Water contamination does occur, but according to the EPA: "actual events of drinking water contamination are rare, and typically do not occur at levels likely to pose health concerns." But, what are the potential issues with water quality in this country?
Microbial Contaminants
- Bacteria, viruses, and parasites can all find their way into our water.
- In general, these contaminants cause diarrhea and vomiting.
- Shallow wells are most vulnerable to this type of contamination, particularly after flooding.
- Lead: can get into your water from chipped lead paint or other contamination of source water (rare) or, more likely, comes from your own pipes. Old homes are more likely to have leaded pipes, but new homes may have them too. According to the EPA, certified "lead free" pipes may still contain lead that leaches into your water. Find more information here.
- Arsenic: occurs naturally in the earth, or can come from industrial / agricultural waste. Find more information here.
- Other heavy metals: cadmium, selenium, and chromium can all leach into water from the earth.
- Fluoride: occurs naturally in the earth, and can leach into the water at amounts that are high enough to discolor teeth. (Yes, I have an upcoming post exploring fluoride in more detail.)
- Nitrate: gets into the water via fertilizer. High levels of nitrates can cause "Blue Baby Syndrome," which can be fatal. It usually occurs in already ill babies who are drinking formula made with the water.
Is It Safe Or Not?
Annual quality reports should be readily available for your municipal water supply. If your jurisdiction reports to the EPA, you can access a report here. Otherwise, try doing an internet search, or call your local jurisdiction.
Wells have a special set of potential problems, and are not regulated by the EPA regulations that protect drinking water. Here are some highlights of potential well water contamination sources (this list is by no means exhaustive):
- Radon
- Bacteria (from septic tanks)
- Barnyard runoff
- Pesticide and fertilizer residues on re-purposed former farmland
Bottled Water Quality
Why not just go with bottled water to be on the safe side?
- You may be wasting your money: bottled water may just be tap water! This is according to an NRDC study; the same study found that bottled water was no safer or cleaner than tap water. They found that some brands even contained contaminants above the legal limit allowed in tap water.
- You are exposing yourself to extra chemicals: plastic bottles contain phthalates and BPA, which may disrupt your body's hormone production, and may cause asthma. For more information on phthalates and BPA, see WebMD, Medscape, and CNN.
- You are increasing your carbon footprint: all those bottles have to be made, and then recycled (if not put in a landfill); those processes have a great impact on the environment. For more information on the environmental impact of bottled water, see this article.
What types of water are available in bottles?
- Distilled: boiled and re-condensed, which removes microbes and minerals and electrolytes. I don't recommend distilled water, since we need minerals and electrolytes.
- Spring: collected straight from a natural spring.
- Artesian: collected from a well that taps an aquifer directly.
- Purified: could be collected from any source.
- Mineral: groundwater that naturally contains a specific quantity of minerals.
- PWS: public water supply
Water filters can be a great option if your tap water is less than ideal. Consumer Reports has a useful article summarizing water filter options. Remember to find out exactly what your filter can and cannot filter out! Also, consider what's touching your water: if your water sits in a plastic reservoir or passes through plastic tubing, then you're getting filtered water at the high cost of BPA and phthalate exposure.
Special Populations
Newborns drinking formula, young babies drinking water for the first time, elderly people, and people with immune compromise are all more susceptible to water-born contaminants. Before giving your baby water, whether it's straight or mixed with formula, consult your child's health care provider for his or her opinion on the best water to use.
Drink Your Water!
I'm always telling patients to drink more water. Without it we die; without adequate amounts of it, we fall ill or show symptoms such as headache and fatigue. So, take a quick moment to assess the quality of your water, and then, go forth and drink!
Resources:
EPA on drinking water
USGS on well water
EPA on well water
EPA on well water testing
NRDC on bottled water
Find more information on the problem of exposure to BPA and phthalates at:
WebMD
Medscape
CNN
WebMD Fetal Exposure to Plastics and Asthma Risk
This blog does not constitute medical advice. I have no affiliations to disclose.
No comments:
Post a Comment