The Purity of Tap Water - What is in Tap Water?

The purity of tap water and just what is in tap water are questions more people are asking lately. We hear reports of how dangerous contaminants are being found in tap water. So it is natural to be concerned about these potential health threats. Let’s explore these questions and most importantly what can you do personally to protect your family’s health.What is in tap water and how dangerous are those impurities to your overall health and well being? Let’s look at the purity of tap water, in general. Specific contaminant levels vary by locality, but there are some hazards that all of us must deal with.Chlorine is in Tap WaterWhen asked what is in tap water, the most common answer is chlorine. Nearly everyone realizes that there is some amount of chlorine or other chemical disinfectants in their water, because they can smell and taste the chemical.Chlorination is a step taken by public treatment facilities to improve the purity of tap water. This step reduces the risk of waterborne illness caused by bacterial contaminants, while keeping the pipes clear of algae. Excessive algae would also negatively affect the taste of water, but poses no particular health concern.THMs - In Tap WaterWhen chlorine and bromine are used to improve the purity of tap water, byproducts, commonly referred to as THMs, are released. They are known carcinogens. People with chlorinated waters in their homes are more likely to develop colorectal and bladder cancer, than those who are not exposed to the chemicals.But, when it comes to cancer-causing chemicals, we have more to worry about than THMs. What is in tap water in many homes? There may be as many as 2000 different cancer-causing chemicals, including benzene, TCE, alachlor, Atrazine, lindane and VOCs.Lead - Found in Tap WaterThe purity of tap water is sometimes ruined by the presence of lead in the pipelines. Chlorine corrodes it and ions (tiny metallic particles) come floating into your glass. Exposure to lead through drinking is a problem in many older homes and is sometimes naturally present in groundwater.Over the course of one’s lifetime, the heavy metal builds up in the body causing multiple health problems, including nutritional deficiencies and high blood pressure What is in Tap Water? Parasites - Found in Tap %26 Bottled WaterTiny parasites in an early stage of development are referred to as cysts. If ingested they cause minor or major illnesses, depending on the health of the individual. They may also play a role in other health problems, including obesity and digestive disorders.Cysts affect the purity of tap water and that of bottled waters, as well. Public treatment facilities cannot remove them and many bottling companies do not take the necessary steps.The Solution for Tap Water PurityThe best solution is a multi-stage system that includes sub-micron particle filtration to remove cysts; ion exchange to remove lead; an adsorptive block to remove THMs, VOCs, and other cancer-causing chemicals; and granular carbon to remove chlorine.A product like that doesn’t have to be expensive. Currently you can purchase one direct from the manufacturer for about a hundred dollars. I found one (see resource box) that is an excellent, very efficient home filtration system that was also priced fairly.Don’t forget to filter what you cook with, since hazardous chemicals become airborne and cling to foods. Remember your shower, as well, since the chemicals can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin.If you take the necessary precautions, you won’t have to worry about what is in tap water. You’ll know that you and your family are safe. Hopefully this answers your questions as to what is in tap water and the purity of tap water. If you have more questions please feel free to ask me.

If you are still looking for a reverse osmosis water dispenser then you understand the importance of providing clean, contaminant-free water for the overall health and safety of your family. Reverse osmosis water filtering systems have become quite popular in recent years due to increasing awareness of our polluted water supplies. Drinking, cooking and bathing in highly chlorinated, chemically-contaminated water is something that families are increasingly unwilling to tolerate. But is reverse osmosis the best option when it comes to quality home water filtration? In order to answer this question you have to understand that reverse osmosis was initially developed for the printing and photo processing industries, which required de-mineralized water. Since this water treatment process could directly demonstrate its effectiveness by measuring the amount of total dissolved solids that were removed, it was believed that it could be adapted into a reverse osmosis water dispenser and marketed for in-home use. The problem is that this measurement of total dissolved solids (TDS) doesn’t include contaminant levels. This is because reverse osmosis water filtering systems are not effective at removing synthetic chemicals. The ineffectiveness of this water filtration system comes from the fact that the molecules that make up most synthetic chemicals are small enough to get through the porous reverse osmosis membrane and back into the water. And remember that TDS measurement? That measurement is made up of important minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium that this same membrane is responsible for stripping from the water. So if you’re pouring water from a reverse osmosis water dispenser you better have a carbon filter added to your system if you want to be sure that you’re getting rid of chemical toxins. And you might also want to add mineral supplements to your diet since you are no longer getting them, naturally, from your water. If you still want to consider a reverse osmosis water dispenser you might like to know that, in addition to the necessary carbon filter, you will need a diaphragmed storage tank. This is due to the fact that reverse osmosis water filtering systems produce less than one gallon per hour. You should also know that for every gallon of usable water that R.O. produces, 2 -3 gallons of water are wasted. You can recover this wasted water, but it will add another expense to this already costly, maintenance-intensive system. If you really want to provide clean, healthy water for your household, there are better options than a reverse osmosis water dispenser. Quality home water filtration that gives you confidence in the water you’re using to drink, cook and bathe is easy to find. All you have to do is look for systems that are based on multi-stage filtration. This type of system efficiently removes harmful chemicals like chlorine, pesticides and herbicides while leaving important trace minerals untouched. Convenient, affordable and easy-to-maintain multi-stage filtration systems are available as drinking water dispensers, shower dispensers and whole-house filtration systems. As a result, you get clean, HEALTHY water for all your household purposes. You can still get a reverse osmosis water dispenser, but the return on your investment in your family’s health may fall short of your expectations. Article written by Olivia Romero - “There are many reasons why we need clean, healthy water but there’s one that has to rank as the most important of all.” Visit http://www.cleancoolwater.com to find out what it is.