You would think that cities who supply drinking water to their residents are providing a safe means of staying alive. After all, water is life.
And while most of us remain comfortable with the thought that the city cleans our water for us – that could be far from the truth. Industrial dumping, pesticide run-off, leaky storage tanks, and government mandates have created a scenario where the chemicals in tap water have got a little out of hand (and you’ll soon see why).
The Chemicals in Tap Water
I’ve provided a long list of chemicals in tap water in the section below, but I wanted to highlight a few key chemicals that are exposing you and/or your family to sickness every time you use the water.
Arsenic is one contaminant that has very lenient standards. In fact, arsenic is one chemical that is allowed (in small amounts) to creep into our water supply. According to The Center for Public Integrity, the CDC’s 2013 report states that most Americans regularly consume small amounts of arsenic. This poison can cause major health concerns, like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It also has negative impacts on cognitive development (1).
Pesticides are another concern that enter our water supply. Pesticides like atrazine and the infamous glyphosate (Round-up) have both been found in drinking water. According to the Pesticide Action Network of North America, Atrazine is present in 94% of US drinking water as per USDA testing (2). These pesticides are known endocrine disruptors and have also been linked to cancer.
Lead is also found in our drinking water, as one report demonstrated, with levels showing up higher than what should be deemed safe (3). Homes and buildings that were built before 1986 may be equipped with pipes and structures that contaminate the water with lead. Even low levels of lead are known to cause behavior and learning problems in children, as well as lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems and anemia. In older individuals, lead can result in decreased kidney function, reproductive problems and increased blood pressure. It can also result in reduced growth of fetuses in pregnant women, or cause premature births (4).
Fluoride if you haven’t already heard, isn’t actually necessary for healthy teeth. Even York University decided to do a review of existing studies that looked at the benefits of fluoride. The outcome? Scientific evidence trying to back up the argument that fluoride is beneficial for us was weak at best (5). They determined that more studies would have to be done to see if the benefits of fluoride really outweigh the risks. Over 90% of the fluoride added to our water supply is called fluorosilicic acid, which is actually a by-product of fertilizer manufacturing (6). Fluoride exposure has been linked to brain abnormalities, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, gastrointestinal effects, kidney disease, skeletal fluorosis and more.
Pharmaceuticals are also, unfortunately, found in our tap water. In fact, over 41 million Americans are drinking tap water that contains antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, and sex hormones (7). One study also found that wastewater treatment plants contained pharmaceuticals that ranges from oxycodone to Tylenol, with at least 25 drugs found in affected samples (8). How do pharmaceuticals enter our water? Runoff from pharmaceutical companies and improper disposal of drugs from hospitals, farms, cemeteries, and sewage. Basically, anything that goes down the drain can enter our water supply. What’s worse is that wastewater treatments don’t even take the necessary steps to remove all the drugs from the water.
The Shocking Truth of What’s Really in Your Tap Water
Not many people are made aware of the chemicals in tap water. If I told you that most tap water around the world contains heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides and pharmaceutical drug contaminants, then you probably wouldn’t be drinking it, would you?
Well, unfortunately, most tap water does contain these elements. This means they’re going into your body and settling in your fat tissue, where they build up and make us sick, diseased and ill as we age.
The chemicals in tap water may include some or most of the following (9):
Trihalomethanes
– Bromodichloromethane
– Bromoform
– Chloroform
Inorganic Minerals
– Chloramine
– Chloride
– Chlorine Residual
– Free Chlorine
Heavy Metals
– Aluminum
– Antimony
– Barium
– Beryllium
– Bismuth
– Cadmium
– Cobalt
– Chromium
– Chromium 6
– Copper
– Iron
– Lead
– Mercury
– Molybdenum
– Nickel
– Vanadium
– Zinc
Micro-Organisms
– Total Coliform
– Fecal Coliform
– E. Coli
Pharmaceutical Drugs
– Acetaminophen
– Caffeine
– Carbamazepine
– Ciprofloxacin HCl
– Erythromycin USP
– Sulfamethoxazole
– Trimethoprim
– Bisphenol A
– Diclofenac Sodium
– 4-para-Nonylphenol
– 4-tert-Octylphenol
– Primidone
– Progesterone
– Gemfibrozil
– Ibuprofen
– Naproxen Sodium
– Triclosan
Pesticides & VOC’s
– 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
– 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA)
– 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
– 1,1,2-Trichloroethane
– 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane
– 1,1-Dichloroethane (1,1-DCA)
– 1,1-Dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE)
– 1,1-Dichloropropene
– 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
– 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
– 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
– 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
– 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
– 1,2-Dibromoethane
– 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 123a)
– 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
– 1,2-Dichlorobenzene-d4
– 1,2-Dichloroethane
– 1,2-Dichloropropane
– 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
– 1,3-Dichlorobenzene
– 1,3-Dichloropropene
– 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
– 2,2-Dichloropropane
– 2,4,5-T
– 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
– 2,4-D
– 2,4-DB
– 2-Butanone (MEK)
– 2-Chlorotoluene
– 2-Hexanone
– 2-Methyl-2-propanol
– 3,5-Dichlorobenzoic Acid
– 3-Hydroxycarbofuran
– 4-Bromofluorobenzene
– 4-Chlorotoluene
– 4-Isopropyltoluene
– 4-Methyl-2-pentanone
– 4-Nitrophenol4,4′-DDD4,4′-DDE
– 4,4″-DDT
– 5-Hydroxydicamba
– Acetone
– Acenaphthylene
– Acifluorfen
– Alachlor
– Aldicarb
– Aldicarb Sulfone
– Aldicarb Sulfoxide
– Aldrin
– Alpha-Chlorodane
– Ametryn
– Anthracene
– Aroclor (1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260)
– Atraton
– Atrazine
– Baygon
– Bentazon
– Benzene
– Bromacil
– Bromoacetic Acid
– Bromobenzene
– Bromochloromethane
– Bromodichloromethane
– Bromomethane
– Bromoform
– Butachlor
– Butylate
– Butylbenzylphthalate
– Carbaryl
– Carbofuran
– Carbon Tetrachloride
– Carboxin
– Chloramben
– Chlordane
– Chloroacetic Acid
– Chlorobenzene
– Chlorobenzilate
– Chloroethane
– Chloroform
– Chloromethane
– Chlorpropham
– Chlorprophane
– cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
– cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
– cis-Nonachlor
– Cycloate
– Dacthal Acid
– Dalapon
– Diazinona
– Dibromoacetic Acid
– Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)
– Dibromomethane
– Dicamba
– Dichloroacetic Acid
– Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 12)
– Dichloromethane
– Dichlorvos
– Diclorprop
– DieldrinDiethylphthalate
– Dinoseb
– Diphenamid
– Disulfoton
– Disulfoton Sulfone
– Disulfoton Sulfoxidea
– Endrin
– EPTC
– Ethoprop
– Ethylbenzene
– Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
– Fenamiphos
– Fenarimol
– Fluorobenzene
– Fluridone
– gamma-Chlorodane
– Glyphosate
– Halo acidic Acids (HAA5)
– Heptachlor
– Heptachlor Epoxide
– Hexachlorobenzene
– Hexachlorobutadiene (CCC)
– Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
– HexazinoneIsophorone
– Isopropylbenzene (Cumene)
– Lindane (Gamma-BHC)
– Merphos
– Methiocarb
– Methomyl
– Methoxychlor
– Methylcyclohexane-methane
– Methyl Paraoxon
– Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
– Metolachlor
– Metribuzin
– Mevinphos
– MGK 264
– Molinate
– Monochlorobenzene
– m-Xylenes
– Naphthalene
– Napropamide
– n-Butylbenzene
– Norflurazon
– n-Propylbenzene
– Oxamyl
– o-Xylene
– Pebulate
– Pentachlorophenol
– Picloram
– Prometon
– Prometryn
– Pronamidea
– Propazine
– p-Xylenes
– sec-Butylbenzene
– Simazine
– Simetryn
– Stirofos
– Styrene
– Tebuthiuron
– Terbacil
– Terbufos
– Terbutryn
– tert-Butylbenzene
– Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
– Tetrahydrofuran (THF)
– Thiobencarb
– Toluene
– Toxaphene
– trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
– trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
– trans-Nonachlor
– Triademefon
– Tribromoacetic Acid
– Trichloroacetic Acid
– Trichloroethene (TCE)
– Trichloroethylene
– Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC 11)
– Tricyclazole
– Trifuralin
– Vernolate
– Vinyl Chloride
Other:
– Arsenic
– Fluorene
– Fluoride
– Manganese
– MBAS
– Nitrites
– PCB’s
– Petroleum Products (Gasoline, Diesel, Crude Oil, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, Refined Oil)
– Selenium
– Thallium
– Rust
– Microplastics (10)
While some of these elements aren’t found in all tap water across different countries, a good majority of them are, so keeping yourself protected is important.
How To Protect Yourself
If you’re concerned about the chemicals in tap water, you can install a whole-house filter, or you can get a counter-top filter for drinking water. While whole-house filters ensure that all the water you use (on your skin, the stuff you consume, and the stuff you wash your dishes and produce in) is clean. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, then counter-top filtration devices are your best bet.
My two favorite water filtration devices are:
The Berkey Water Filter
The Berkey is the water filtration device I currently use, because I am going to be moving in a few years, and it wouldn’t be worth it to me to install an entire home water filter system. I really love the Berkey water filter – it’s a countertop device that is easy to assemble, and removes essentially every contaminant listed above.
I’ve been using the Berkey for about one year now, and I’ve only had to scrub the black filters once, and replace the fluoride filters once. The black carbon filters only need replacing once every 4-5 years or so, and the fluoride filters need to be replaced once every 8 months to a year (pretty great, if you ask me!).
A Berkey system costs around 1.6 cents per gallon, whereas whole house distillation systems and RO systems (when properly maintained) cost between 35-65 cents per gallon.
The taste of the water that Berkey produces is incredible, and it allows all the minerals to pass through (so you’re not drinking dead water). It also saves the hassle of lugging in 18 liter jugs into your home (which, might I add, totally messed up my shoulder, which I’m still dealing with). So, all in all, I really love the Berkey and think it would be a great investment for anyone wanting to make a relatively cheap initial investment, for water that tastes good and requires little effort to make (just fill it up once it’s empty, and that’s it!).
Aquasana
Aquasana is an awesome water filtration company that offers countertop water filters, under the counter water filters and even whole house water filters. If you’d like to make sure that no fluoride is entering your water, then you can get their reverse osmosis (RO) system, which filters out all contaminants plus fluoride.
All Aquasana drinking water filters are certified to remove and reduce:
– Chlorine and chloramines
– Heavy metals
– Chlorine resistant cysts
– Herbicides and pesticides
– VOCs
– Pharmaceuticals
– and more…
You can also collect local spring water, or buy an 18 liter jug and fill it up with reverse osmosis water at your local grocery store. There are lots of options, you just need to find the right option that fits your budget! Let me know in the comments below if you have a favorite water filtration device, or if you use any of those mentioned in here!
Austin W. Troxell says
We love our Berkey! We've been using ours since we moved to Ecuador almost three years ago. I scrub the black cartridges every 6 months and they surely do need it at that interval. We don't use the fluoride cartridges because this country doesn't add fluorine to the drinking water. (They add it to table salt, instead.)
How good does the water taste? Recent guests asked us what brand of bottled water we buy because ours tasted so good. Like the videos say, "Tastes like Berkey water!"
Carly Fraser says
Hey Austin,
Yes, I agree. The water here in Winnipeg is very dirty and so my carbon filters need to be scrubbed around the 6 month mark. I remember the fluoride being added to table salt down in Costa Rica. And yes, Berkey water does taste awesome!!
Donna says
Clearly Filtered is my fav.
I’ve been using their pitcher for awhile now after seeing frequently tested third party lab results.
Going to get the under the sink system and refrigerator filters soon.
Stone Forest says
Have you tried a water distiller?
Carly Fraser says
I prefer reverse osmosis or the berkey filter, as they don't remove the minerals. I do not like the taste of distilled water, it tastes dead to me.
Austin W. Troxell says
Distilled water *is* dead. If distilled correctly and stored carefully, the product is a pure chemical I like to call "Hydrogen Hydroxide." No taste, no aroma, no nothing. It is >safe<, but not necessarily appealing.
Carly Fraser says
Yes!
Stone Forest says
Yes, it's effectively pure water (H2O); but another side to the argument is that if you're drinking filtered water, then that doesn't get rid of all of the toxins, and that the minerals left behind through water filtration are not absorbable.
Also, if you are getting enough minerals from your diet, then should not distilled water be a good source of pure water?
Austin W. Troxell says
Another factor to consider is that distillation doesn't always eliminate impurities. Many organic contaminates travel along with the steam and condense with the water. The only way to break these "azeotropes" is by adding other, often much more toxic chemicals to the mix.
Stone Forest says
The argument for distillation is that it produces contaminant-free water through boiling/evaporation, although it could probably better stated as being pathogen-free sterile water, because indeed it is possible for some organic compounds or other chemicals to survive the distillation process. Under laboratory conditions, it has been observed that within an initially sterile sealed glass container of distilled water, algae will start to develop after a few days.
I am not a biochemist, but I am interested in the debate over filtration-vs-distillation.
Would it be better to filter first and then distill?
Austin W. Troxell says
"Would it be better to filter first and then distill?"
Definitely. But then you get into questions of "overkill." If your goal is to produce H2O that is as close to chemically pure as possible, sure, filtering through mixed media, then through fresh activated carbon and then triple distillation will yield a very pure product. Do we need our water to be *that* pure? I don't think so. Water in nature is never pure. It picks up minerals and natural organics along the way from the source.
I was a chemist consultant to the pulp-and-paper industry in the early 1990s. One of our clients was a paper mill in Western North Carolina. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dinged them because their wastewater was too high in organic contaminants. The water was quite brown and looked like tea. It turns out the "contamination" was actually the result of the natural process of leaf decay in the heavily forested mountains in the area.
robb says
Can boiling your water whenever possible destroy all these toxins ?
Carly Fraser says
No, you would need a specific filter as mentioned in the article.
Taylor Brasher says
Looking to add a filtration system to filter the entire house water then utilize my Berkey for drinking (I love my Berkey) just looking for total clean water. Do you think that would be a good idea or overkill? On city water and think it’s awful that this isn’t talked about more….
Carly Fraser says
Hi Taylor – yes, I think total home filtration is a great idea. I’ve heard Aquasana is pretty great 🙂