While working inside a customer’s home—even if it’s for an unrelated job—you should still be watching the signs that your customer needs a water purification system. Water that doesn’t go through that purification process, or water that goes through a faulty system, poses a great health risk to anyone using that water inside the house.

Know what those telltale signs are and recommend to them a new whole house water purification system for their own well-being.

The Water Has a Cloudy Appearance

The first and safest step to determine if your customer needs a new water purifying system is to observe how the water looks. Normal water should be clear, transparent, and not have any particles floating around in it. See if the water is cloudy or has a degree of opacity. Check the standing water in the toilets and bathtubs to see if there’s an oily film on the surface.

The Water Has an Unpleasant Smell

Smell the water to see if there are any bad smells. Many describe the typical odor of contaminated water as smelling very similar to rotten eggs. A stench like rotten eggs can most likely be attributed to a higher content of hydrogen sulfide gas in the water system.

The Water Has a Bad Taste

Ask them if they usually notice a bad taste wherever they drink water from the faucet. While clean water has no discernable taste, contaminated water can taste metallic, salty, or bitter.

Side Effects of Consuming Tainted Water

After establishing that they notice a certain taste of the water, ask if they have a history of upset stomachs or abdominal pain after drinking. This can be a sign that bacteria are present in the water and must be treated immediately.

Let Them Know

Once you know there’s something wrong with your customer’s water supply, inform them of your opinion. It may take further testing to determine the extent of contamination and what is causing it, but they may not be aware of anything wrong. Take the initiative to keep them safe and advise them to take further precautions for their health.