Guest Post: 10 Things You Didn’t Know Were in Your Drinking Water

(Dr. Bones says: From time to time, we accept submissions from promising writers in the field of preparedness. Today’s post comes from TheBerkey.com’s social media manager Jennifer Moran. In this article, Jennifer discusses some substances that you might not expect to be in your drinking water. Thanks to Jennifer for her submission.)

The most common substance in this world is water and therefore it is essential that we could say by default it is greatly important! We learned that only 1% of the Earth’s water is suitable for drinking, 97% of it is ocean or sea and where does the 2% go? It is unusable, it’s frozen. Now, we always wanted what is best and safe for our drinking water. As a matter of fact, Americans drink more than a billion glasses of tap water per day.

Your day has been sluggish and you die to drink that glass of water even from the tap just to quench you. But do you really know if whether or not it’s secure for your family? Or let me be more direct, do you even bother to know what’s on it? No matter how we can say that that water is clean by just basing it from your bare naked eyes, there are things in there that might not be good for you.

Here are some surprising substances that you didn’t know might be in your drinking water.

 1. Lead

Just like any stubborn bad guy, this colorless, odorless and tasteless metal can leach from lead pipes and plumbing fixtures will definitely go undetected.  Excessive amounts of lead place adults at higher risk for cancer, stroke, kidney disease, memory problems and high blood pressure. At even greater risk are children, whose rapidly growing bodies absorb lead more quickly and efficiently. Just because your home is less than 20 years old doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lead-free. Just ask the people of Flint, Michigan.

2. Fluoride

Fluoride develops naturally in water; though rarely at the optimal level to protect teeth. Many assume that consuming fluoride is only an issue that involves your dental health. But according to a 500-page scientific review, fluoride is an endocrine disruptor that can affect your bones, brain, thyroid gland, pineal gland and even your blood sugar levels. More people drink fluoridated water in the US alone than in the rest of the world combined. In Western Europe, for instance, 97% of the population drinks non-fluoridated water. Adding fluoride is definitely a forced medication.

3. Iron and Manganese

Iron and Manganese are non-hazardous elements but can be a nuisance to your drinking water. They are similar metals and can cause similar problems: offensive taste, appearance, and staining. When the water is aerated they are oxidized, which creates significant discoloration and turbidity. Iron is frequently found in water supplies. Manganese is often found in water that contains iron.

4. Perchlorate

Perchlorate is a man-made chemical primarily used in the production of rocket fuel, missiles, fireworks, flares, and explosives. It has been found in drinking water and surface waters in the United States (at least 26 states) and Canada. Although it is a strong oxidant, perchlorate is very persistent in the environment. At high concentrations perchlorate can interfere with the production of thyroid hormone.

5. Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important chemical building block and additive in a wide variety of plastics. It is manufactured worldwide for approximately 3.2 million metric tons/year. This can be found in some plastic water bottles and the dangerous part is that it can leach into food and drinks. According to National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, it may acquire health risks, especially to infants and children. One good thing: there are quite a number of BPA-free bottles that are available now. However, you still have to be extra careful: NPR reports that some BPA-free plastics may leach unwanted chemicals into your water when exposed to sunlight, microwaves or dishwashers.

6. Arsenic

Arsenic is a natural element that is tasteless and odorless; you wouldn’t be able to distinguish that it’s in your water. It is found widely in the earth’s crust and may be found in some drinking water supplies, including wells. Research shows that exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause health effects, even cancer.

7. Pathogens

Bacteria are a natural part of life; in fact, there are many forms and functions of bacteria we couldn’t live without. Coliform bacteria may not cause disease but can be indicators of pathogenic organisms that cause serious diseases. It can cause intestinal infections, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera, and other illnesses. Luckily, these pathogens are much better controlled today than they once were. We just have to be practical on having our water tested but definitely the best strategy is to get rid of these pathogens.

8. Agricultural chemicals

Agriculture is heavily dependent on fertilizers and pesticides that boost crop production. The major contaminant here is nitrate, found in both fertilizer and animal waster. Nitrates and other chemicals end up in our water resources, and can cause health risks. One example is methemoglobinemia, sometimes called “Blue-Baby syndrome”, in those infants under 3 months of age that are bottle-fed.

9. Chlorine

Chlorine is effective as a disinfecting treatment in killing off most microorganisms in the water. As a matter of fact, it is a powerful oxidant added to the water by several municipal water systems to control these microbes.  While learning that the United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world because of this disinfecting agent, it is also appropriate to check it once in a while. It can be absorbed through physical consumption as well as through your skin while bathing and can severely dry skin and hair. It can also cause irritating effects to your eyes and nose.

10. Mercury

This silvery heavy metal can be found in various natural deposits. Mercury can flow into water supplies from improperly discarded devices containing it, as runoff from landfills & farm land, dumped by factories, or from natural deposits. With this being said, this extremely toxic liquid metal must be precaution in handling or disposing of it. Being exposed to high levels of mercury over time can cause kidney damage.

Water can be purified of many contaminants if treatment facilities are available, but supplies must be monitored so that contaminants can be properly identified in the first place. The safest way to ensure that these toxins do not make it into your body is to have your water tested to determine which contaminants your tap water may contain. Once you have identified the contaminants present, you can select a water filtration solution that is best for you.

Jennifer Moran

(When she isn’t glued to a laptop screen, Jennifer spends time playing tennis, practicing yoga, and trying very hard not to fall sleep during meditation classes. If you have questions for Jennifer, contact her at [email protected].)