Do You Know What Is In Tap Water?

Would you like to know what is in tap water?  You have to question the purity of tap water, these days.  It has probably been questionable for many years, but only recently have we learned about all of the health hazards that we are exposed to, every time we turn on a faucet. 

If you read the news, you probably already know what is in tap water.  But, let me recap some of the stories that I have read over the last year. 

Concerned about the purity of tap water, California sponsored research aimed at a volatile organic compound (VOC) called perchlorate.  High levels were found at over 800 sites around the country.  Perchlorate damages the thyroid gland, causing delayed growth in children and metabolic disorders in adults.   

The damage is not permanent, once exposure to the compound stops, the function typically returns to normal.  The Environmental Protection Agency oversees and regulates the purity of tap water in the US.  But, they have yet to set a safe limit for perchlorate.

Safe levels are difficult to determine, because it depends on a person’s weight and age.  If they set a level safe for a 175 pound adult, as they have with other chemicals, there is no protection for children.  That is the case with other chemicals that are regulated. 

What is in tap water, when it comes to other chemical contaminants?  You probably realize that your water is chlorinated.   It kills bacteria, a step designed not to ensure the purity of tap water, but to prevent waterborne illnesses. 

When your local facility tells you that the chlorine levels are safe, they are only talking about how much would be safe for a 175 pound adult to consume.  Children should not be drinking chlorinated water.  It can cause anemia and other health problems. 

Recent research in Barcelona revealed that byproducts of the chlorination process double a person’s risk of developing bladder cancer.  When it comes to what is in tap water, these byproducts carry some of the most well known risks.  Yet, most home purifiers don’t remove them.  They also don’t remove perchlorate. 

If you look at the performance data for Brita and PUR, you will see that they do not reduce THMs (chlorination byproducts) and they do not remove VOCs.  They are just not well-designed products.  

The purity of tap water is also reduced by prescription drugs, according to recent news reports.  And, if you think that bottled brands are the right choice, you should know that Dasani was recalled for high levels of a THM. 

Perrier was recalled for high levels of benzene, another carcinogen.  Recent studies by Consumer Reports showed that 80% of the bottles leach BPA and phthalates into the water stored within.  Those compounds affect the endocrine system, as they act like estrogen in the human body. 

You need an effective home water filter system in your kitchen and shower.  When you know what is in tap water, you have no other choice.

Buy an Aquasana Home Water Filter Today