By Shellie L. Rosen, Ph.D., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, DOM, L.Ac.
Unfiltered tap water contains toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, bacteria, and viruses. Increasing the water quality of beverages and foods improves flavor and lowers the toxic load. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes its maximum contaminant levels by balancing issues between human health and infrastructure changes. Indeed, significant investments are made to ensure U.S. drinking water is of the highest quality. Still, it is wise to consider in-home filtration to prevent the accumulation of toxins from your water source.
City tap water is disinfected to what is considered “acceptable” levels for drinking. However, it is alarming to find what passes as “acceptable” since tap water contains many substances that negatively interfere with human health. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from water treatment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pharmaceuticals can negatively impact health, yet the EPA does not regulate them. Forever chemicals, or PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl), derive from more than 10,000 manmade chemicals and industrial sources and are common in U.S. drinking water.
PFAS are linked to cancer, high cholesterol, and elevated liver enzymes. Other materials that negatively affect your health in tap water include micro- and nano-plastics (MNPS), agricultural products, pesticides, nitrates, and high concentrations of fluoride. Lead is the most dangerous heavy metal found in tap water, but others, such as chromium VI, copper, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and iron, are also problematic.
Opting for filtered water in a plastic bottle is costly to your wallet, the environment, and perhaps your health since the plastic leaches into the water. Plastics contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that “wreak havoc on certain messaging systems in the human body,” according to an article in The Scientific American earlier this year. Well-maintained water pitchers with filters can be an incredible way to reduce contaminants but only if you change filters regularly. Once a filter is finished, it contaminates the water passing through it, causing more bacteria than tap water. It is best to transfer filtered water to a glass container for storage.
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems remove more contaminants than filters, but they cost more. Countertop RO machines perform equally to installed systems, making them an easy-to-use option. Ultraviolet light features are great additions to RO and filtration to help with viruses and bacteria. If you use distilled water for your CPAP and drinking water, forgo the plastic jugs and trips to the store; use a distilled countertop machine instead. Your coffee pot, humidifier, and you all run better on clean water.
This column focuses on the filtration of municipal water. Springs, wells, cisterns, and other water sources require various types of contaminant reduction. Take a deep dive into water quality to see the contaminants in your area and the types of filtrations you need. Check out https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ or https://citywater.mytapscore.com/. My preferred source for information about water filtration is waterfilterguru.com, where you can compare products based on your needs. Consider adding minerals or electrolytes back into filtered water when filling up your stainless steel or glass bottle before leaving home. Filtration and RO systems range in cost from $20-$800. Abundant blessings!
