Is Your Drinking Water Safe?

The EPA sets maximum drinking water contamination levels for 78 Primary (legally enforceable) hazardous substances, including lead, arsenic, pesticides, radionuclides and microorganisms, and 15 Secondary (non-enforceable) standards for contaminants which include aluminum, chloride and fluoride. These standards protect drinking water quality by limiting the levels of specific contaminants that can adversely affect public health and are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems.

Hundreds more contaminants aren't tested for (let alone regulated) to see if they are in our water supply.

The health effects of long-term exposure to drinking water contaminants are unknown.

Nationwide water samples have turned out to be a chemical soup. The fact is, your water may contain traces of bacteria, asbestos, lead, radioactive compounds, industrial waste, arsenic, benzine, nitrates, and chloroform (to name just a few).

There are thousands of toxic chemical compounds in use today. New chemicals are developed each year and many of these can enter and contaminate both surface and underground water. When the new chemicals combine with others in the water supply, new, even more dangerous compounds can result. Many of the chemicals found in drinking water are now suspected of causing cancer, mutations and birth defects.

It is critical that every household have a water purification system to effectively reduce lead, chlorine and
numerous chemicals from their water to provide delicious clean, clear drinking water for you and your family.

For more information on water systems, visit Health & Wellness Haven

About the Author

From The Field, October '98