Do you know that your district’s water plant does not provide 100% clean water? Even if they tell the public that they use advanced water filter machines and water cleaning techniques, there is still a high chance that the water they provide to homes and other properties will get contaminated because of damaged water pipes. The best way you can provide clean drinking water is by using water filters. Some would even use Berkey replacement filters for a better water filtration system.
While you are using the water filter, have you ever thought about the different contaminants that it filters out? Some of them might even shock you because no one expects them to be present in everyone’s drinking water. It is best to know several water contaminants to determine what water filter type you would want for your home.
Atrazine
The first contaminant that you should know about is Atrazine. It is known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical, and it is one of the most commonly found pesticides, especially in U.S. waters. Most health organizations have yet to conduct tests on the chemical pesticide to determine if it is safe to consume or not. However, some governments have already banned the chemical from ensuring people at risk of the chemical can avoid getting health complications.
Lead
Lead is another common contaminant that people worldwide find in their drinking water. It is a heavy metal that can leech from plumbing fixtures and lead pipes, specifically when the water traveling through them is caustic. Most people do not know about lead because it can potentially cause behavioral and neurological problems in areas with outdated water systems.
However, the heavy metal can still find its way to everyone’s drinking water through new brass faucets and fixtures, which contain high traces of it. Even if you own a recently constructed home, you should expect the lead to be present in your water pipes. The best way to know if they are present is to hire water inspection services.
Chlorine
Every water plant will always use chlorine to eliminate foreign contaminants better while paired up with different filtration methods. The water plants use a special chlorine type that is safe enough for people to ingest. The maximum amount that a healthy person can ingest drinking water with traces of chlorine is 4 mg per liter.
Sometimes, water plants do not have complete control over the amount of chlorine distributed to each property, so that some people may ingest water with more than 4 milligrams of chlorine. Going above can cause several health complications such as airway irritation, cough, sore throat, wheezing, eye and skin irritation, and difficulty breathing. If you want to avoid getting those symptoms, purchase a water filter right away.
Pathogens
It is rare for pathogens to get mixed into your water pipes, but there is still a slight chance that they can find their way there. You have common pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, that may cause minor or severe health complications to a person. Fortunately, water plants can eliminate them before they even enter your home’s water pipes through specific water filtration processes.
As technology becomes better, water plants can find newer ways to combat and eliminate dangerous pathogens. Even if they are rarely present, you still have other contaminants that can degrade a person’s health. As for the pandemic, people are lucky enough that the virus does not swim in the water, preventing it from flowing through waters and into people’s homes.
Nitrates
If your home is situated near plants and fields that have fertilizers most of the time, there is a possibility that nitrates can seep through the pipes and into your drinking water. The contamination can worsen if you are near factory farms because of the large amount of runoff they produce from time to time.
You need to ensure that your drinking water never has nitrates present, especially when you use the water for your baby’s formula. There have been multiple cases of babies drinking water with nitrates and getting blue baby syndrome, which is an illness that prevents blood from conveying oxygen and is mostly fatal. If you have a baby present in your household, ensure the water you use to mix with their formula is filtered efficiently.
Ensure you learn about the contaminants usually found in drinking water to purchase a water filter that will suit your needs. After buying the water filter, you should also get Berkey replacement filters to replace your worn-out filters in the long run.
