What’s in your water?

According to the National Defense Council, contaminated water sickens about seven million Americans annually. There are several causes for he contamination such as urban and agricultural development around reservoirs, manure runoff from livestock facilities, pesticides from farms, roadway oil and dirt, salt, and landfill runoff. Water supplies have been known to contain bacteria like E.coli. As has been in the news, a May 2002 study by the U.S. Geological Survey of the nation’s stream water found chemicals in public water supplies that exist in drugs, detergents, disinfectants, insect repellents, plastics, and personal care products. Common pollutants in reservoirs include the following (warning: this is not pleasant):

- Arsenic: Causes skin problems and bladder, lung, kidney, and skin cancer as well as damage to the heart and nervous system. 

- Trihalomethanes (THMs): These are chemicals formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter, such as animal waste, treated sewage, or leaves and soil. They can increase the risk of cancer and may damage the liver, kidneys, and nervous system; high levels can increase miscarriage rates and birth defects. 

-  Atrazine: This is a weed killer used on corn crops; can cause organ and cardiovascular damage and is a hormone disruptor. 

- Coliform Bacteria: The presence of this in water may indicate the presence of dangerous microbes such as Cryptosporidium, which can be life threatening in immune-weak individuals. 

- Lead: Can damage developing brains and nervous systems. Lead can enter into water through lead-containing pipes and in public water mains. 

Don’t let the list above entice you to only drink bottled water. The bottled water industry is exempt from the regulations tap water must abide by. There are no federal filtration or disinfection requirements placed on the bottled water industry. Despite the pollutants listed above, you have more control over knowing what’s in your tap water than what’s in bottled water. Read your local water report. You are entitled to a copy. Once you read it you will be more informed and can purchase a water filter right for you. Here are some filter options:

    1. Carbon Filters: the least expensive and quite effective at removing lead, chlorine by products, pesticides, heavy metals; does not remove     arsenic, fluoride, mercury, nitrates, bacteria, or sediments. Think Brita faucet and fridge filtration (not pitcher). 

    2. Ceramic Filters: Combine with carbon filters to remove bacteria, cysts, asbestos, and sediments. 

    3. Faucet-Mounted Filters: Attach to sink faucet and change according to manufacturer’s instructions. Many brands offer this type. 

    4. Distillers: These filters boil water into steam and condense it in a separate chamber than the particles, chemicals, dissolved solids, and     fluoride (some people may not like that they dissolve fluoride). 

    5. Reverse-Osmosis Systems: They push water through a membrane and flush away a few gallons of contaminated water for every gallon of     purified water. These are very wasteful and expensive and do not remove radon, certain pesticides, or certain volatile organic compounds. 

    6. Ultraviolet Light Filters: Water passes through UV light and kills bacteria, viruses, molds, cysts, and other biological contaminates. This     should only be used as a supplement to filtration since it doesn’t remove heavy metals, chlorine or volatile organic compounds.