Is Tap Water Safe?

2 million people live in water-stressed areas. It’s no secret that today’s drinking water has become a major concern for everyone.

After the Flint water crisis, more and more people are switching to bottled water or installing home water filters. But is tap water safe?

Are we indeed drinking toxic water from our faucets? Or is it all just an overblown media conspiracy? Let us find out.

What’s Inside Tap Water?

We will now look at some of the drinking water contaminants that are found in tap water. These include heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and other pollutants.

Heavy metals: We often talk about heavy metals in the context of environmental pollution. But, did you know that there are trace amounts of heavy metals in tap water too?

You will find that chromium, copper, and nickel are the most common ones. They are often added to water pipes as corrosion inhibitors. However, the amount present in tap water is negligible and won’t pose any health risks.

Various chemicals: Chlorine is the most common chemical added to water. It’s used to kill bacteria and pathogens in water.

However, some people may be allergic to chlorine or iodine. Bromine and chloramine are other chemicals added to water as disinfecting agents.

Pesticides and herbicides: As you might have guessed, these are found in high quantities in our waters due to the large-scale farming practices. The problem is that these chemicals are very harmful to our health when consumed in high quantities.

Other contaminants: There are many other contaminants in tap water, such as nitrates, fluoride, and other chemicals. These pose a significant health risk if consumed in high quantities, but water filters remove them.

Why Is Tap Water Unsafe? Is It Safe to Drink Tap Water?

As we have seen above, there are a variety of contaminants in tap water that have the potential to cause health issues. However, only a few of them are harmful in high quantities.

So, the question arises – why is tap water unsafe? Unfortunately, most municipalities try to save money by not adding enough chlorine or other chemicals to treat water.

This can cause tap water to have a higher concentration of contaminants that can cause health issues. Another issue is that people don’t know about this problem until it’s too late.

If a municipality isn’t informed about a water contamination issue, it can go unnoticed for a long period. This can cause many people to become sick due to contaminated water.

Water Filtering at Home

As we have seen, the amount of contaminants present in tap water is not negligible. People who want to ensure they’re drinking safe water can install a water filter in their homes.

These units are designed to remove a majority of contaminants from water. They also come at a relatively low cost.

To ensure the water you’re drinking is safe, it’s crucial to look into water purification services.

Is Tap Water Safe: Things to Know About Drinking Water

As you can see, the water from your faucet is not the cleanest. It is contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals that can cause health issues when consumed in large quantities.

Unfortunately, many municipalities aren’t taking proper precautions to treat water leading people to constantly question is tap water safe.

This can cause contaminated water to get into the pipelines and into our homes. Luckily, there are several water filters available that can remove most contaminants.

You can install one of these at home to ensure that you and your family drink safe water.