.
The first and most important thing to do
is make sure the water is safe or potable. The best way to do this
is to have the water tested by the county or municipal district.
They can tell you what is or isn't in the water, as well as make generic
recommendations for what you have to do something about. If your
water is being trucked in to you, or comes from a community water supply,
then such a test is perhaps not necessary, but if your water comes from
a well, or directly from a lake, river or stream then a definitive test
is crucial.
Some of the things that might be of concern
in your water are: Bacteria, such as fecal coliform, crypto sporidium,
or giardia - These nasty organisms can ruin your vacation, or your life.
High Sulphates or Nitrates - Although perhaps less of a concern than bacteria,
these minerals can be a cause of diarrhea/dehydration which may critically
effect children. High total dissolved solids - May lead to kidney
stones over the long term for those at risk. Usually objectionably
affects the taste of water. High Sodium - Generally a problem for
those with high blood pressure or a heart condition as this will aggravate
either problem. High Fluoride - May cause problems with children's
teeth especially in younger children.
These are a few of the potential problems
that can be present in your water. So you can see that it's important
to know what's there before you try to fix it. No problem is insurmountable.
For example, you might eliminate some or all of these problems with one
or more of the following: Distillation, reverse osmosis, ultra filtration,
ultra violet disinfection, chlorination, or you could avoid the expense
and bother of installing water treatment, and opt for bottled water, if
that is more convenient.
Other than health concerns, esthetics could
be a problem. Your cabin water could have high hardness, cause staining
from iron or magnesium, or have objectionable odor. All of these
problems can easily be eliminated with a water softener and/or an iron
filter.
All in all, your vacation paradise should
be just that, if you follow a common sense approach, anticipate and avoid
water problems before they affect you, then you can enjoy a care free
vacation property with minimal maintenance, and maximum fun.
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