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Drinking water safety has to do with contaminants. There are thousands of different things that can contaminate surface and groundwater. Here’s a look at some of them and how they can be removed. Bacteria, Viruses and Other Pathogens Bacteria, viruses and other pathogens live primarily in surface sources, but they can be present in groundwater, too. Waterborne illnesses occur when the pathogens are consumed. In order to kill the pathogens, public treatment facilities typically use chlorine or chloramines. The chemicals are also used by people who own private wells. It is the least expensive way to deal with biological contamination. Lead Lead is a hazardous heavy metal that occurs naturally in groundwater because of deposits and rocks. It is also an unnatural contaminant present because it was used to solder pipelines until it was banned. The use of lead in pipelines might not have been dangerous were it not for chlorine and chloramines. The chemicals are caustic. They hasten the breakdown of soldered joints and eat away at drinking water faucets, increasing the risk of lead consumption. Lead is known to be toxic to the central nervous system. The most affordable and effective way to remove lead is through the use of ion exchange. Some of the better home purifiers include the step. Chlorine, Chloramines and THMs Although chlorine and chloramines are used to resolve one type of contamination, they are also contaminants. They spoil the taste and smell of the water. THMs are byproducts created when the chemicals interact with bacteria. Exposure to them through drinking and showering increases a person’s risk of cancer. Granular carbon and other filtering media can reduce chlorine, chloramines, THMs and many other chemicals by nearly 100%. The better home purifiers contain the necessary media. Cysts Cysts are parasites in an early stage of development. They are among the few illness-causing pathogens that are not killed by chemical disinfectants. They can only be filtered out. A home purifier certified to filter down to one micron or less is necessary to remove cysts. You can get this type of purifier and install it on your drinking water faucets. Public treatment facilities cannot make use of the step. It would reduce the flow rate and they would never be able to meet their production requirements. According to the US EPA, cysts could be present at any time. Testing for them frequently is not feasible. It is up to the consumer (you) to take the necessary steps for protection. So, you see, you can do more to ensure your drinking water safety than the public treatment facilities can do. Be sure to do some comparative shopping before you buy a home purifier. The quality and prices vary greatly. Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Water Purification Systems. Visit his website now at Water-Safe-And-Pure.com to discover which Water Purification Systems Gordon recommends after far ranging comparisons.
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