Water Filtration

We continue to hear about problems with substances found in water systems. Water companies remove most of the harmful substances but unfortunately, too many harmful things remain in our drinking water. Home water filters are being installed in more and more homes across the country. As far back as 1995, up to forty-five million Americans were receiving drinking water that was not up to health standards. This included water that was contaminated by bacteria, high lead content and herbicide contamination.

There are many possible sources of contamination in drinking water. However, remember there is something we can do. Home water filters will remove ninety-nine percent of all contaminants that are found in municipal water systems. We owe it to our families to do something about this major health issue sweeping the country. You will feel better knowing you are doing your part to protect your family.

Let us get back to the many possible ways that drinking water becomes contaminated. Farm run off such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are a major culprit. These leech into the water table and eventually find their way into our drinking water. Fluoride has been added to water but it is not a safe additive either. Bacteria and other parasites find their way into our drinking water as well. Good home water filters will prevent these from getting into the water we use at home.

So, how do water filters work? Filters can be attached to the faucet or right to the incoming water source. One of the best types of filters is the carbon block and granular carbon filters. Water flows through the carbon filters and the filters block the contaminants. Activated carbon is considered the best filter for removing harmful contaminants from drinking water.

Other top rated filters include multi media block filters. These particular home water filters use activated carbon along with other advantages to filter out the harmful chemicals and bacteria. This combination filter is considered an even better filtering system.

The most important thing to remember is that we can do something about the state our drinking water. First, farmers can stop using dangerous pesticides and herbicides as we now know that they can find their way into our drinking water supply. By taking care of the environment, we can work towards improving our water supply. In addition, we can install home water filters and be sure that our families are drinking clean, safe water.

An Ezine Article

In 1974, Consumer Reports published a landmark three-part series on the safety of the United States water supply, contending that water purification systems in many communities had not kept pace with increasing levels of pollution and that many community water supplies may have been contaminated with potential carcinogens. Those reports, which won the magazine’s first National Magazine Award, have been credited with playing a role in the enactment by Congress of the Safe Drinking Water Act in December 1974 and prompted inquiries into drinking water safety on local levels.

Since then, much has been done to improve water quality and to certify to the general public that their drinking water is safe. However, in many parts of the U.S. citizens are not happy about their water…concerns about its taste, its color and more importantly, the things that may be present in the water that they cannot see.

For many of those individuals, their only immediate recourse is to purify their water with one of the many water filtration systems on the market today. But, with so many systems available, how is one to know which is right for them. The easiest solution is to simply buy a water filter or water treatment system that removes a multitude of contaminants, but that may not be effective enough for the more serious situations. Testing the water, even from a do-it-yourself kit, although having a professional lab or testing company is generally advisable, should always be the first step. Those test results will be key to knowing what you will need and how best to proceed. Don’t be afraid to get advise from such organizations as the EPA or even good ole Consumer Reports. Afterall, it’s your health and the health and well-being of your family that’s at stake. 

Actions You Can Take To Reduce Lead In Drinking Water

Flush Your Pipes Before Drinking
Anytime the water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, “flush” your cold-water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it will get. (This could take as little as five to thirty seconds if there has been recent heavy water use such as showering or toilet flushing. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer.) The more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain.

Only Use Cold Water for Consumption
Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead.The two actions recommended above are very important to the health of your family. They will probably be effective in reducing lead levels because most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.

Have Your Water Tested
After you have taken the two precautions above for reducing the lead in water used for drinking or cooking, have your water tested. The only way to be sure of the amount of lead in your household water is to have it tested by a competent laboratory. Your water supplier may be able to offer information or assistance with testing. Testing is especially important for apartment dwellers, because flushing may not be effective in high-rise buildings with lead-soldered central piping.

Health Threats From Lead

Too much lead in the human body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells.

You have the greatest risk, even with short term exposure, if:

• you are a young child, or
• you are pregnant.

 Sources of Lead in Drinking Water

Lead levels in your drinking water are likely to be highest if:

• your home has faucets or fittings of brass which contains some lead, or
• your home or water system has lead pipes, or
• your home has copper pipes with solder, and
  • the house is less than five years old, or
  • you have naturally soft water, or
  • water often sits in the pipes for several hours.

Q:  Aren’t there a lot of types of treatment devices that would work?

A: There are many devices which are certified for effective lead reduction, but devices that are not designed to remove lead will not work. It is suggested that you follow the recommendations below before purchasing any device:

• Avoid being misled by false claims and scare tactics. Be wary of “free” water testing that is provided by the salesperson to determine your water quality; many tests are inaccurate or misleading. Research the reputation and legitimacy of the company or sales representative.
• Avoid signing contracts or binding agreements for “onetime offers” or for those that place a lien on your home. Be very careful about giving credit card information over the phone. Check into any offers that involve prizes or sweepstakes winnings.
• Be sure to do your homework, then get a water filtration system designed specifically for lead. Many water filters will remove some lead along with a variety of other contaminants, but if removing lead is your primary concern, don’t cut corners by purchasing an inexpensive, catch-all filter. The negative effects are too serious to take chances.

People who utilize methods of water filtration hope to take a step towards health.
Most sources of drinking water contain very low levels of radioactive contaminants, also known as radionuclides.  Most of these occur naturally, although drinking water can also become contaminated from human-made nuclear materials.  Most radioactive contaminants remain at levels low enough not to be considered a public concern, however, long-term exposure to even low-level radionuclides in drinking water has been flagged as a contributing factor for cancer.  Exposure to uranium in drinking water may also damage the kidneys. 

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has established drinking water standards for several types of radioactive contaminants, including combined radium, beta emitters, gross alpha standard, and uranium.  Different U. S. states have different standards of compliance for drinking water.  Check online to obtain the most current information regarding drinking water standards of compliance for your area.

People are increasingly concerned about the safety of their drinking water. As improvements in analytical methods allow us to detect impurities at very low concentrations in water, water supplies once considered pure are found to have contaminants. We cannot expect pure water, but we want safe water.The health effects of some contaminants in drinking water are not well understood, but the presence of contaminants does not mean that your health will be harmed. Throughout the U.S., drinking water is generally of high quality and free from significant contamination. Public water supplies are tested, and regulated to ensure that our water remains free from unsafe levels of contamination. Small private water supplies, including wells, are not regulated by drinking water standards, and the owner must take steps to test and treat the water as needed to avoid possible health risks.

What is in your drinking water? The only way to know is to have it tested.

Drinking water can become contaminated Read the rest of this entry »

In February, 2008, the EPA compiled a list of the following contaminants that may be found in U.S. drinking water:

Microbial Contaminants

Read the rest of this entry »

The EPA regulates only public water systems; it does not have the authority to regulate private wells. Approximately 15 percent of Americans rely on their own private drinking water supplies, and these supplies are not subject to EPA standards. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, well owners do not have experts regularly checking their water’s source and its quality before it is sent to the tap. These households must take special precautions to ensure the protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies.

The risk of having problems depends on how good your well is–how well it was built and located, and how well you maintain it. It also depends on your local environment. That includes the quality of the aquifer from which your water is drawn and the human activities going on in your area that can affect your well.

Although several sources of pollution are easy to spot by sight, taste, or smell, many serious problems however can be found only by testing your water. Learning of the possible threats in your area will help you decide the kind of tests you may need.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

There are six basic steps you can take to help protect your private drinking water supply:

1. Identify potential problem sources.
2. Talk with local experts.
3. Have your water tested periodically.
4. Have the test results interpreted and explained clearly.
5. Set and follow a regular maintenance schedule for your well, and keep up-to-date records.
6. Immediately remedy any problems.

IMMEDIATELY REMEDY ANY PROBLEMS

If you find that your well water is contaminated, fix the problem as soon as possible. Consider connecting into a nearby community water system, if one is available, and/or install a water treatment device such as a reverse osmosis unit to remove impurities.

If you choose to keep your well and treat the water yourself, it is all too important that you also maintain your well, fix problems before they reach crisis levels, and keep up-to-date records of well installations and repairs as well as plumbing and water costs. It is up to you to protect your own well area from contamination.

Excerpted from the EPA’s “Water On Tap” publication.

What Is a Public Water System?

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) defines a public water system as one that serves piped water to at least 25 persons or 15 service connections for at least 60 days each year. There are approximately 161,000 public water systems in the United States.* Such systems may be publicly or privately owned. Community water systems (CWSs) are public water systems that serve people year-round in their homes. Most people in the U.S. (268 million ) get their water from a community water system. EPA also regulates other kinds of public water systems, such as those at schools, campgrounds, factories and restaurants. Private water supplies, such as household wells that serve one or a few homes, are not regulated by EPA, however, the EPA does compile reports on the vast majority of water systems in the U.S. regardless of location or type. You can check your local water supply and consider your options for water filtration systems and the benefit they can have for your families safety and health.

* Public Water Systems

Community Water System (54,000 systems) - A public water system that serves the same people year-round. Most residences are served Community Water Systems.

Non-Community Water Systems (approx. 108,000 systems) - A public water system that does not serve the same people year-round. There are two types of non-community systems:

• Non-Transient Non-Community Water System (almost 19,000 systems ) - A non-community water system that serves the same people more than six months of the year, but not year round. For example, a school with its own water supply is considered a non-transient system.
• Transient Non-Community Water System ( more than 89,000 systems) - A non-community water system that serves the public but not the same individuals for more than six months. For example, a rest area or a campground may be considered a transient system.

Excerpt from EPA “Water On Tap”

What Law Keeps My Drinking Water Safe?

Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation’s drinking water supply and protecting sources of drinking water. SDWA is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its state partners.

Highlights of the Safe Drinking Water Act

• Authorizes EPA to set enforceable health standards for contaminants in drinking water
• Requires public notification of water systems violations and annual reports (Consumer Confidence Reports) to customers on contaminants found in their drinking water- www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr
• Establishes a federal-state partnership for regulation enforecment
• Includes provisions specifically designed to protect underground sources of drinking water - www.epa.gov/safewater/uic
• Requires disinfection of surface water supplies, except those with pristine, protected sources
• Establishes a multi-billion dollar state revolving loan fund for water system upgrades - www.epa.com/safewater/dwsrf
• Requires an assessment of the vulnerability of all drinking water sources to contamination - www.epa.com/safewater/protect

It is important to note that the SWDA applies to every public water system in the United States but does not apply to bottled water. Bottled water is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A good alternative to public and bottled water is a water filtration system that can be purchased from a variety of local and online suppliers at a reasonable cost.— Drinking Water: Past, Present and Future EPA-816-F-00-002