Drinking Water Treatment - What Are The Different Types of Contaminants Found In Drinking Water?

Did you know that all water has trace amounts of certain contaminants? Yes, even the bottled water that you think is totally pure can have small amounts of contaminants. Although they are not a risk to your health, there are about 90 different ones that can be present. The standards for these contaminants are set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Just to name a few that may be common in the water that you are drinking the following will give you a general idea of what they are and the effects they may have:

* Fecal Coliform, E coli - Bacteria that suggests the water supply is contaminated with animal or human waste. The effects are short term but may include diarrhea, nausea, headaches, and a variety of other symptoms

* Turbidity - Although this causes no illness by itself, it can contribute by keeping disinfecting agents from working and causing bacteria to grow in your water supply. The effects this can cause are nausea, cramps, headaches, and diarrhea.

* Cryptosporidium - This is a parasite that makes its way into lakes and other bodies of water through sewage. Animal waste is another method of contamination. A gastrointestinal problem called cryptosporidiosis is caused by drinking water that has been contaminated in this way. This disease can cause death in people who have weakened immune systems.

These contaminants are called microbes and are often the cause of mild to severe symptoms that can be recurring, as the exposure continues. Other types of contaminants are Radionuclides. These are certain radioactive minerals. They may give out a form of radiation that is called alpha radiation, which over a period of several years could cause cancer. We have all heard of radon, as a gas that can be in our homes. However, it can also gather in wells. Long term exposure can result in cancer.

Solutions

We know the risk is there for many different types of elements that can cause sickness, disease, and death, so what do we do about them. One thing that can be done initially is to have your water tested. Find out what exactly is in it and if it is unsafe to drink. The health department in your area will test your water for free.

If your water is found to contain anything that can be a serious risk to your health, stop using this water immediately. A solution must be found that can make the water safe to drink.

Boiling your water is one way of making sure that there are no harmful contaminants in it. This is used a lot in areas where hurricanes or bad weather occurs that could have a harmful effect on people's water supplies. The ground water may become unsafe due to contaminants being washed into it during major storms.

A good filter that is attached to your sink will work to remove any harmful contaminants. The use of charcoal filters is especially good. A reverse osmosis treatment system can take out solids as well as contaminants that are invisible to the naked eye.

Treatment with chlorine has been effective although it may irritate certain people. Replacing your brass, lead or copper pipes with PVC pipe can reduce the risk of lead in your home water system.