There is no such thing as naturally
pure water. In nature, all water contains some impurities. As water flows in
streams, sits in lakes, and filters through layers of soil and rock in the
ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances that it touches. Some of these
substances are harmless. In fact, some people prefer mineral water precisely
because minerals give it an appealing taste. However, at certain levels
minerals, just like man-made chemicals, are considered contaminants that can
make water unpalatable or even unsafe.
|
 |
|
Some contaminants come from erosion of
natural rock formations. Other contaminants are substances discharged from
factories, applied to farmlands, or used by consumers in their homes and
gardens. Sources of contaminants might be in your neighborhood or might be many
miles away. Your local water quality report tells which contaminants are in
your drinking water, the levels at which they were found, and the actual or
likely source of each contaminant.
"The one thing we know for sure about toxins in our drinking water, is that the
more we look... the more we find."
Jacquelyn Warren, Council for the Natural Resources Defense Council
"35% of the reported gastrointestinal illnesses among tap water drinkers were
water related and preventable."
Center For Disease Control Researchers
"Weed killers were found in tap water of 28 out of 29 cities tested... the
results of these tests reveal widespread contamination of tap water with many
different pesticides at levels that present serious health risks... we estimate
that 45,000 infants in these 29 cities drank infant formula reconstituted with
tap water contaminated with multiple weed killers."
Environmental Working Group report, "Weed Killers By The Glass" in USA
"Each year in the U.S., lead in drinking water contributes to 480,000 cases of
learning disorders in children and 560,000 cases of hypertension in adult
males."
U.S. EPA Report summary.
Research helps scientists determine toxic doses and levels below which toxic
effects are not observed. For noncancer-causing toxic substances, scientists
use "acceptable daily intake" to estimate risk. The acceptable daily intake is
the amount of a contaminant or toxic substance that humans can consume daily
for a lifetime without any known ill effects. It includes a margin of safety.
For a cancer-causing substance, no safe level has been set. Toxicity is
estimated by calculating a risk estimate, or the concentration of a substance
that presents the least acceptable risk. In the case of cancer-causing toxins,
regulations are based on a level of risk that is acceptable, not a safe amount
or concentration of a substance.
|
|
|
Four Groups of Contaminants
Microbial Pathogens.
Pathogens in drinking water are serious health risks. Pathogens are
disease-producing micro-organisms, which include bacteria (such as giardia
lamblia), viruses, and parasites. They get into drinking water when the water
source is contaminated by sewage and animal waste, or when wells are improperly
sealed and constructed. They can cause gastroenteritis, salmonella infection,
dysentery, shigellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis (a gastrointestinal infection
causing diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas). The presence of coliform
bacteria, which is generally a harmless bacteria, may indicate other
contamination to the drinking water system.
|
|
|
|
|
Organics. People
worry the most about potentially toxic chemicals and metals in water. Only a
few of the toxic organic chemicals that occur drinking water are regulated by
drinking water standards.
This group of contaminants includes:
• Trihalomthanes (THMs), which are formed when chlorine in treated
drinking water
combines with naturally occurring organic matter.
• Pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.
• Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), which include solvents, degreasers,
adhesives, gasoline additives, and fuels additives. Some of the common VOCs
are: benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), styrene, toluene, and vinyl chloride.
Possible chronic health effects include cancer, central nervous system
disorders, liver and kidney damage, reproductive disorders, and birth defects.
|
|
|
|
|
Inorganics.
These contaminants include toxic metals like arsenic, barium, chromium, lead,
mercury, and silver. These metals can get into your drinking water from natural
sources, industrial processes, and the materials used in your plumbing system.
Toxic metals are regulated in public water supplies because they can cause
acute poisoning, cancer, and other health effects.
Nitrate is another inorganic contaminant. The nitrate in mineral deposits,
fertilizers, sewage, and animal wastes can contaminate water. Nitrate has been
associated with "blue baby syndrome" in infants.
|
|
|
|
|
Radioactive Elements.
Radon is a radioactive contaminant that results from the decay of uranium in
soils and rocks. It is usually more of a health concern when it enters a home
as a soil gas than when it occurs in water supplies. Radon in air is associated
with lung cancer.
|
|
|
|
|
What we recommend you do
As with all things we recommend you take a proactive approach and find out
what’s in your drinking water. Talk with us about getting you water
tested, this is the only way to really know what we need to remove or treat.
Town water suppliers i.e. councils should provide you with the latest water
test data for your area if you ask them.
Tank water users need to get bacterial and e-coli test done to confirm presence
of coliforms and e-coli. We can arrange this for you ring 0800 787 392 or
email.
Bore/surface waters, these all differ so getting the water tested is very
important. Again we can organize a bacterial and chemical test done for you
ring 0800 787 392 or
email.
We are Steve Reynolds and Greg Morgan and we fix your water problems.
|
|
|
|
back
to top
