Our water reservoirs have been subject to decades of abuse by industrial and agricultural plants. It is no surprise that water needs artificial treatment before it is even allowed to enter the pipes in residential areas. And so, if not for the hundreds of chemicals infused into our water, it would not even be remotely potable. But, if we are talking long-term, these chemicals pose various health threats that you have to be wary of:
Fluoride
Fluoride and chlorine are the most commonly known chemicals that reside in water. Aside from the toothpaste we use to keep our teeth enamel strong, our bodies interact with fluoride more frequently when we ingest water. Although it isn’t particularly harmful, excessive amounts of fluoride in our gastrointestinal tract could lead to so-called fluoride toxicity, which manifests itself through abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and erratic heartbeat, among other symptoms.
In the worst case, excessive fluoride exposure could lead to skeletal fluorosis or changes in the makeup of one’s bones. Skeletal fluorosis initially presents itself with lower back pain, stiffness, and clicking sounds when the limbs are moved. Later, it calculates ligaments with a chance of muscle impairment. Other complications that could develop with toxic levels of fluoride in the system include skin, cardiovascular, thyroid, fertility, and neurological issues.
Chlorine
On the other hand, chlorine is another chemical that has been extensively used in treating water both in residential spaces as well as commercial ones like pools and spas for its potency to neutralize waterborne bacteria and viruses. Despite the noble use of chlorine in water purification, the reaction that naturally occurs when chlorine atoms and those of water interact promotes the creation of Trihalomethanes (THMs). Excessive THMs in the body have been associated with the development of free radicals, which, in turn, leads to cell deterioration and even chronic diseases such as asthma, eczema, and cardiovascular disease. Studies also trace back various types of cancer to the consumption of water with high levels of chlorine.
Arsenic
The detrimental health effects of tap water have also been proven in a 2019 study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They discovered 22 carcinogens in tap water, which could potentially cause hundreds of thousands of cancer cases in a matter of a lifetime. Among these contaminants, arsenic, which is a common component of disinfectants, is notable for causing skin, bladder, and lung cancer.
How can you protect yourself from risks found in water?
Local lawmakers admit to the complications involved in making public water utilities the safest possible. For so long, we have long relied on the cost-efficient chemical treatment of water; doing away from the practice will not be a walk in the park. What is worth noting, however, is chemical exposure is already inevitable in this age. The least we can do to protect ourselves, at least when it comes to consuming water, are the following:
Install a Filtration System
These days, there is an abundance of ready-to-install filters in the market. Typically, these filters are infused with activated carbon that effectively eliminates select contaminants. The downside of these is their tendency to alter the water’s taste and, in some cases, its smell.
If you are somewhat not satisfied with the water quality these filters produce, there are commercial-grade filtration systems that have been made accessible to the market. The most common type involves reverse osmosis technology that effectively removes nitrates, sodium, fluoride, pesticides, chloride, and petroleum byproducts. On the other hand, the ion exchange type can filter out magnesium and calcium, but it makes the water hard in exchange. For this, a water-softening system can help.
Do Away with Plastic Containers
Your household might have gotten used to storing water in recycled plastic jugs and buckets in anticipation of water outages. While recycling and being ever preemptive is good, you can endanger yourself if you consume water that has been in these plastic containers for extended periods. By the time you decide to drink from these, chances are chemicals from the container would have diffused to the water already. You’d rather use glass containers, which are heavier and fragile but will otherwise pay off health-wise.
Don’t Forget the Pipes
Your water passes through pipes, so it only makes sense to check them for any leaks frequently. Moreover, it is worth noting that pipes are manufactured with lead, another toxic chemical. Even if your house’s pipes are lead-free, as indicated by its manufacturer, chances are they still have at least eight percent lead.
Now that you have your filtration system in place, you still need to be wary of lead content. You would want to allow the tap to run for a solid minute before proceeding to use it for either cooking or drinking.
It is worth knowing the harmful chemicals in our water, more so filtering most of it out before we drink the water that comes out of our taps. To maximize the benefits of your filtration system, ensure that it is regularly cleaned and maintained.
Meta title: Is Tap Water Potable?
meta desc: We use tap water regularly without much thought to its safety. Washing our hands and the dishes with it is generally acceptable, but drinking it remains to be the elephant in the room. Read on.
