Types of Drinking Water Contaminants and How To Remove Them

No matter where you live or where your water is sourced, your tap or well likely contains some kind of contamination. There is a filter system that will meet your demands, regardless of how high the arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, or other contaminants are in your water.

​ You may enjoy the advantages of clean water for your health and its revitalizing flavor with the right filter in place.

The types of typical contaminants found in water, how they get into water supplies, and how to get rid of them from the tap or well at your house are all covered in this article.

What typical pollutants are present in drinking water?
Five categories of pollutants found in drinking water are categorized by the EPA:
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• Health is harmed by primary pollutants. Microorganisms, radionuclides, disinfectants, inorganics, and organics are all considered contaminants under this heading.
• Secondary pollutants are unsightly but not poisonous to consume. Fluoride, iron, chloride, aluminum, copper, and manganese are a few of them.

What's in tap water?

Not all of the aforementioned toxins will be present in your tap water in high proportions because the EPA restricts the contaminants that can be present in city water.

​The EPA regulates the presence of heavy metals, organic compounds, secondary pollutants, and microorganisms in tap water. While being cleaned, some contaminants, such as heavy metals, can contaminate tap water before it gets to your home.

Lead or copper can leak into water and contaminate your tap due to old or rusted pipes. The taste and odor of your tap water can be significantly impacted by the chlorine that is added to city water to treat bacteria.

How to get inorganic substances out of water for drinking

What substances are inorganic in water?
Many different types of pollutants are found in inorganic compounds, and some can be eliminated more effectively by certain filtration techniques than others. Typical inorganic substances identified in water supplies include:

• Fluoride,
• heavy metals
• Chloride

Heavy Metals
Any metallic element having a high density and toxicity is referred to as a heavy metal. Mercury, lead, arsenic, and copper are some of them. Water contamination from copper and lead is possible in older homes with deteriorated pipes. On the other hand, mercury most frequently enters water sources through snowfall and rain, which accumulate mercury in the air. Natural deposits and agricultural waste are two ways that arsenic can get into a water system. 

Chlorine
Because it is added to city water sources to kill microorganisms, chlorine is widely available. However, chlorine alters the flavour and odour of water, and too much of it is bad for your health. Chlorine overdose can result in shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, burning sensations, and impaired vision. Water should have a chlorine content of less than 4 parts per million in order to be safe to drink. 

Most filtration techniques reduce the amount of chlorine in water. Chlorine is reduced through distillers, RO systems, ultrafiltration systems, and activated carbon filters. 

Fluoride
For the sake of improving oral health, fluoride is added to city water systems. The impact of ingesting fluoride on health is, however, a subject of debate. The EPA considers 4 parts per million to be the highest safe quantity of fluoride in drinking water, whereas 0.7 parts per million is recommended for preventing tooth decay. Abdominal pain, strange tastes in the mouth, headaches, and eye irritation can all result from ingesting excessive amounts of chloride.

Reverse osmosis systems and distillers are the two most often used techniques for lowering fluoride levels in water. RO systems often attach to a faucet or other single outlet because they are point-of-use systems. 

Sulfur
The flavour and smell of water are tarnished by sulphur, a strong ingredient. It is particularly well-known for its bitter flavour and rotten egg odour. Consuming sulphur is not harmful until there is a concentration of 500 parts per million or more.

Not the risk of ingesting sulphur, but rather its unpleasant effects on water, is the main concern for the majority of water supplies.

Activated carbon filters, distillers, RO systems, and ultrafiltration systems can all help to lower the amount of sulphur in water. The main purpose of carbon filters is to remove bad tastes and odours from water. As a result, activated carbon filters are typically used as refrigerator filters. 

Both RO and ultrafiltration systems are a hassle-free way to get rid of sulphur and many other impurities because they may be attached to your home. Due to the fact that sulphur does not evaporate at the same temperature as water, distillers also lower sulphur levels. 
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Conclusion: 

I hope this article has made you come across the danger that might be luring in your drinking water. 

One thing is clear you surely don't want anything bad happen to you and your family. This is the reason you should install an RO system at your home to be sure that the water you are drinking is free from any type of harmful contaminant. 

If you live in any of these area: 

South Bend
Granger
Niles, Michigan
Mishawaka

We will be more than happy to help you. Please contact us for any further information.