Common Tap Water Contaminants: Everyone's Concerns

Tap water is a vital resource for our daily lives, and we use it for everything from drinking and cooking to cleaning and bathing. However, water contaminants are a major concern for families around the world because they can affect people's health. Understanding these common contaminants and knowing how to treat them can help ensure that your water is safe for all household uses.

 

1. Heavy Metals

Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium are the most dangerous contaminants found in tap water. Lead, in particular, can seep into the water from older plumbing systems, while mercury and cadmium can come from industrial wastewater. Long-term exposure to heavy metals can cause harm and may lead to neurological, kidney, and developmental problems.

Prevention Tip: Use a high-quality filter, such as a reverse osmosis (RO) system, which can effectively remove heavy metals from water.

2. Chlorine and Chloramines

Chlorine is widely used in water treatment to kill harmful microorganisms, but when it interacts with organic matter, it produces byproducts such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids, both of which are potential carcinogens. Chloramines, a mixture of chlorine and ammonia, are sometimes used and produce similar byproducts that may affect the taste and safety of water.

Prevention Tips: Activated carbon filters are an excellent solution for reducing chlorine and chloramine levels, improving taste and safety.

3. Microorganisms and Pathogens

Waterborne bacteria, viruses, and parasites pose a direct threat to health and can cause gastrointestinal illness. Contaminants such as E. coli, Giardia, and Legionella are of particular concern and can enter the water supply through problems such as sewage overflows or poor maintenance of water infrastructure.

Prevention Tips: UV filtration systems or multi-stage filtration systems, such as the Ecoviva WP-RO MATE4 model, which has UV disinfection capabilities. Can effectively target and neutralize these microorganisms, making the water safer.

4. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)

Drugs and chemicals from personal care products are increasingly being detected in water sources due to improper treatment and wastewater runoff. Even low concentrations of these contaminants may have unknown health effects over time because their presence in drinking water has not been widely studied.

Prevention Tip: Reverse osmosis systems, such as those offered by Ecoviva, can filter out many emerging contaminants, giving you peace of mind that your drinking water is purer.

5. Pesticides and Herbicides

Agricultural runoff often introduces pesticides and herbicides into local water supplies. These chemicals are designed to kill insects and plants, but their presence in drinking water is a risk to humans because they can interfere with hormonal balance and pose other health risks, especially to children.

Prevention Tip: Carbon filtration systems can help reduce pesticide levels in tap water, and combined with reverse osmosis systems, can remove a wider range of contaminants.

6. Nitrates and Nitrites

Nitrates and nitrites are often the product of agricultural and industrial wastewater, and they can enter water supplies through fertilizers and animal waste. These contaminants are particularly dangerous to infants and pregnant women because they can interfere with the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to conditions such as methemoglobinemia or "blue baby syndrome."

Prevention Tip: RO systems are effective at reducing nitrates and nitrites, making them a valuable solution for homes with vulnerable populations, such as infants or those with special health issues.

7. Fluoride

Fluoride is added to many municipal water supplies to promote dental health, but there is growing debate about its benefits versus potential risks. While fluoride is safe in small doses, long-term excessive intake can lead to dental fluorosis and even skeletal fluorosis.

Prevention Tip: For those who wish to limit fluoride, reverse osmosis is one of the few filtration methods that can effectively remove fluoride from tap water.

Ensure Your Home’s Drinking Water is Safe

Understanding common tap water contaminants can help you make an informed decision about choosing the right water filtration system for your home. A combination of activated carbon and reverse osmosis filtration, like the one found in Ecoviva under-sink and countertop filters, is often the most effective way to treat a wide range of contaminants. Testing your water regularly and investing in a reliable filtration solution can help provide safer, cleaner water for everyone in your home.