| What are some common drinking water problems? |
| Some common drinking water problems include aesthetics, water hardness and lead. In regard to aesthetics, otherwise harmless contaminants like chlorine, sulfur, iron and manganese can cause taste, color and odor problems in your drinking water. Hard water contains excessive levels of the minerals calcium and magnesium. This contributes to drinking water problems because hard water shortens the life of household plumbing and water-using appliances, makes cleaning and laundering tasks more difficult and gradually decreases the efficiency of water heaters. Lead is considered one of the many drinking water problems because when it is used extensively in plumbing materials (including pipes and lead-based solders), it can leach into water supplies – posing a possible health risk to you and your family. Some additional drinking water problems include: Biological Pathogens Biological Pathogens are waterborne organisms that can cause disease in humans. They include cysts like Cryptosporidium and Giardia; bacteria like typhus, fecal coliform and cholera; and viruses like influenza. These organisms typically cause unpleasant intestinal disorders and can pose a significant threat to the immune-impaired. Nitrates Nitrogen compounds are sometimes found in ground and surface water in rural areas, often as a result of nitrogen-based fertilizer runoff. Excess nitrate levels can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, especially in babies, and have been linked to high incidences of miscarriages. Heavy Metals Metals like mercury, zinc, copper, and cadmium usually enter the water supply as industrial waste and, in excessive concentrations, can cause physiological damage to humans, including damage to the central nervous system. Radium/Radon Radium or radon is a naturally occurring radioactive element that has been linked to cancer in humans. Radon is found in gaseous form, and is absorbed through drinking, as well as through inhalation during washing or showering. VOC’s Volatile organic compounds, such as the petroleum distillate benzene and the industrial degreasing compound trichloroethylene. High concentrations of VOC's are linked to organ damage and cancer in humans. THM's Trihalomethanes are by-products produced when chlorine reacts with organic compounds in water. THM's are primarily absorbed through inhalation, and have been linked to bladder and rectal cancer. Asbestos A fibrous mineral that contaminates water naturally or through its past use in concrete water pipes. Asbestos has been linked to lung and other forms of cancer. Home Page | FAQs | Glossary | Contact Us |