Clean drinking water is a fundamental necessity. However, even properly treated tap water will not always be completely free of contaminants. This is because water utilities rarely have the technology (or means) to provide clean water through powerful filtration or distillation.
Instead, the goal is to remove as much contaminant as possible to minimize health hazards. Accidents and aging infrastructure also play a role. Luckily, you can find a wealth of information and resources on cleaning your water at home. So let's dive into how to learn about your water supply, some common contaminants, and what you can do to keep your home's drinking water cleaner.
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The Importance of Water Quality Reports
It is important to review your local water quality report to determine if you want to take additional steps with home filtration to further improve the quality of your drinking water.
Before I dive into the most common drinking water contaminants, I want to make it clear that this list does not necessarily mean that there are unsafe levels of a given contaminant in your area's drinking water. The easiest way to determine what's in your water is to look at your annual report. water quality report from your local water utility. Be sure to check out the EPA's handy guide to how to read them (PDF).
One thing you'll notice in these reports is that the rules set an ideal target, a maximum contaminant level, but recognize that water treatment technologies may not always deliver, so they provide a realistic standard, a maximum contaminant level.
Likewise, you can find home test kits at Safe Home And Easytest for about $30 or less. Both products can be tested for lead, bacteria and excess chlorine. (Most people lack the resources for professional water testing services.) If you use well water, it is recommended that you test it at least once a year.
6 Common Drinking Water Contaminants
Pulling back the curtain on what's in your drinking water may prompt you to invest in a water filter. (Even if it mostly involves indoor plants, like my Typhoon III reverse osmosis system.)
I asked Kyle Postmus, senior manager of the company's global water division NFS (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation) about contaminants that can bypass the water treatment process. “Although municipal water treatment systems are very effective at removing many contaminants, some contaminants may still make it through the treatment process.” Postmus also notes that location, age of infrastructure and source water quality influence the presence of contaminants.
He notes that testing and certification efforts from organizations like NSF help ensure the water treatment process is effective. “NSF certifies water treatment products to strict standards to ensure they perform as advertised, providing consumers with an independent guarantee of effectiveness.”
1. Presenter
Old lead pipes are the most common culprit behind toxic metals leaching into drinking water.
Lead usually enters after the cleanup process, as some cities still use outdated lead pipes, which can increase contamination. For example, Utah Lead Inventory notes that some of the cities where I live have lead pipes in their water systems. The ideal solution for lead removal is to replace aging water pipes, but the Environmental Protection Agency also offers several ways to reduce lead emissions. lead contamination:
- Buy a water filter that is certified to remove lead, such as our top pick. Zero water filter.
- Clean your faucet aerator regularly to remove sediment.
- Drink only cold water – hot tap water can hold more lead than cold water.
- Flush the pipes before drinking the water if it has been standing for an extended period. The easiest way to do this is to take a shower, wash dishes or wash clothes.
2. Microorganisms
Storms and floods can introduce dangerous microorganisms into drinking water sources.
Postmus says some resistant microorganisms may survive standard treatment. However, a more common source bacterial contamination Accidental sewage overflow, sometimes after a severe storm. In most cases, this type of contamination can be removed using boiling, filtering or disinfection your water.
In the case of Legionella, one of the most important steps is to set the water heater temperature to at least 140°F to prevent bacterial growth in the water heater. It also reduces the chance of bacteria growing where hot and cold water mixes, such as faucets. (Notably, the CDC reports that there is no single method can control legionella, so you will likely need additional disinfection and flushing measures if this becomes a problem in your home.)
3. New pollution
Many new contaminants come from products you use in your home and are not yet regulated by water treatment standards.
New pollution is a class of contaminants that Postmus says includes pharmaceuticals, personal care products and some industrial chemicals. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are prominent recent examples of emerging pollutants.
These types of pollutants may not yet be regulated, but the Safe Drinking Water Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate candidate pollutants every few years. If you want to remove them from your drinking water, look for NSF's water filter certification program for emerging contaminants – NSF/ANSI 401. Water filter brands such as water drop And Aquasana are a good starting point.
4. Volatile organic compounds.
You can find VOCs in tons of products such as gasoline, adhesives, solvents, and cleaning chemicals.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a type of chemical that dissolves easily in water (hence the word “volatile”) and is typically the source of the odors (and tastes) we associate with chemicals. The main source of VOCs such as trihalomethanes is the water treatment process itself, as many of them are minor byproducts of the disinfection process. Luckily, a properly functioning water treatment plant performs stringent tests to ensure no VOCs make it into your tap. Chemical spills are also common sources of VOCs in drinking water because they can contaminate groundwater.
Activated carbon filters such as Rorra Countertop Filtration System Used by CNET Managing Editor David Watsky, these are an excellent means of removing VOCs from water.
5. Chlorine and chloramine
Properly treated water is safe for humans, but those with pets may want to consider using a filter that removes trace amounts of chlorine or chloramines.
These disinfectants (which don't actually fall under the VOC category) are generally not harmful to humans in properly treated water, but they are not good for water-dwelling pets such as fish, turtles, and frogs. If you have such pets, it is recommended to remove chloramines from your water.
Reverse osmosis filtration is a mainstay for aquarium hobbyists, but you can also find chloramine removers at the pet store. As for chlorine, just leave it for a few days and it will eventually evaporate from the water.
Water purification at home
The quality of water at home can be easily improved with the help of a suitable water filter.
Postmus recommends that consumers look for an NSF-certified water filter to combat specific contaminants. “NSF-certified water filters undergo rigorous third-party testing to ensure they perform as stated by the manufacturer, are safe to use, and do not leak. For convenience, consumers can check NSF Product Listing Page which lists all NSF certified water filters.”
One reason to check the certification page is to verify the manufacturer's claims and ensure that the filter will work as expected. “This is a crucial step when it comes to something as important to your health as water.”
Most of the best CNET tested water filter jugs And filtered water bottles NSF/ANSI certified; however, you can also find refrigerator filters and whole-house filtration systems that meet the same standards.
