Drinking water contamination can involve various harmful substances. Common drinking water contaminants include chemicals, microbes, and minerals that may affect your health.
You should be aware of common pollutants in water supplies. Knowing what’s in your water helps you make informed choices about treatment options.
Physical contaminants change how your water looks and feels. These include:
Sediment (dirt, sand, rust)
Small plastic particles
Plant material
You may notice cloudy or discolored water. Filters can often remove these impurities.
Your water can contain harmful chemicals from natural and human sources:
Lead from old pipes
Nitrates from fertilizers
Pesticides
Industrial chemicals
Many chemical contaminants have no taste or smell. Water testing is needed to detect them.
Living organisms in your water can make you sick. Common biological contaminants are:
Bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella)
Viruses
Parasites (Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
Proper disinfection kills most biological contaminants in drinking water.
Radioactive contaminants can occur naturally or from human activities:
Radon gas
Uranium
Radioactive waste
You can't see, smell, or taste these. Special tests check for radioactive contaminants.
Have you ever wondered how drinking water supplies become polluted? According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the most common types of drinking water contamination and pollution include:
Contaminants can seep into underground water sources. Septic tanks discharge liquid waste that can contribute to nitrate contamination in groundwater.
This affects wells and aquifers. Common pollutants include chemicals, bacteria, and waste. These can come from leaky storage tanks or septic systems.
Rivers, lakes, and streams face various threats. Runoff from farms and cities brings harmful substances into these waters, and industrial discharge and sewage also play a role. These affect drinking water and aquatic life.
This refers to pollution from a single, known source. Examples include:
Factory discharges
Sewage treatment plants
Oil spills
These sources are easier to monitor and regulate.
This type comes from many scattered sources. It's harder to trace and control. Examples are:
Agricultural runoff
Landfill runoff
Urban stormwater
Atmospheric deposition
Requires a broader approach, involving sustainable land management practices, buffer zones, green infrastructure, and public awareness. It is often regulated through policies aimed at managing land use, agricultural practices, and urban planning.
Water doesn't respect political boundaries. Pollution in one country can affect another. Rivers and aquifers often cross borders. This makes pollution control a global issue.
Your drinking water can pick up contaminants from pipes. Aging drinking water infrastructure significantly impacts water quality, leading to potential health risks.
Old lead pipes are a major concern. Corrosion can release metals into the water. Biofilms in pipes can also harbor bacteria. Regular testing and maintenance are key to preventing this.
To comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates contaminants that impact drinking water quality and monitors public water facilities to ensure their water remains safe for consumption.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies certain substances as primary contaminants due to their potential health effects.
These include microorganisms, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic chemicals. Limits are set for each to protect public health. Testing is required regularly to ensure compliance.
Some examples:
Lead
Copper
Nitrates
E. coli bacteria
Secondary contaminants affect water's taste, color, or smell. While not dangerous, they can make water unpleasant. The EPA suggests guidelines but doesn't enforce them. Common secondary contaminants include:
Iron (rusty color/taste)
Sulfur (rotten egg smell)
Hardness (mineral buildup)
Contaminants of emerging concern are substances recently found in water supplies. Their health effects aren't fully known yet. Examples include:
Pharmaceuticals
Personal care products
Microplastics
The EPA studies these to decide if regulation is needed. If you're concerned about them, you may want to use additional filtration.
Here is a list of common contaminants:
Microbiological contaminants include:
Characteristics: Coliform bacteria are a group of bacteria found everywhere in the environment, in soil, vegetation, and in the intestines of animals. While not harmful themselves, the presence of coliforms in water means potential contamination by pathogens.
Health Risks: Some coliform bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) can indicate fecal contamination and cause gastrointestinal illness in vulnerable people. They can also mean other harmful microorganisms are present.
Significance in Water Quality: Coliforms are used as indicators of water quality in public health because they mean possible contamination by pathogens. Their presence often leads to further testing for specific bacteria and viruses.
Characteristics: Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that forms an oocyst that can survive in harsh conditions including chlorinated water. Found in surface water sources.
Health Risks: Infection by Cryptosporidium, also known as cryptosporidiosis, can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, and vomiting. Highly contagious and dangerous to immunocompromised people.
Significance in Water Quality: Because Cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine, it’s a challenge to conventional water treatment processes. UV treatment and filtration are often required to eliminate it effectively, hence the need for advanced water treatment systems.
Characteristics: Giardia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that infects the intestines of humans and animals. Found in water contaminated by feces where it survives in cyst form.
Health Risks: Infection by Giardia, also known as giardiasis, causes diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. One of the most common waterborne diseases and can lead to prolonged gastrointestinal problems if not treated.
Significance in Water Quality: Giardia is another indicator of fecal contamination in water. Like Cryptosporidium, it’s resistant to chlorine treatment so filtration is a critical step in the water treatment process to remove the cysts and prevent outbreaks.
Characteristics: Legionella is a type of bacteria found naturally in freshwater but can become a health risk when it grows and spreads in man-made water systems like cooling towers, hot tubs, and plumbing systems.
Health Risks: Legionella causes Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia and Pontiac fever, a milder infection. The bacteria infect humans through inhalation of contaminated water droplets, not ingestion.
Significance in Water Quality: Monitoring and controlling Legionella in water systems, especially in building water systems, is key to preventing outbreaks. Legionella’s resistance to low levels of chlorine means regular testing and cleaning protocols are required.
Characteristics: Waterborne viruses like norovirus, hepatitis A, and rotavirus are smaller than bacteria and often transmitted through contaminated water sources, especially those affected by human waste.
Health Risks: Infections from waterborne viruses can cause mild to severe symptoms, and liver disease in the case of hepatitis A. More dangerous in areas with poor sanitation and inadequate water treatment.
Significance in Water Quality: Viruses in water are hard to detect and remove as many are resistant to traditional chlorination. Advanced treatment methods like UV irradiation, ozone, and specific filtration technologies are often required to inactivate or remove viruses.
Inorganic chemicals in drinking water can be harmful. Some are from natural sources while others are from human activities. Key culprits are:
Characteristics: Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, and water. It can leach into groundwater, especially in areas with specific geological formations or from industrial activities like mining.
Health Risks: Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause skin lesions, cardiovascular disease and various cancers including skin, lung, and bladder cancer. Long-term exposure to arsenic has been consistently linked to increased bladder cancer risk in many epidemiological studies. It’s highly toxic even at low concentrations, chronic exposure can cause severe health problems.
Significance in Water Quality: Arsenic contamination in drinking water is a public health concern, especially in parts of Southeast Asia and South America. Treatment options to remove arsenic are activated alumina, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange.
Characteristics: Chromium is a metal found in different forms, chromium-3 (trivalent chromium) and chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) are the most common. While chromium-3 is essential in small amounts, chromium-6 is toxic and a carcinogen.
Health Risks: Exposure to chromium-6 through drinking water can cause cancer and skin and respiratory problems. Chromium-6 is more dangerous and associated with stomach cancer when ingested over time.
Significance in Water Quality: Chromium contamination usually comes from industrial processes like leather tanning and steel manufacturing. Removing chromium-6 requires advanced treatment methods like reverse osmosis and ion exchange.
Characteristics: Copper is an essential nutrient in small amounts, found in soil, water, and biological systems. However, high levels of copper can come from corrosion in plumbing and distribution systems, especially from copper pipes.
Health Risks: While copper is good for health, excess exposure can cause gastrointestinal problems, liver and kidney damage, and neurological effects in severe cases. Children are more sensitive to high levels of copper.
Significance in Water Quality: Copper levels are monitored in municipal water systems to prevent pipe corrosion and excessive leaching. Treatment methods are adjusting pH levels to reduce pipe corrosion and using activated carbon and reverse osmosis to remove excess copper.
Characteristics: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, and food. It’s added to drinking water to reduce dental cavities but excessive fluoride is harmful.
Health Risks: Chronic high levels of fluoride exposure can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, discoloration of teeth, joint stiffness, and bone problems.
Significance in Water Quality: While fluoridation in controlled amounts is good for dental health, excessive levels must be monitored. Reverse osmosis and activated alumina can remove excess fluoride from drinking water.
Characteristics: Lead is a toxic metal that can contaminate water from aging lead pipes and plumbing materials. Even small exposure to lead can cause big health problems, especially for children.
Health Risks: Lead exposure is linked to neurological damage, developmental delays in children, kidney damage, and high blood pressure in adults. It’s more harmful to pregnant women and young children.
Significance in Water Quality: The presence of lead in drinking water is a public health concern. Lead is removed from drinking water through filtration methods like reverse osmosis, distillation, and carbon filters specifically rated for lead removal.
Characteristics: Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soils, and water bodies. It can enter the water supply through industrial pollution, mining, and atmospheric deposition. Mercury can exist in different forms, methylmercury is the most toxic.
Health Risks: Exposure to mercury especially in the form of methylmercury can cause neurological and developmental damage. Mercury is more harmful to pregnant women and young children, affecting fetal and early childhood brain development.
Significance in Water Quality: Mercury contamination is controlled by monitoring and limiting industrial discharges and using water treatment options like activated carbon and reverse osmosis to reduce mercury in drinking water.
Characteristics: Nitrates and nitrites are nitrogen compounds found in fertilizers, animal waste, and septic systems. They can contaminate water through agricultural runoff and leaching into groundwater. Community water systems can be more affected by nitrate contamination especially smaller systems that can’t afford to address the problem.
Health Risks: High levels of nitrates in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome” a condition that reduces the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity and is life-threatening to infants. Chronic exposure can also increase the risk of certain cancers.
Significance in Water Quality: Nitrate contamination is a common problem in agricultural areas. Ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and distillation are effective in removing nitrates and nitrites from drinking water.
Disinfectants are added to kill germs in water. While they make water safer they can also be harmful in high amounts. Common disinfectants are:
Characteristics: Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant used in water treatment to kill bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. It’s usually added to drinking water as a gas or liquid. Chlorine inactivates many waterborne pathogens and is one of the most common method of ensuring microbiological safety in water.
Health Risks: While chlorine is a good disinfectant, high levels can be harmful. In drinking water, chlorine itself is not harmful at regulated levels but it can react with organic matter to form disinfection by-products (DBPs) like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Long-term exposure to these by-products is linked to increased risk of cancer and other health problems.
Significance in Water Quality: Chlorine is important in public health by ensuring water safety during treatment and distribution. While chlorine removes pathogens, managing DBPs is key. Alternatives like activated carbon filtration can reduce DBPs in tap water.
Characteristics: Chloramine is a compound of chlorine and ammonia. It’s used as an alternative to chlorine in water disinfection because it’s more stable and provides longer residual protection as water travels through the distribution system. Chloramine forms fewer DBPs than chlorine.
Health Risks: Chloramine is safe at regulated levels but high levels can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. People with kidney problems or compromised immune systems may be more sensitive to chloramines in drinking water. Chloramine is also harmful to fish and aquatic life so it must be removed from water in aquariums and certain industrial processes.
Significance in Water Quality: Chloramine is a good alternative to chlorine especially in systems where maintaining disinfectant levels over long distances is important. Although it forms fewer DBPs, chloramine requires specific filtration for removal in drinking water especially for those sensitive to its presence.
When disinfectants react with organic matter in water, they form by-products. These new compounds can be harmful. Examples are:
Characteristics: Bromate is a by-product when bromide in water reacts with ozone during the disinfection process. It’s often found in systems that use ozonation to disinfect water with bromide content.
Health Risks: Bromate is classified as a probable human carcinogen, studies link long-term exposure to increased risk of cancer especially in the kidneys. Short-term exposure may cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Significance in Water Quality: Bromate formation is a concern in ozonated water supplies especially where bromide is present. Water systems may use alternatives to ozonation or control bromide levels to minimize bromate formation. Activated carbon and reverse osmosis can remove bromate from drinking water.
Characteristics: Chlorate is a chemical by-product that can form when chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite is used in water disinfection. It can accumulate in water systems when disinfectants are stored for a long period or exposed to high temperatures.
Health Risks: Chlorate can affect thyroid function by interfering with iodine uptake, especially in infants, children, and those with thyroid conditions. Long-term exposure to high levels may cause thyroid gland dysfunction and developmental problems in sensitive populations.
Significance in Water Quality: Chlorate levels in drinking water are regulated to minimize health risks. To control chlorate formation, water treatment facilities manage disinfectant storage conditions and use alternative disinfection methods where necessary. Advanced treatment technologies like reverse osmosis can remove chlorate from drinking water.
Characteristics: Chlorite is a by-product when chlorine dioxide is used for water disinfection. Chlorite levels depend on chlorine dioxide concentration and water chemistry.
Health Risks: Chlorite exposure can cause blood-related health issues like anemia and has been linked to developmental and neurobehavioral effects, especially in young children and pregnant women. Long-term exposure may affect the nervous system in vulnerable populations.
Significance in Water Quality: Chlorite formation is monitored in water systems using chlorine dioxide disinfection. Water treatment facilities may use alternative disinfection practices and carefully control chlorine dioxide dosages to manage chlorite levels. Treatment options like activated carbon can reduce chlorite in drinking water.
Characteristics: Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are a group of disinfection by-products that form when chlorine or chloramine reacts with natural organic matter (NOM) in water. The most common HAAs are dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid, which depend on the water organic content and disinfection method used.
Health Risks: Long-term exposure to HAAs has been linked to increased risk of cancer and reproductive and developmental problems. Severity depends on concentration and duration of exposure.
Significance in Water Quality: HAAs are regulated in drinking water because of health risks. Water systems try to minimize HAA formation by reducing organic content before disinfection or using alternative disinfection methods like chloramination. Activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis can reduce HAAs in drinking water.
Characteristics: Trihalomethanes (THMs) are another group of disinfection by-products that form when chlorine or other disinfectants react with natural organic material in the water. THMs include chemicals like chloroform and bromoform.
Health Risks: THMs are probable carcinogens, long long-term exposure is linked to increased risk of bladder and colon cancer. Short-term exposure may cause liver, kidney, and central nervous system issues. THMs are more concerning for those who are exposed to it through both drinking and inhalation during showers.
Significance in Water Quality: THMs are one of the most regulated disinfection by-products, and limits are set to reduce cancer risk. Water treatment plants try to minimize THM formation by optimizing disinfection practices and reducing organic material before chlorination. Filtration methods like activated carbon and reverse osmosis can also remove THMs from drinking water.
Long term exposure to high levels of these byproducts may increase your cancer risk.
Organic chemicals in drinking water come from human activities. They can enter water from many sources. Some common organic contaminants are:
Characteristics: VOCs are a group of organic chemicals that can evaporate at room temperature and dissolve in water. Common VOCs in water are benzene, toluene, xylene, trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchloroethylene (PCE). These chemicals have a strong odor and can be found as contaminants in both surface and groundwater.
Sources: VOCs enter the water supply mainly from human activities such as industrial processes, fuel storage, landfills, agricultural runoff, and the use of chemicals in household products. Leaks from storage tanks, improper disposal, and industrial discharges are common sources of VOC contamination.
Health Risks: Exposure to VOCs in drinking water has been linked to various health problems depending on the compound and exposure level. Short-term exposure to high levels can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation. Long-term exposure may increase the risk of liver, kidney, and nervous system damage and certain cancers, especially with VOCs like benzene and TCE.
Significance in Water Quality: VOCs are regulated in drinking water because of health risks. Water treatment plants monitor and manage VOC levels, especially in areas near industrial sites or known sources of contamination. Treatment methods like activated carbon filtration, aeration, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can remove VOCs from drinking water.
Characteristics: Agricultural chemicals include fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides all designed to increase crop yield and manage pests. Common chemicals are nitrates, phosphates, atrazine, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos each with varying solubility and persistence in the environment.
Sources: These chemicals enter the water system through runoff from farmlands, irrigation drainage, and infiltration into groundwater. Heavy rains or improper application methods can increase contamination risks as these chemicals wash off into nearby rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
Health Risks: Exposure to agricultural chemicals in water has been linked to many health risks depending on the chemical and concentration level. Nitrates can cause "blue baby syndrome" in infants while certain pesticides are linked to cancers, neurological damage, reproductive issues, and endocrine disruption. Long-term exposure even at low levels can be more harmful to vulnerable populations.
Significance in Water Quality: Agricultural runoff is one of the main sources of water pollution affecting human and ecosystem health. Water treatment to remove agricultural chemicals includes methods like activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange. Sustainable agricultural practices like buffer zones and precision application can also reduce runoff.
Characteristics: Industrial chemicals include a wide range of compounds used in manufacturing such as solvents, heavy metals, petroleum products, and synthetic organic compounds. Examples are PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), TCE (trichloroethylene), dioxins, and various heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Sources: These chemicals can enter the water system through industrial discharge, improper disposal of waste, leaching from landfills, and accidental spills. Industrial facilities, mining operations and chemical manufacturing plants are common sources of contamination especially when wastewater is not treated properly before release.
Health Risks: Many industrial chemicals are toxic and persistent, they accumulate in the body and the environment. They are linked to severe health problems such as cancer, liver and kidney damage, reproductive issues, and neurological problems. Heavy metals for example can cause long-term health effects even at low exposure levels and certain organic compounds can disrupt hormone systems.
Significance in Water Quality: Industrial pollution is a water quality issue, especially in areas near industrial activities. Monitoring and regulation of industrial discharge is necessary to prevent contamination. Treatment methods to remove industrial chemicals from water are activated carbon, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation processes, and ion exchange each targeting different types of contaminants based on their chemical properties.
These can harm you if you drink contaminated water for a long time.
Here is a list of common secondary contaminants:
Drinking water can have non-organic chemicals in it that don’t harm your health but can affect the taste, odor, or appearance of the water.
Characteristics: Aluminum is a naturally occurring metal found in the Earth’s crust and is present in water from leaching from rocks and soil. Aluminum can also get into water from industrial sources like mining, smelting, and wastewater discharges.
Sources: Naturally occurring in minerals and soil, aluminum levels in water can be higher due to industrial runoff, wastewater, and the use of aluminum-based water treatment agents (like alum in municipal treatment plants).
Health Impacts: Low levels of aluminum are not harmful but high levels have been linked to neurological effects, especially in people with kidney problems. Long-term exposure to high levels of aluminum may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease but research is ongoing.
Significance in Water Quality: Aluminum is monitored in drinking water where levels may spike due to treatment or contamination. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are effective in removing aluminum from water supplies.
Characteristics: Calcium and magnesium are naturally occurring minerals that contribute to water hardness. "Hard water" means high levels of these minerals which can cause scaling in pipes and appliances but also provide essential nutrients.
Sources: Both calcium and magnesium leach into water from geological formations like limestone and dolomite especially in areas with high mineral content in the soil and rocks.
Health Impacts: Calcium and magnesium in water are generally safe and even beneficial as they contribute to the dietary intake of essential minerals. However, hard water can cause dry skin and hair and may reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents.
Significance in Water Quality: Hard water is not a health concern but may need treatment to prevent scaling and for industrial uses. Softening methods like ion exchange and reverse osmosis are used to reduce hardness in water.
Characteristics: Iron is a common metal found in the Earth’s crust and can be present in water supplies in dissolved form. It can give water a rusty color, and a metallic taste, stain plumbing fixtures, and laundry.
Sources: Iron leaches into groundwater and surface water from rocks, soil, and industrial sources like mining, steel production, and wastewater discharge.
Health Impacts: Iron in water is not harmful to health at low levels and is an essential nutrient. However, high levels can cause gastrointestinal upset and water quality issues related to taste, odor, and staining.
Significance in Water Quality: Although iron doesn’t pose significant health risks it can affect water aesthetics and infrastructure. Treatment methods like aeration, oxidation, and filtration can remove iron from water.
Characteristics: Manganese is a naturally occurring metal found with iron. At low levels, it is essential for human health but high levels can give water a bitter taste and cause staining.
Sources: Manganese is found in soil and rocks and can enter water through erosion and leaching. It can also come from industrial sources like mining and waste disposal.
Health Impacts: Low levels of manganese are beneficial but excessive exposure can cause neurological symptoms, especially in infants. High levels of manganese can also cause staining of teeth, laundry, and plumbing fixtures.
Significance in Water Quality: Manganese is monitored in drinking water due to staining and taste issues. Oxidation, ion exchange, and filtration are used to control manganese levels.
Characteristics: Sulfur in water appears as sulfate or hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide has a rotten egg smell while sulfate can give water a salty taste. These can naturally dissolve into water from minerals.
Sources: Sulfur can enter water from natural mineral deposits, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff. Areas with high sulfur rock formations can also have high sulfur levels in groundwater.
Health Impacts: Sulfur in water is not harmful at low levels but high sulfate levels can have a laxative effect especially for those not used to it. Hydrogen sulfide while unpleasant is not a health hazard but can cause headaches and nausea if present in high concentrations.
Significance in Water Quality: Sulfur especially as hydrogen sulfide affects water taste and smell making it an aesthetic concern. Treatment methods are activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, and aeration to reduce sulfur levels and improve water quality.
Water quality inspectors monitor these secondary contaminants to ensure the water meets aesthetic standards. You may experience them in your daily life:
These agents don’t pose immediate health risks but can affect the usefulness and enjoyment of your water. Water softeners or filtration systems can help address these issues in your home.
Here is a list of common emerging contaminants:
Organic and inorganic chemicals are emerging pollutants that commonly enter lakes and rivers through runoff and discharge from refineries, factories, residential areas, and agricultural fertilizers. These contaminants include PFAS, Personal Care Products (PCPs), and pharmaceuticals.
More information about these drinking water contaminants is provided below.
Characteristics: PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals with strong carbon-fluorine bonds making them non-biodegradable. Often called “forever chemicals” PFAS are persistent in the environment and accumulate over time. Common PFAS compounds are PFOA, PFOS and GenX.
Sources: PFAS are found in various products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, firefighting foams, and food packaging. They enter water supplies through industrial discharge, landfill leachate, and use of firefighting foams especially near airports and military bases.
Health Risks: Exposure to PFAS is linked to serious health problems including liver damage, kidney and testicular cancers, immune system suppression, developmental effects in children, and thyroid dysfunction. Since they are persistent and bioaccumulative even low exposure over time can be harmful.
Significance in Water Quality: PFAS contamination is a global concern given its persistence and health impacts. Standard water treatment methods don’t remove PFAS easily but advanced methods like activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis and ion exchange have shown to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water. Many areas are implementing stricter PFAS regulations to protect public health.
Characteristics: Personal care products are everyday items like soaps, lotions, shampoos, deodorants, fragrances, and cosmetics. Many of these products contain chemicals that don’t break down and can persist in water supplies.
Sources: PCPs enter water systems mainly through wastewater as they are washed off during bathing and cleaning. Wastewater treatment plants are not always designed to remove all PCP chemicals so they can enter rivers, lakes, and even groundwater.
Health Risks: Long-term health effects of PCPs in drinking water are still being studied but some chemicals in PCPs like phthalates, parabens, and synthetic musks are known endocrine disruptors and may have reproductive, developmental, and immune impacts. They may also affect aquatic life causing reproductive and growth disruptions in fish and other organisms.
Significance in Water Quality: PCPs are present in small amounts in water but their cumulative impact and health risks matter. Advanced water treatment methods like activated carbon filtration, advanced oxidation, and membrane filtration can remove PCPs from drinking water.
While these agents don't pose immediate health risks, they can affect your water's usefulness and enjoyment. Treatment methods like water softeners or filtration systems can help address these issues in your home.
Characteristics: Pharmaceuticals in water include prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as antibiotics, painkillers, hormones, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory medications. These compounds are biologically active and can persist in the environment.
Sources: Pharmaceuticals enter water systems through human excretion, improper disposal (e.g., flushing unused medication), and agricultural runoff from livestock. Standard wastewater treatment plants are not always able to remove these compounds fully, leading to trace levels in drinking water sources.
Health Risks: Although pharmaceuticals are usually present in low concentrations in water, long-term exposure can contribute to antibiotic resistance and may have endocrine-disrupting effects. Hormonal drugs, such as contraceptives, are particularly concerning, as they can affect reproductive health in aquatic organisms.
Significance in Water Quality: The presence of pharmaceuticals in water highlights the need for better disposal methods and improved wastewater treatment. Advanced treatment processes, such as ozonation, activated carbon filtration, and membrane filtration, are effective in removing pharmaceuticals from drinking water. Regulations and research are ongoing to manage and monitor pharmaceuticals in water supplies effectively.
You may be exposed to very small amounts of these chemicals in your drinking water. Water treatment plants work to remove many contaminants, but some can remain in trace amounts.
New testing methods allow scientists to detect extremely low levels of chemicals in water. This has led to increased awareness of emerging contaminants in drinking water supplies.
Looking to eliminate as many trace contaminants as possible from your drinking water?
Below, we outline some of the most effective methods for enhancing water quality by removing physical, chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants.
Physical impurities in drinking water can be removed through several methods. Filtration systems are effective for removing particles like sediment and rust. You can use:
These methods trap particles as water passes through, leaving cleaner water. Regular maintenance of these systems is crucial for optimal performance.
Chemical contaminants require specific treatment approaches. Advanced treatment technologies can remove various chemicals from your water. Options include:
Each method targets different types of chemicals. It's important to identify the specific contaminants in your water to choose the right treatment.
Biological contaminants pose serious health risks. You can address these through:
Disinfection methods:
Fine filtration:
These approaches kill or remove harmful microorganisms from your water. Combining methods often provides the best protection.
Radiological contaminants are less common but require specialized treatment. You can use:
These methods can effectively remove radioactive particles from water. Regular testing is crucial to ensure the ongoing safety of your water supply.