In recent months, the shelves at local supermarkets have become stuffed with high-end organically-grown foods as consumer demand has risen. Many in the U.S. have grown conscious of potential pesticides and other toxins that may be present in their foods, and corporations have become aware. Consumers now have a relatively wide selection of so-called nutritious safe alternatives available for consumption. But, what about that crucial necessity that flows from their faucets? Recent evidence suggest that the overall safety of public drinking water could also be something to consider.
During a near six-month investigation, the Associated Press uncovered evidence of pharmaceuticals in at least two dozen large metropolitan cities in states from California to New Jersey.
During a near six-month investigation, the Associated Press uncovered evidence of pharmaceuticals in at least two dozen large metropolitan cities and their surrounding areas. The range in scope of the contamination was considerable - from the east coast, including cities in New Jersey - to cities in California, and everywhere in between. The contaminants included everything from seizure medication to antibiotics, cancer treatments, pain killers, tranquilizers, birth control pills, anti-convulsants, anti depressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs and even sex hormones.
The sources of this sort of contamination are plenty and include hospitals, other medical facilities, and even the general population casually disposing of medicines down toilets and sinks. Even human urine and excrement can contain trace elements of incompletely digested pharmaceuticals. Much of these chemicals pass through water treatment facilities and sewage treatment plants unaffected and find their way into lakes, groundwater and the general water supply.
While researchers say it is too early to determine the potential long-term effects of ingesting small amounts of random drugs over time, there have been some recent studies that have found cases of disturbing effects on human and wildlife cells exposed to such contaminants.
State and city water officials have gone on record saying that public water meets state and national regulations. However, many have grown skeptical about the safety of their drinking water and have decided to take matters into their own hands by purchasing costly water filtration systems for their homes. But, how do you know which system you need and which ones come with the bells and whistles you can do without?
Here’s a quick guide to the most common water filtration systems available today:
Granular Activated Carbon
Carbon is the filtration substance used in most of the more inexpensive water purifiers that attach to the kitchen sink. It has been utilized for hundreds of years as a way of absorbing chemicals and other impurities from drinking water. The carbon basically acts as a filter, eliminating some of the larger elements like mercury, copper and lead mercury that may leach off of older corroding pipes. Carbon will also remove a large portion of pharmaceuticals.
This sort of filtration is also very effective at improving the taste and smell of drinking water, but it has its limitations. One is that the filtration’s capabilities decrease rapidly after installation as the carbon becomes clogged. Another is that the carbon, itself, is sometimes susceptible to bacterial growth that could pose potential health problems. This product is also incapable of removing many known chemical-based toxins often found in drinking water.
Distillation
This process is based on the principle that evaporating the water will separate it from impurities. Like carbon, it is only partially effective at removing toxins. It is also very expensive and the space that must be allocated for the large holding tanks necessary to hold the “dirty” and “clean” water can make the overall process somewhat inconvenient.
Reverse Osmosis
This type of purification is much like carbon in that a barrier is used to filter out larger particles leaving only pure drinking water. It is effective at adding oxygen to the water which gives it a better taste. However, like the previous types of filtration, some contaminants still get through. Furthermore, the filtering barrier prevents many beneficial and even vital minerals from getting through to the drinking water. This can actually make the water somewhat unhealthy and, it is for this reason that mineral supplements are usually recommended for people who use this type of filtration system.
Ultraviolet and Ozonation
These type of drinking water purifications are highly effective at killing virus and bacteria contaminants like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. They are relatively useless for other contaminants which is why they are usually paired with another form of water treatment.
As you can see, each water filtration system has its drawbacks and its benefits. That’s why the best thing you can do before you purchase an expensive system that utilizes one or more of these techniques is to have your water tested to see what is there and what is not. Once you determine what impurities exist, you can then choose a filtration system that is right for you.
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