Something in the Water: Dangerous Contaminants

Water is an essential part of life. Though one doesn’t actually need to drink eight glasses a day, you will need to drink pure water. Most people, however, aren’t aware of what’s in the water they’re drinking. Here are a few of the contaminants that can be found in water.

• Metal. One of the problems with pumping water through metal piping is that, eventually, natural corrosion would result in the interior materials of the pipe to dissolve into the water. This can be very problematic if the piping is composed of lead; odorless and tasteless, ingesting considerable amounts of lead can lead to kidney diseases and stunted development. Other contaminant metals that may be present in water are copper, mercury, and barium.
• Bacteria. Diseases have multiple vectors—and these include drinking water. If your drinking water comes from a contaminated water source, you may end up getting sick. A lot of these waterborne diseases affect the digestive system and can be quite life-threatening (e.g. Legionnaire’s disease).
• Chemicals. Chemicals can leak into your water. An excellent example would be fertilizers and pesticides. When the rain washes these away from crops they end up in rivers and streams; therefore, anyone or anything drinking untreated water could take in such harmful chemicals.

This is why you’ll want a filtration system installed for your home. An excellent example would be a reverse osmosis filtration system, which is one of the more cost-effective options. Have one installed to ensure that you’re only drinking clean and safe water.