The Dangers of Drinking Brackish Water

Most people know that drinking saltwater is dangerous because it can lead to dehydration. However, there shouldn’t be much harm in drinking brackish water, right? After all, it contains much less salt than saltwater.

Unfortunately, warm brackish water is quite dangerous, too. In many cases, it is home to a number of harmful bacteria like V. vulnificus, a “flesh-eating” bacterium that caused havoc in Florida in 2013. Other strains that may be found in brackish water include E. coli and Salmonella.

“But what if I boil the water”, you might be wondering. Although boiling water will kill most bacteria, parasites, and viruses, certain strains may survive through this process. In any case, there’s also the matter of chemical contaminants like sodium, copper, and lead that remain in the water even after boiling.

If you live or work in an area where brackish water is mostly the only water supply available, you may want to consider installing a reverse osmosis filtration system in your home or workplace. The system uses a combination of water pressure and a semi-permeable membrane to separate harmful substances from water. As a result, water that comes out the tap is cleaner and safer for human consumption, as well as for other uses, such as for agricultural irrigation systems.