Beyond the Tap: 4 ways your drinking water changes over the seasons

If you’ve ever tried eating a tasteless strawberry or a wrinkled blueberry in December, you become keenly aware how the quality of food varies dramatically over the seasons. But have you ever considered how drinking water varies over the seasons as well? Coming from the spout, clear, it’s quite easy to think that the quality is a constant – but is it? Here at Vivreau we want to pull back the curtain on all things water, ask the curious questions, educate about fascinating water facts, and share insights to improve health and well-being.

1- Spring – Precipitation Effects:

April showers bring May flowers, and in our cities – some extra water runoff too. The rain that used to soak into meadows and fields, now funnels along the pavement into storm drains, untreated and into our rivers and oceans.

The heavy rains in spring can lead to water runoff, carrying pollutants into water sources, altering taste and quality. Rainfall can also wash nitrogen and phosphorus from human activities like agriculture and fossil fuel combustion into rivers and lakes.

2- Summer – Algae Blooms:

In warm summer everything blooms – including algae. We look forward to the warm summer sun all year, but with it comes an increase in algae blooms in our water sources. It can affect the taste and odor of water, with a more earthy and musty smell. Conventional water treatment, including chlorination is used to purify water, but during significant bloom events, drinking water advisories can be issued. Algae in recreational areas can also cause skin irritation if you’re going for a dip.

3- Fall – Autumn Leaf Decay:

As beautiful as those leaves look in the autumn, it’s best to make quick work of removing them once they’ve fallen. Organic matter and nutrients from decomposing leaves can quickly leach out and end up in nearby rivers and streams. It’s like tea steeping in a cup – the leaves steep in our waterways resulting in an imbalance of minerals. Too much phosphorus in water can cause algae blooms and reduce oxygen levels in water. This can lead to poor health of aquatic life and negatively affect water taste, requiring extra water treatment.

4- Winter – Salty Water and Equipment Corrosion:

When we’re deep in the festive season of eggnog and holiday parties, most people are definitely not thinking about chlorides in the water supply. But here at Vivreau, we are.

During the winter in the northern states and Canada salt is used on the roads to melt ice and snow for safer driving conditions. Also, in places like California, heavy rain in the winter can lead to ocean water ending up in the waterworks. Both of these can cause increased chlorides in the water supply causing water to taste salty and corrode equipment such as coffee machines and dishwashers.