Did you know that more than 25 million Americans drink from contaminated water systems? While it's true that we don't think about what could be in our water most of the time, it's important to know that there are many contaminants that may exist in our drinking water.
As this list continues to grow, it's essential to be educated on what types of major water contaminants could exist in your everyday drinking water so you know what to look out for. Here are the top eight types of water contaminants you might find in your home.
1. Chlorine
Chlorine is very common in municipal water systems, but it isn't always necessary. While chlorine is meant to control microbes in water systems, too much chlorine can lead to issues such as wheezing, itchy nose, as well as dry or itchy eyes.
2. Lead
Lead is a common water contaminant that can be found in both public and private drinking systems. Lead can cause serious issues, especially if consumed at high levels, as it can cause brain damage, kidney problems, anemia, high blood pressure, fertility issues, mood disorders, and even memory loss!
3. Mercury
Mercury is a water contaminant that can easily find its way into our water systems due to natural events such as landfill runoff or erosion of natural deposits. Mercury can cause a number of severe health issues, including nervous system damage, birth defects, kidney disease, cancer, and more.
4. Pesticides
Pesticides are used to control many things, including weeds and bugs. Unfortunately, pesticides are also found in the water systems of our homes at times due to runoff from agricultural land or industrial wastewater systems.
5. Copper
Copper is a common metal that can be found in both public and private drinking water systems. Unfortunately, most of the copper that gets into our water systems is due to old copper pipes that have not been replaced. While copper is an essential mineral, but too much of it can lead to issues such as kidney damage, liver damage, or anemia.
6. Fluoride
While fluoride is most commonly known for its use in dental products, it can also be found in drinking water systems. In fact, more than 66% of the United States population still consumes it. Fluoride has been shown to cause skin problems such as acne or eczema, but more severe conditions may arise from too much exposure, including a lower IQ, stiff joints, pain, and muscle impairment.
7. Pharmaceuticals
Sometimes, the chemicals commonly found in medications are released into the water system, which tends to end up in our drinking systems, causing us to become exposed without even realizing it. Ingesting unknown pharmaceuticals in the water can lead to a number of side effects, including headache, nausea, or vomiting.
8. Chloramines
Chloramines are formed when chlorine and ammonia form a new chemical compound. This is to help disinfect the water even further. However, when this is added to water, it has been shown to cause skin irritation and even cancer.
How Can I Improve the Quality of My Water?
It's clear that there are many ways contaminants can find their way into our everyday drinking water. Thankfully, that doesn't mean you need to consume it and deal with these harmful chemicals. Instead, you can choose to invest in a drinking water filter to help improve the water you drink at home. Our top choices for water filters include:
iSpring RCC7AK Drinking Water Filter
The RCC7AK is a high-quality, robust reverse osmosis water filtration system. This state-of-the-art system has been designed to counter most sources of pollution and is certified against NSF 58/ANSI for TDS reduction. With our Alkaline Remineralization filter, it provides balanced alkalinity and good taste water.
iSpring RO500 RO Water Filtration System
When you need a tankless design reverse osmosis system that can remove up to 99% of over 1,000 contaminants, including Fluoridelead, chlorine, and more - the new generation iSpring RO500 is here for your home. It has 500 GPD fast flow and can save water waste by up to 400% compared to an old traditional RO system because of its economical design. Also, with its three-filter filtration system, it protects your water and enhances the taste of filtered water as well! If you are looking for balanced alkalinity, check out its big brother, the iSpring RO500AK.
iSpring WF150k Whole House Central Filtration System
The WF150k Whole House system is installed at the main water entry and removes chlorine, lead, H2S, heavy metals, and more from the entire building. It instead supplies crisp, clean tasting, drinkable water for the entire building that lasts ten years in 2-3 bathrooms homes or five years 4+ bath homes thanks to patented technology!
Conclusion
When it comes to the contaminants you can find in your drinking water, it's essential to be proactive in what you put into your body and how you protect your water source. By drinking filtered water, you can ensure that most of these contaminants are eliminated before you ever take a sip!If you have any questions or concerns about what's in your drinking water, don't hesitate to get in touch with our customer support team today. We're standing by to help!
