Now imagine turning on your home’s tap and unknowingly pouring a full glass of water that is capable of making you sick. For many, this is a startling reality. While tap water is often considered a safe option in the United States.
But it is also true that, in some states, it has been found contaminated with several hazardous impurities. From harmful bacteria to chemicals, and heavy metals to sediment, the quality of tap water is far from guaranteed.
In this Frizzlife blog, we are going to dive into the question of why tap water is causing damage to your health. So, without causing any further delay, let’s fire away.
Also, read our blog post about Everything You Need to Know about Iron in Water
Some Potential Contaminants Present in Tap Water
There are several hazardous contaminants and impurities present in regular tap water, some of the common ones are discussed below.
1. Biological Contaminants:
Pathogens such as e-coli, Salmonella, and Hepatitis A can get their way into water supply through runoff or sewage leaks. Consuming such tap water can lead to gastrointestinal issues and infections.
Moreover, tap water is also usually found contaminated with specific parasites such as Giardia, and Cryptosporidium can survive a standard disinfection process.
So, when you drink tap water that is polluted with such contaminants, the risk of suffering from diarrhea, cramps, and other health issues increases.
2. Chemical Impurities:
Apart from biological contaminants, tap water also contains chemical impurities that can pose serious health threats to human health. These include heavy metals such as lead that are often leached into the water supply and result in neurological damage, developmental delays in kids, and more.
Moreover, arsenic is also a toxic heavy metal that is usually found in groundwater sources. Exposure to this impurity can increase the chances of skin lesions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and more.
Besides heavy metals, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals also land under the umbrella of chemical impurities. Continuous exposure to herbicides has been associated with hormonal disorders and an increased risk of cancer.
Whereas pharmaceuticals are not often considered dangerous, they still have negative impacts on human health which aren’t fully understood yet.
3. Physical Contaminants:
Most of you out there will personally relate to this point. Tap water sometimes also contains physical impurities such as sediment and rust that can be easily seen by the naked eye. The presence of such substances not only damage watercolor but also its overall taste.
Additionally, these can also harbor harmful bacteria and several other pathogens. Microplastics are also considered physical contaminants. However, it is essential to note that, there is a lot of research going on to understand their negative health impacts.
Major Ways Through Which These Contaminants Can Damage Health
We are going to categorize this section into two portions, one is short-term effect, and the second one is long-term.
1. Short Terms Effects:
There are multiple short-term health effects of drinking contaminated tap water.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Doctors say that consuming polluted water with pathogens, bacteria, and other impurities can result in acute gastrointestinal issues. Some of the most common symptoms include Nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and more.
Specific Allergic reactions: Consumptions of contaminated water can also cause specific allergic reactions. Keep in mind that the symptoms may range from skin irritations to respiratory ones. These usually vary from individual to individual.
2. Long Term Effects:
If you are continuously exposed to contaminated tap water, it can result in long-term health impacts that are discussed below.
Chronic diseases: Hazardous impurities like arsenic, lead, and other byproducts have been linked to specific types of cancer including bladder and kidney that can be deadly.
Besides this, heavy metals especially lead can accumulate in the human body with the passage of time, increasing the overall chances of kidney damage or dysfunction.
Issues in Children: We all know that kids are quite sensitive, so polluted tap water is more likely to impact their health rather than adults. They may experience developmental issues, cognitive disabilities, behavior problems, and more.
Additionally, some specific chemicals especially pesticides and endocrine potentially interfere with hormonal development, ultimately leading to hormonal problems and development disorders.
How to Stop Tap Water from Damaging Your Health
There are a number of steps that you can take to prevent health issues caused by contaminated tap water.
1. First, Test Your Water:
You first should test out your home’s tap water to determine what sort of contaminants and impurities it contains. Once you understand, you can then step accordingly. There are two ways to test water quality.
One is by using water testing kits that are highly affordable and can be easily purchased from the near market. Additionally, you can also take water samples to a certified laboratory, and they will provide a comprehensive report about water quality. Remember, this method is relatively expensive but also more accurate.
2. Start Filtering Water
Invest in a reliable water filtration system and treat your home’s tap water with it to achieve maximum purity. In the market, there are different types of systems available that you can choose from, and each one has its own advantages and downsides.
For instance, reverse osmosis systems removes up to 99% of contaminants from water with excellent efficiency. These are considered the most advanced filters right now.
Additionally, undersink filters are also a good and more affordable option. These are also effective at eliminating a wide range of impurities from the water on demand.
However, it is important to note that, you need to continuously maintain the filtration system to keep it working smoothly.
3. Stay Informed:
Finally, it is essential to stay informed about the guidelines or regulations of both the government and local water suppliers. Besides this, keep researching about local contaminants present in your area and their
So, after going through all these ways, now we think you will have an efficient idea of how to prevent the health impacts of polluted tap water.
Wrapping Up
There is no doubt that tap water all around the world is contaminated with numerous hazardous substances that can pose serious health impacts. We have tried our level best to shed light on why regular water is becoming the major reason for poor health. Hopefully, you will find the information valuable!