Top 5 Water Contaminants In Most US Homes
Top 5 Water Contaminants In Most US Homes
Just because your water is clear doesn't mean it's clean. So you might be asking yourself, "What is in my water?" Good question.
What is in water varies across the United States by state, city, neighborhood, and even individual homes. Chances are your neighbor's water and your water will test different.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is responsible for providing a high-quality standard for drinking water in the United States. But did you know that the EPA is only responsible for the water up to the point it leaves the water treatment facilities? Just because the EPA deems the water safe doesn’t mean it tastes or smells good; and depending on your family’s overall health, the EPA standards might not be good enough.
The top 5 water contaminants we see in home tap water are:
Chlorine:
The EPA allows up to 4 mg/L of chlorine in your drinking water. This is more than the recommended chlorine levels for a swimming pool. Yikes. Although chlorine is used to disinfect municipal water, it can alter the taste and odor of your drinking water.
Chloramine:
The EPA allows up to 4 mg/L of chloramine in your drinking water. Chloramine is an alternative disinfectant to chlorine. Chloramine is formed when ammonia is added to chlorine to treat drinking water. While this disinfectant is effective, it may also wreak havoc on people with sensitive skin. If you recently moved into a home and now have skin irritations, it might be time to test your water.
Iron:
The EPA allows up to 0.3 mg/L of iron in your drinking water. Although iron is not hazardous to your health, it can cause a visible change in your water. If you have ever noticed that your drinking water is cloudy and has a reddish color to it, then there is a high chance your water contains sediment.
Cysts:
Bacteria produces microbial cysts that typically enter the water through sewage drains, rivers, and lakes. Cysts can be resistant to disinfectants that are added to water during the treatment process. The most common waterborne cysts found in tap water are cryptosporidium and giardia, both causing infections in the lining of the intestines.
Disinfection Byproducts:
Disinfection byproducts (DBP) happens when naturally occurring compounds in the water react with disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramines. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for several DBPs such as: bromate, chlorite, haloacetic acids (HAA5), and total trihalomethanes (TTHM). According to the EPA, some people who drink water containing TTHM or HAA5 above the established maximum contaminant level, overtime may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of cancer.
Better Than "Good Enough":
The EPA is continuing to reevaluate its current regulations on all contaminants permissible in drinking water across the United States. As the EPA continues researching, there is a way you can be sure your tap water is better than "good enough.
The first step is to determine what is in your water, second is to purchase the necessary products to remove those contaminants and make your home healthier and safer.
Your home deserves to have great water, safe water, contamination-free water. With Dupure’s expertise, we can help you make sure your water is better than "good enough" and guide you towards a happier, safer home.
Find out how clean your water is (or isn’t) with our Free Water Assessment, and learn more about the Dupure water filtration, conditioning and softening systems that will help you make your house a safer, healthier home.What's In Your Water?