Rain and Runoff - How Does It Affect My Water?
Rain and Runoff: How Does It Affect My Water?
Rain is a normal part of life. It waters our gardens, fills our rivers and lakes, and keeps the earth green and growing. But did you know that rain can also affect the water in your home? It’s true. When it rains, the water doesn’t just soak into the ground or wash away. It travels. And along the way, it can pick up things you don’t want in your water.
This process is called runoff, and it plays a big role in your water quality. In this article, we’ll walk through what rainwater runoff is, how it can carry pollutants, and what that means for the water you drink, bathe in, and use every day. We’ll also talk about how to help keep your home’s water cleaner and purer with the right solutions.
What Is Runoff, and Where Does It Go?
When rain falls, some of it soaks into the ground. But much of it flows across surfaces like roads, sidewalks, driveways, and lawns. This moving rainwater is called stormwater runoff. As it flows, it can pick up all sorts of things from the environment, including:
- Dirt and sediment
- Motor oil and gasoline
- Fertilizers and pesticides
- Animal waste
- Road salt
- Chemicals from lawns and factories
This polluted water often ends up in nearby streams, lakes, and even underground water sources. These are many of the same places where we get our drinking water. That means runoff can have a direct impact on the water that comes into your home.
Does Rainwater
Affect Your Home?
Contact A Kinetico Water Expert Today
Fill out your information below and we’ll have one of our authorized, independent Kinetico dealers contact you to schedule your free in-home water test.
How Rain Affects Well Water and City Water
Whether you get your water from a private well or from a city water system, rain and runoff can change what’s in it. Here’s how:
For Well Water Users:
If you have a private well, your water comes directly from underground. When it rains, surface water can carry pollutants down into the soil and eventually into the groundwater. This means that rain can carry bacteria, chemicals, and nitrates into your well.
Common issues include:
- Bacteria and parasites
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Nitrates from fertilizers
- Heavy metals like lead or arsenic
For City Water Users:
Municipal water systems treat water before it comes to your tap, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. After heavy rain, water treatment plants can get overwhelmed. Sometimes this leads to combined sewer overflows, where dirty water gets mixed into cleaner supplies before it’s treated.
You might notice:
- A musty or chlorine-like smell
- Cloudy or discolored tap water
- An increase in hard water buildup
That’s why many homeowners choose home water filtration systems to give their families an extra layer of protection.
How to Tell If Rain Is Affecting Your Water
It’s not always easy to tell just by looking at your water. Rain and runoff don’t always cause major changes you can see or smell, but here are a few signs to watch for:
- Your water looks cloudy or has visible particles
- You notice a strong or strange odor
- Your skin feels dry or itchy after showering
- Your laundry doesn’t feel soft or come out as bright
- You see blue-green stains (a sign of acidic water from runoff)
If you notice any of these, it may be time to test your water. Rain and runoff can lead to changes that affect taste, safety, and how your appliances run.
Why Kinetico?
At Kinetico, we believe everyone deserves access to cleaner, purer water—no matter what the weather is doing outside. Our systems are designed to handle the challenges that come with seasonal changes, runoff, and local water issues.
Whether you use city water or well water, we can help you find the right solution. And with more than 55 years of experience, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners feel confident in their water again.
Plus, we offer free water testing, expert advice, and custom recommendations.
How a Water System Can Help Keep Your Water Cleaner and Purer
The good news is, you don’t have to let rainwater runoff take over your home’s water. With a few smart steps, you can enjoy water that’s cleaner, purer, and safer to use all year long.
Get Your Water Tested
Start with a simple water test. At Kinetico, our water experts can come to your home and test for:
- Hardness
- Iron and manganese
- pH levels (too acidic or too basic)
- Chlorine, sulfur, and other smells
Use a Whole-Home Filtration System
A water filtration system helps remove:
- Dirt and sediment
- Bad smells and tastes
- Chemicals from lawn or farm runoff
- Chlorine and other city treatment chemicals
This helps your water feel better on your skin, taste better in your glass, and run better in your appliances.
Consider a Water Softener
Heavy rains can lead to a rise in hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium. A water softener helps stop scale buildup, keeps dishes cleaner, and helps appliances like your water heater and washing machine last longer.
How Else Can Kinetico Help?
For many, the quality of the water they drink is their highest concern. Kinetico offers reverse osmosis systems that are third-party certified to reduce more contaminants than other comparable systems. We also provide customizable RO systems, such as our Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® with VOC Guard.
The K5 Drinking Water Station with VOC Guard is a seven-stage reverse osmosis system featuring QuickFlo® technology that provides a constant flow of high-quality water whenever it is needed. Certified by the WQA to significantly reduce more than 50 volatile organic compounds from the water, the K5 also features an option to add our Purefecta® Guard FlexFiltration cartridge, which is WQA certified to significantly reduce up to 99.99% of viruses and bacteria from your drinking water. With the Purefecta® Guard added, the K5 Drinking Water Station is considered a microbiological purifier.
Let’s Make Your Water Better—Rain or Shine
Rain and runoff are a part of nature. But when it affects your water, it’s important to stay ahead of any possible issues. With the right water filtration or softening system, you can enjoy water that’s cleaner and purer every day, no matter what’s happening outside.
Ready to find out what’s in your water?
Schedule your free water test today.