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Drinking water testing is something that can be done in the home. In some cases, especially where specific contaminants are present, it is a good idea to have the tests conducted. In most cases, however, we know which contaminants are the big problems. Chlorine and THMs are the main problems in households serviced by public treatment facilities. Chlorine or the newer chloramines are used to kill bacteria and other forms of life. THMs are byproducts created when anything is used to disinfect public supplies. They chemicals do not kill people at the concentrations normally present in tap-water, but they do cause health problems. The chemicals are irritants to the eyes, skin and respiratory system. They may cause irritation of the digestive tract when consumed. Problems with diarrhea or constipation could be due to consumption of chlorine or chloramines. Both are corrosives. They damage faucets, fixtures and pipelines. You can only imagine what they are doing to the inside of your body. Finally, consumption of chlorine and its derivatives is known to cause anemia in children. It could cause problems for smaller adults as well. The maximum-safe-level in the US is based on what would be safe for a 180 pound adult. If you weigh less, you are not safe. Drinking water testing conducted by public treatment facilities on a regular basis shows the level of chloramines and THMs in areas of the US. The tests for THMs are conducted, because they are known carcinogens; they cause cancer. The level of THMs in your home cannot be determined by tests conducted at the facilities, nor can they be determined by sending a sample to a lab. THMs are airborne chemicals. It is in the air that they cause the most problems. For example, the amount in the air of a bathroom is particularly high after a hot shower. One research group reported that the drinking water testing conducted by facilities to determine the THM content is completely inaccurate, because of the temperature. The concentration of the chemicals in the air increases by as much 400% when the water is heated. There are hundreds of other contaminants that could be present in a sample of your own tap-water. A laboratory would charge thousands of dollars to test for all of them. The most cost-effective solution is to install a good water purifier in your home. Almost all of them remove chlorine, except for reverse osmosis, which is ineffective against any kind of chemical. Only the better brands remove chlorine, chloramines and THMs. While drinking water testing in your home could reveal other contaminants, there is little doubt that THMs are present. 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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