Avoid Tap Water Contamination

Avoid Tap Water Contamination

The average person should drink about three quarts of water a day. Most Americans assume that it is safe to drink tap water unless they have been specifically told not to drink it. But evidence is growing that drinking and bathing in tap water is not as safe as it seems.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates drinking water quality and has established maximum allowable levels of about 90 contaminants in water. Contamination can result from manufacturing processes, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and sewer overflows. Water contamination can lead to gastrointestinal problems, fertility issues, and neurological disorders.

Tap water contamination can affect you even when you are bathing. The chlorine compounds found in tap water are toxic when consumed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Research has shown that cancer risks associated with chlorinated water may be due more to bathing in it than drinking it.

The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to buy reverse osmosis water filter or reverse osmosis with deionization water system. The filter and water system remove contaminants, including lead, asbestos, nitrates, heavy metals, prescription medications, and volatile organic chemicals. You could also buy a vitamin C shower filter, which removes 99% of chlorine from the water. Another way to avoid tap water contamination during bathing is to take shorter showers and avoid super-hot showers. The cooler temperature will decrease the steam that can transport harmful, chlorinated vapor into your system.

About the Author