It wasn’t too long ago that sanitary conditions in the United States and around the world were much more toxic.
In fact, even in a lot of developing countries water contamination is still a horrible problem that societies face.
Contaminated water can cause all kinds of diseases, food poisoning, and as a result a poorer quality of life due to the effects it produces on the health and economic activity of a population.
In this article, we will outline the most common water contaminants as well as how water actually becomes contaminated so that you can make sure you are getting clean water that’s good for your body while also determining if you need a water filter.
Water is safe to drink only when it is free of disease-causing organisms and toxic chemicals.
Below are the main 7 types of water contaminants that can potentially cause health problems at large enough amounts.
It’s important to note that the presence of a contaminant in the water supply does not necessarily pose a health risk. This is because most drinking water may contain some amount of a type of contaminant.
It depends more on the type and amount of the contaminant. Some contaminants may be safe at small levels while others may not be.
This is why the US EPA has drinking water regulations where they set legal limits on over 90 contaminants in drinking water. The legal limit reflects the level of contaminant that protects human health and which our water facilities can achieve with the best available technology.
Now, let’s dive into the specific contaminant categories a little more below.
Microbes are found everywhere including in and on our bodies. All living species need microbes to survive and they play a vital role in the health of the planet.
That being said, there are also disease-causing microbes (also known as pathogens) that can be toxic when found in drinking water or on contaminated food.
Microorganisms are the most common cause of waterborne illness in the U.S. today.
Below are the most common pathogens you should be aware of.
| Pathogen | Disease |
|---|---|
| Salmonella | Typhoid, Diarrhea |
| Shigella | DIarrhea |
| Campylobacter | Diarrhea |
| Vibrio cholera | Diarrhea |
| Yersina enterocolitica | Diarrhea |
| Legionella pneumophilia | Acute Respiratory |
| Microcystis, Anabaena, Aphanitomenon | Diarrhea, possible carcinogens |
This technical information was sourced from the Water Quality Association Learning Resouces.
Organic chemicals and byproducts of disinfection can cause numerous different health risks including cancer and it’s best to keep them in check.
Disinfection byproducts are created from the reaction of chlorine used to disinfect water with humic and fulvic acids present from vegetation decay.
These are important to consider because most city water runs through a local water treatment facility where they use disinfectant chemicals to make sure the water meets general standards.
Inorganic chemicals are rarer and usually founder in smaller quantities of drinking water but they can be very toxic. Byproducts of corrosion can come from pipes or other fixtures that transport water to your home.
Radiological contaminants can be natural or come from man made sources such as X-rays. Below are the most common contaminants.
There are some contaminants that the US EPA places on the contaminant candidate list (CCL) which states that they need more research to determine the safety and allowable levels.
These contaminants may require future regulation and they could possibly have harmful side effects when ingesting at great enough amounts now.
Now that we’ve gone through the common water contaminants that can cause health issues your probably wondering how exactly your water supply becomes contaminated with these substances.
In short, water becomes contaminated from the surrounding environment and byproducts from man-made agricultural and industrial processes.
Let’s learn a little more.
In reality, your water supply is the product of the surrounding environment.
When water precipitates to the earth gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen enter the water from the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide can combine with water to form carbonic acid.
In areas with lots of vegetation, the oxygen in water is used and carbon dioxide is increased through the decay of vegetation.
In areas with limestone, carbonic acid and limestone interact and the water becomes hard. Calcium and magnesium bicarbonates are created which in turn makes hard water that causes scale.
In summary, when water precipatates to the surface and percolates through the ground it picks up minerals and matter from the environment causing it to change and sometimes become contaminated or impure with other substances.
One of the worst sources of contamination is man made activity.
Waste from humans, farm animals, and industry plants can contribute contaminants to the water supply if not kept in check.
A few examples are excess carbon dioxide in the air from industry plants, chemical discharge from homes or plants, or improper waste treatment.
To make sure your water supply does not contain large amounts of contaminants it’s important to test at least once a year and check your local water supply consumer confidence report on the EPAs website to see what the report says about contaminants.
You can also use EWGs tap water database to enter your zip code for a report.
If they show that your water supply has too much of certain contaminants then it’s best to find the correct water filter for your home. Whole house carbon filters or reverse osmosis filters can remove these contaminants effectively.
Hopefully you’re more informed about the most common water contaminants, how your water may become contaminated, and where to check to see if your water supply has too much of certain impurities.
Don’t be afraid to refer back to this guide if you need to brush up on contaminants or how to determine if you need to invest in a water filtration system for your home!
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