The water you drink every day could be contaminated with unhealthy chemicals, minerals, bacteria and other contaminants but how do these pollutants enter the drinking water and what can you do to identify them.
The water we drink comes from rainfall this is true if it originates from snow on mountains filling streams that turn into rivers filling lakes and underground aquifers or if you collect it directly from your roof in a cistern system.
The path from the source to your faucet provides many chances for contamination.
Some Mineral contaminants such as asbestos are easy to understand and should never be present but others like high levels of Iron, Copper, Magnesium must be monitored.
Chemicals from gas station holding tanks or runoff from streets that can contain pollutants such as fertilizers from our lawns and pesticides can easily get into our drinking water.
These sources can be prior to a water treatment plant or in some instances infiltration can happen along municipal lines that serve your community.
If you collect water from your roof which is very common in many remote areas that can not provide sufficient well water resources you open yourself up to the chance air pollution may settle on your roof top or bacteria could grow in your cistern holding tank.
Water Treatment
Municipal systems may use water from streams, the ground or recycle water from sewers.
Treatment is a process of physical filtration and chemical treatment.
When Chlorine is added to water it kills bacteria and then protects it from picking up more bacteria as it travels to your home through the municipal water lines.
Protection
It is important that you take active steps to identify problems locally. If you find reffuse in streams or know of polluters you should tell your local officials.
If you collect water from your own ground well you should have it tested regularly as you are now your own treatment plant and must take care of your own family’s needs.
End User Treatment
If water in your home has a mineral or pollutant problem then you should contact your local water treatment officials. In many cases treatment can be done in the home if you are your own provider.
UV Filtration can kill bacteria along with chlorine treatment.
Sand filters can reduce particulate problems
Membrane systems Reverse Osmosis may be able to remove some chemicals along with charcoal filtration.
And as a final treatment filters applied to your kitchen faucet may reduce some problems.
Keep Informed
Read the notices in your local news and keep in touch with your friends.