You turn on the tap, expecting a refreshing drink of water, but what comes out might not be as safe as you think. Tap water can contain all sorts of contaminants, from lead and arsenic to parasites and bacteria.
In fact, tap water is often purported as safe to drink. However, this isn’t often true due to heavy metals, bacterial composition, and more. It can be quite problematic.
In this blog post, we will discover is tap water safe to drink. We’ll also cover some common myths about drinking water safety!
So keep reading to ensure you understand water composition for utmost health and safety.
How Is Tap Water Produced & Delivered to Your Home?
Your tap water is produced at a water treatment plant. There, water from rivers, lakes, and groundwater is collected and treated to remove impurities like dirt, debris, and toxins. The treated water is then delivered to your home through a system of pipes.
Most tap water in the United States is not safe to drink. In fact, it must meet stringent safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, even though the EPA regulates drinking water quality, there are still contaminants that can slip through the cracks and end up in your tap water.
There are two main types of contaminants that can be found in your tap water: chemical and biological. Chemical contaminants include things like lead and arsenic, while biological contaminants include bacteria and viruses. Let’s take a closer look at each type of contaminant.
Is Tap Water Different All Over the World?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes! Depending on where you live, your tap water can vary greatly in quality.
In developing countries, for instance, water treatment facilities are often lacking, which means that the water coming out of the tap can be contaminated with all sorts of bacteria and viruses.
In developed countries like the United States, Canada, and Europe, water quality is much better. Although there are still contaminants present in tap water, treatment facilities are much better at removing them. This means that the water you drink from the tap in these countries is generally safe.
Chemical Contaminants in Tap Water: Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?
There are many different chemicals that can contaminate your tap water, but some of the most common are lead and arsenic. Certainly, there are other chemicals that are evident inside tap water.
So is tap water safe to drink, well, let’s find out?
Tap Water & Chlorine
The water inside your home is not safe to drink, but it can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses. To kill these pathogens, water treatment plants add chlorine to the water. Most of the chlorine is removed before the water reaches your home, but a small amount may remain.
High levels of chlorine in drinking water can cause problems like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. So, if you notice a strong chlorine smell in your tap water, you may want to let it sit for a few minutes to allow the chlorine to dissipate before drinking it.
Tap Water & Lead
Lead is a metal that can be found in many different places, including tap water. It can enter the water supply through corroded pipes or leaching from lead solder. Lead exposure can cause serious health problems, particularly for children and pregnant women.
To find out if your tap water contains lead, you can contact your local water utility or have your water tested by a certified lab. If lead is found in your water, there are a few things you can do to reduce your exposure, like using a filtration system or letting your water run for a minute before using it.
Tap Water & Arsenic
Arsenic is another metal that can be found in tap water. It can enter the water supply through runoff from agricultural and industrial sites, as well as leaching from rocks and minerals. Arsenic exposure has been linked to cancer, skin problems, and other health issues.
Furthermore, long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water can cause developmental problems in children. If you are concerned about arsenic in your tap water, you should consider a filtration system.
Tap Water & Mercury
Mercury is a metal that can be found in certain types of fish, as well as in some industrial wastewater. It can also enter the water supply through runoff from agricultural and industrial sites. Mercury exposure has been linked to developmental problems in children and neurological problems in adults.
Moreover, pregnant women and young children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury. If you are concerned about mercury in your tap water, you can have it tested by a certified lab.
Tap Water & Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that is added to water to help prevent tooth decay. It is also found naturally in some water supplies. While fluoride is safe at low levels, too much can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which causes problems with the teeth and bones.
However, the EPA has set a maximum contaminant level for fluoride in drinking water of four milligrams per liter. So, if you are concerned about fluoride in your tap water, it’s best that you ensure to find water without it.
Biological Contaminants in Tap Water
Biological contaminants are living organisms that can cause disease. Some of the most common biological contaminants are bacteria and viruses.
These are critically dangerous to our health and must be removed from all water sources to ensure utmost safety for the average water drinker, which is everybody.
Tap Water & Bacteria
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can be found in water, soil, and food. Some types of bacteria are harmless, while others can cause serious illness.
Certain types of bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella, can cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Other types of bacteria, like Legionella, can cause respiratory problems.
You’d be surprised how common bacterial contamination is in public water supplies. If it does not come from the source (filtration facilities), then it can certainly be leeched into the public water supply from the pipes and other points of interest.
Tap Water & Viruses
Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and can only be seen with a microscope. Like bacteria, some viruses can cause serious illness.
The most common type of virus found in water is the Norovirus, which is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in the United States. The Norovirus is highly contagious and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps.
To protect yourself from bacteria and viruses in tap water, you can use a water filter or boil to kill any harmful organisms.
In conclusion, there are a variety of things that can be found in tap water, including minerals, metals, and biological contaminants. While some of these are harmless, others can cause serious health problems.
What Types of Water Filters Exist?
There are a variety of water filters that can remove different contaminants from your water. However, not all of them serve the same purpose. Different contaminants require different filtration methods.
Below we will list all of the possible water filters in today’s day and age.
Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration
Reverse osmosis is a type of water filtration that uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants from water. Reverse osmosis can remove a variety of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and metals.
The downside of reverse osmosis is that it can be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, reverse osmosis systems require regular maintenance. Reverse osmosis water is quite common and you can purchase it from your local grocery store.
Activated Carbon Water Filtration
Activated carbon is a type of charcoal that has been treated to have a high surface area. This makes it ideal for water filtration because it can absorb contaminants.
Activated carbon filters can remove bacteria, viruses, and metals. However, they are not effective against all contaminants. Activated charcoal can also be used in supplementation form to negate the side effects of drinking water with bacteria.
Ultraviolet Water Filtration
Ultraviolet (UV) water filtration uses UV light to kill or inactivate pathogens. UV water filtration is effective against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
The downside of UV water filtration is that it does not remove contaminants from water. Additionally, UV filtration systems require regular maintenance and can be expensive. However, UV filtration that is water-tight only requires new bulbs, which don’t cost much.
Ion Exchange Water Filtration
Ion exchange is a type of water filtration that removes contaminants. It mostly removes metals and minerals. Most ion exchange filters have powerful magnets to assist the filtration process.
The downside of ion exchange is that it can be expensive and require regular maintenance. Additionally, ion exchange filters can remove beneficial minerals from water.
Distillation Water Filtration
Distillation is a type of water filtration that uses heat to evaporate water, leaving contaminants behind. Distillation can remove a variety of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and metals.
The downside of distillation is that it is a slow process and can be expensive. Additionally, distillation does not remove all contaminants from water.
Whole House Water Filtration
A whole house water filtration system is a type of water filtration that filters all the water coming into your home. Whole house water filtration systems can remove a variety of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and metals.
The downside of whole-house water filtration is that it can be expensive and require professional installation.
Well Water Filtration
Well water filtration is a type of water filtration that filters water from a well. Well water filtration systems can remove a variety of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and metals.
The downside of well water filtration is that it can be expensive and require professional installation.
Salt-free Water Softening
Salt-free water softening is a type of water filtration that removes minerals from hard water. Salt-free water softening can remove calcium, magnesium, and iron from your water.
The downside of salt-free water softening is that it does not remove all minerals from your water. Additionally, salt-free water softeners can be expensive.
Iron Filters for Well Water
Iron filters are a type of water filtration that removes iron from your water. Iron filters can remove all types of iron, including ferrous iron, ferric iron, and dissolved iron.
The downside of iron filters is that they can be expensive and require regular maintenance. Additionally, iron filters can unintentionally remove other beneficial minerals from your water.
Sulfur Filters for Well Water
Sulfur filters are a type of water filtration that removes sulfur from your water. Sulfur filters can remove all types of sulfur, including hydrogen sulfide, iron sulfide, and sulfur dioxide.
The downside of sulfur filters is that they can be expensive and require regular maintenance. Additionally, like iron filters, these can remove other minerals from your water.
Clean Tap Water Made Available to You
Now that you’ve finished, is tap water safe to drink? Well, it really depends on the situation.
For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates public drinking water in the United States. The EPA also sets national standards for contaminants that can be present in tap water. However, this doesn’t always mean that water matches the standards.
In order to ensure your water meets these standards and that you are taking your health, you should consider using a filtration system.
Get in touch with us now to find the right filtration that works for your water.