If your water tastes or smells really bad, the last thing you want to do is
drink it. Even if it tastes and smells fine that doesn't mean you have contaminant-free for drinking.
Water contaminates, both microbial and
organic can be in your water for many
years and will not always be detected. In many cases, people have no idea their water is contaminated until
people in the community start coming down with illnesses. Water that is located near agricultural areas may
contain harmful organic materials from pesticides and/or fertilizers. These pollutants can lead to cancer and
reproductive issues. They can damage your eyes, liver, kidneys, and other body functions. Similar issues have
been detected in water located near industrial plants.
Different Kinds of Water Contaminants
There are many chemical, physical, biological, and radiological substances
in the water. It can be anything in water that is not a water molecule.
Physical Contaminants
Physical contaminants can have a major impact on the physical appearance or
other physical properties of water. Physical contaminants are soil or organic material including algae.
Chemical Contaminants
Chemical contaminants consist of anything from pesticides, nitrogen, bleach,
salts, metals, toxins, and many other elements or compounds. There are chemicals that happen naturally while
others are man-made.
Biological Contaminants
Biological contaminants in water are caused by the presence of living
organisms including parasites, bacteria, protozoans, or viruses. These elements are referred to as microbes or
microbiological contaminants.
Radiological Contaminants
Radiological contaminants are chemical elements that emit radiation in one
form or another. These elements include cesium, plutonium, and uranium.
Do Water Filters Remove Contamination?
For homes and businesses looking for fresh, clean water they should consider
a water filter system to get rid of what water treatment plants cannot seem to remove. It's a known fact that
water treatment plants do not remove all of the minerals and contaminants from water but, in general, most tap
water is treated and considered to be safe for consumers.
Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen molecules but most water also
contains other elements as well. As an example, if your community's water is hard, that simply means it's clean
to drink but also contains other elements including aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
These minerals are not bad for you but they will affect the flavor and can
leave residues on your surfaces. This is one reason why more people are opting for water filter systems that
include water softening elements or the removal of these minerals.
That said, there are water contaminants that are dangerous. Chemicals,
bacteria, and heavy metals can enter the local water supply and cause serious illnesses in people of all ages if
not filtered out. Water filters will remove toxins including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), lead,
mercury, and disease-carrying pathogens from your
water.
In all fairness, municipal water treatment plants do the best they can to
kill off dangerous microbes using safe levels of chlorine. Unfortunately, these compounds can react with other
naturally occurring elements and form toxins called trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes are the result of a
reaction between chlorine and natural organic matter in water.
These toxins have been linked to a number of health issues. The upside, most
of the water filters on the market will remove these toxins and chemicals.
Another reason for polluted water comes from sand, dirt, and other
sediments. After the water leaves the city treatment plant it can become dirty. Having the right water
filtration system will remove sediments and give you fresh, clean water.
We have covered the terms of waterborne viruses and tips for having safe
drinking water. You should look into the best water filtration systems and install it in your home or business.
This is the best way to protect your co-workers and your loved ones from contaminants.
Everyone deserves fresh, clean water. You will discover so much more flavor
in your foods when cooking with unpolluted, clean water. Water filtration systems are easy to install or you can
have someone do it for you. It's time to enjoy fresh, clean water each and every day.