What’s in Your Water?
Do you know what’s in your water? There’s good reason why you should filter your water but most people haven’t given a second thought to what’s in their glass. Although there are federal regulations meant to keep our drinking water clean, there is more than meets the eye.
Keep on reading if you’re curious to know about the chemical contaminants lurking in your tap, and why you should filter your water.
Contaminants in Tap Water
It is well known that there are toxins in tap water.
That’s why the EPA regulates 90 chemical contaminants under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Water utility companies are supposed to maintain the quality of their water within these safety parameters.
Some of the chemicals found in tap water are those like chlorine that are added to kill viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Other contaminants end up in the water from agricultural fields that spray crops. They also come from industrial areas where there may be spills or surface contamination. These can range from pesticides, to lead, to arsenic.
However, even with EPA regulation, nearly 1 in 4 people are drinking contaminated water in the US
This is according to the National Resource Defense Council, where there are reports of over 80,000 violations to the Safe Drinking Water Act. These numbers add up close to 77 million affected people (1).
These known contaminants are linked to many health issues
Why You Should Filter Your Water
The EPA regulates 90 chemicals in your water. However, there are actually hundreds of chemicals that can be found in drinking water that the EPA does not regulate. These include PFAS, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and personal care products like sunscreen. If it doesn’t fall under those 90 contaminants, water authorities don’t need to test for or report the presence of those chemicals.
For example, the EPA put out a health advisory in June 2022 regarding the presence of PFAS chemicals in drinking water. They found that negative health effects can occur in concentrations of PFAS in water that are near zero. Even still, they have decided not to update regulations to safeguard exposure to PFAS (3). This. This is why you should filter your water.
The same goes for perchlorate, a chemical found in rocket fuel, which is found in over 26 states but is not included in the Safe Drinking Water Act (2).
To summarize, just because it isn’t included in the Safe Drinking Water Act, don’t think it isn’t in your water, and don’t assume it’s safe to be there.
How Do I Know What’s In My Tap Water?
Some local water utility companies provide an annual water quality report that is accessible to consumers. This is a free resource and a great start to see if the water in your zip code meets EPA guidelines.
However, getting your water tested is the most comprehensive way to know what’s in it.
My Tap Score provides independent lab testing for water contaminants. All you have to do is collect a sample, ship it to the lab, and they will provide a personal score and contaminant breakdown for your water, as well as treatment recommendations.
Use a Water Filter to Reduce Contaminants
It’s best to test your water so you know what contaminants you need to worry about removing. However, don’t forgo getting a water filter just because you aren’t able to test your water at this time.
There are many different types of water filters on the market including
- Countertop
- Under the sink
- Whole House
A simple Brita is not enough to filter out most contaminants. Instead, look for a brand that is NSF Certified to remove specific contaminants. Having this certification means the company’s claims are true and that the filter actually does what it says, while not adding any additional contaminants to your water.
An affordable option is something like the Aquasana Two Stage Under Sink water filter. It removes up to 99% of over 77 chemicals, including PFAS.
It is NSF certified to reduce chlorine, contaminants with health effects, as well as emerging chemicals that aren’t yet regulated by the EPA.
It installs easily under your sink and you install a dedicated faucet for the filtered water.
Conclusion
Hopefully you’ve taken three things from this post.
- There are known contaminants in your water that are both regulated and unregulated, and your tap water may not actually meet federal guidelines
- Test your tap water! Or at the very least, check out the water quality report from your utility company if you use public water.
- Lastly, use a water filter!
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References:
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