The Invisible Threat Lurking Inside Your Tap Water

 

It is tempting to think that water from a kitchen tap is clean and free from contamination since it has been treated before it arrives at your house. The municipalities’ water treatment plants have tried to reduce contaminations, but scientists have made new discoveries of toxins in the environment that have raised new concerns about tap water safety. One of the biggest issues that should concern us is the issue of everlasting chemicals in water, as they are invisible by sight and smell and can remain in the environment for years to come.

PFAS in drinking water is one of the most disturbing forms of pollutants, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” since they tend to defy degradation in the environment. Alarmed by the presence of everlasting chemicals in at least 45% of the tap water supply in the U.S., scientists and health care experts have conducted recent studies. These compounds have been found to raise the risk of issues with reproduction, disrupt the activities of the immune system and induce several forms of cancer, in particular cancer of the kidney and thyroid. As the science behind “forever chemicals” becomes better understood, their importance is increasing.

Another problem worth mentioning is that many contaminants in the tap water are uncontrolled, meaning they have not been monitored or eliminated from the water by traditional water treatment practices. Water testing will allow one to get useful information regarding the possible contaminants of the water in question and decide whether or not the installation of a water filter or water filtration system in question is necessary. This information could be very useful when trying to protect one’s immune system.

When it comes to health, it is important to make treatment decisions based on science and not personal experience or theory. This is true even in the case of drinking water quality. Making choices based on the advice of the physician and the evidence based medicine framework means that these choices are based on scientific tests, findings and statistics. Knowing what is in your household water supply helps you to recognise any possible concerns that could be there. One simple approach to making an informed decision about your water quality needs is to examine water quality statistics.