Safe, quality drinking water is not a given, even in countries with historically reliable systems. Incidents of pollution entering water systems from faulty pipes, bacterial contamination and companies dumping chemicals in water are littered throughout our country’s history, and everyone should think seriously about water quality. The source of the contamination is likely to come from indoors, too, especially in older homes with lead or asbestos pipes.
Before we get into common drinking water contaminants, I want to clarify that this list does not indicate unsafe levels of any contaminants that are present in your local drinking water. The easiest way to determine what is in your water is to review the annual water quality report from your local authority. Don’t forget to check out the EPA’s handy guide to reading them (PDF).
It is important to review your local water quality report so you can decide if you want to take additional filtration measures at home to improve your drinking water.
One thing you will notice in these reports is that the regulations set a reasonable goal, a goal of a high pollution level, but note that water treatment technology cannot always deliver, so they give a realistic level, a high level of pollution.
The biggest myth about tap water, according to experts
Experts have talked about identified toxins that may be in your tap water.
According to the water scientist Dr. Eric Roy, the biggest misconception about tap water is that just because it looks, smells, and tastes clean, it’s clean. Some of the most harmless contaminants, such as the products of disinfectants in medical facilities, are the ones that affect taste and smell the most, while others, including lead, which can have a major impact on your health, cannot be detected by the human senses at all.
The moral of the story? Clean drinking water is not provided, and relying on your senses and a little wishful thinking is no protection against potential problems. Learning what’s in your water and managing it properly is the most sensible course of action.
Lab tests and Tap Score tests show you where the problems are in your tap water.
To arm yourself with useful information, you can have your water tested by a reliable water lab, such as Tap Resultfor about $300 and get a detailed explanation of what’s in your water and how it can affect your health.
Similarly, you can buy home test kits from them Safe Home again easytest for about $30 or less. Both home kits test for lead, bacteria, and excess chlorine. (Most people lack the services of a professional water tester.) If you use well water, it’s a good idea to test it at least once a year.
5 common pollution of drinking water
Pulling back the curtain on what’s in your drinking water may inspire you to invest in a water filter. (Even if it’s for houseplants, like my Typhoon III reverse osmosis system.)
I asked Kyle Postmus, senior manager of the Global Water Division at NSF (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation), about air pollutants that can pass through the water treatment process. “Although municipal water treatment systems are very effective at removing most pollutants, some pollutants can still make it through the treatment process.” Postmus also points out that location, age of infrastructure and quality of well water all affect the presence of contaminants.
He notes that the testing and certification work of organizations like NSF helps ensure the effectiveness of the water treatment process. “NSF certifies water treatment products against rigorous standards to ensure they perform as claimed, providing consumers with independent assurance of effectiveness.”
1. To lead
Old lead pipes are the most common cause of toxic metal contamination in drinking water.
Lead usually sneaks in after the treatment process because some cities still use outdated lead pipes, which can increase contamination. For example, the Utah Lead Inventory notes that some cities where I live list lead pipes in their water systems. The ideal solution for removing lead is to replace outdated water pipes, but the EPA also suggests several ways to reduce lead contamination:
- Buy a water filter certified for lead removal, like our top pick, i Zero water filter.
- Regularly clean your faucet’s aerator to remove sediment.
- Drink only cold water — hot tap water can contain more lead than cold water.
- Clean your pipes before drinking water if it has been standing for a long time. The easiest way to do this is to shower, wash dishes or do laundry.
2. Viruses
Storms and floods can cause harmful microorganisms to enter drinking water.
Postmus says some resistant microorganisms may survive conventional treatment. However, the most common source of bacterial contamination is accidental sewage overflows, sometimes after a major storm. In most cases, you can remove this type of contamination by boiling, filtering or disinfecting your water.
For Legionella, one of the most important steps is to set your water heater to at least 140°F to prevent bacteria from growing. This also reduces the chance of bacterial growth where hot and cold water meet, such as in a faucet. (Notably, the CDC says there’s no single way to control Legionella, so you’ll likely need additional disinfection and disinfection measures if it becomes a problem in your home.)
3. Emerging impurities
Much of the pollution that emerges comes from products you use at home and is not yet regulated by water treatment standards.
Emerging Pollution is a category of pollution that Postmus says includes pharmaceuticals, personal care products and certain industrial chemicals. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recent notable examples of emerging pollutants.
These contaminants may not be regulated yet, but the Safe Drinking Water Act requires the EPA to test the contaminants every few years. Check out NSF’s water filter certification program for emerging contaminants — NSF/ANSI 401 — if you want to remove them from drinking water. Water filter brand like A drop of water again Aquasana they are a good start.
4. Volatile organic compounds
You can find VOCs in a ton of products like gasoline, adhesives, solvents and cleaning chemicals.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a type of chemical that dissolves easily in water — hence the word volatile — and is often the source of odors (and flavors) that we associate with chemicals. The main source of VOCs, such as trihalomethanes, is the water treatment process itself, as many are by-products of disinfection. Fortunately, a good water treatment plant uses rigorous testing to make sure VOCs are coming out of your faucet. Chemical spills are also common sources of VOCs in drinking water, as they can contaminate groundwater.
Activated carbon filters, such as AquaTru Carafe reverse osmosis filter or Rorra countertop filter systemthey are excellent tools for removing VOCs from water.
5. Chlorine and chloramine
Properly treated water is safe for humans but those with pets may want to consider a filter that removes small amounts of chlorine or chloramines.
These disinfectants (which don’t really fall under the VOC umbrella) rarely harm humans in properly treated water, but they are not good for aquatic pets like fish, turtles, and frogs. If you have these types of pets, it’s a good idea to treat the water to remove chloramines.
Reverse osmosis filtration is a staple for aquarium enthusiasts but you can also find chloramine removal products at the pet store. With chlorine, just let it sit for a few days and it will eventually dissolve in the water.
Water purification at home
It is easy to improve water quality at home with the right type of water filter.
Postmus recommends that consumers look for an NSF-certified water filter to handle certain contaminants. “NSF certified water filters are rigorously tested to ensure that they perform according to the manufacturer’s claims and are safe to use and will not leak. For convenience, consumers can refer to the NSF Product List Page which lists all NSF certified water filters.”
One reason to check the certification page is to verify the manufacturer’s claims and ensure that the filter will work as intended. “This is an important step when it comes to something as important to your health as your water.”
Most of CNET’s most reviewed countertop water filterswater filter pitchers and filtered water bottles certified by NSF/ANSI; However, you can also find refrigerator filters and whole-home filter systems that meet the same standards.
