Do We Have To Drink The Chemicals In Tap Water?

We know about the chemicals in tap water.  We know that environmentalists want us to drink tap water, because the plastic bottles are a major source of pollution and for several other reasons.  So, what do we do?

It isn’t just that the chemicals in tap water are bad for our health; things like chlorine taste bad, too.  So, it isn’t surprising that the bottled water industry has continued to grow by leaps and bounds, even though the industry is plagued with bad press, legal action, community complaints and environmental issues.

We are encouraged by environmental groups and public officials to drink tap water more often, choose bottled water less.  But, how can you even allow your pets to drink tap water?  It gives them diarrhea, aggravates their digestive tracts and one of the chemicals in tap water causes hypothyroidism, a common condition in spaniels, terriers and other breeds.

Luckily, we have a choice.  There are numerous affordable and effective purifiers on the market.  If you choose the right one, the taste is excellent and the contaminant removal is certified by Underwriter’s Laboratory and other regulating authorities.

What are the hazards associated with the common chemical contaminants?  Briefly, I’ll cover those here.

• Bromate, chloroform and other THMs are byproducts of the public disinfection processes.  Exposure doubles your risk of bladder cancer.  High bromate content forced the recall of Dasani drinking water in the UK.
• Perchlorate is a naturally occurring compound known as a VOC.  It is also an element of rocket fuel.  It has been found at over 800 test sites across the US.  It causes dysfunction of the thyroid gland.
• Benzene is an industrial solvent and common water pollutant.  Its presence forced the recall of Perrier, several years back.  It’s a known carcinogen.

• Lindane is a bug killer, found in numerous homes and offices during the same study where Atrazine was identified.  It is also a carcinogen.

So, if you drink tap water that is unfiltered, you see that you are increasing your risk of cancer with every sip.  But, many systems do not remove all of the chemicals in tap water.  PUR and Brita for example, according to their product performance data, do not remove THMs or VOCs.  PUR does not have the filtering media necessary to remove benzene either.

But, you can drink tap water safely with a device that includes various filtering media to remove the widest range of contaminants.  Remember that many of these compounds become airborne in the shower and are absorbed through the skin, so a shower filter is also a good idea.  My favorite brand has a package deal right now, when you buy both.

So, we don’t have to worry about the <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.home-water-filter-site.com">chemicals in tap water</a> and we don’t have to buy bottled.  We have choices.