Even though the majority of first world countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, claim that their tap water is well within all limits set down by the World Health Organization (WHO) and local authorities for tap water, it is still a good idea to be cautious about drinking tap water wherever you live in the world. There are valid reasons for this.
If you, like me, do not like drinking tap water because you can smell and taste chemicals in it, you are not incorrect. However, you may have a lot more to worry about than simply the chemicals that are used to make the water potable.
What Dangerous Chemicals Might Be Present in My Home’s Tap Water?
Throughout the years, a number of different research projects conducted on a global scale have uncovered the existence of harmful contaminants in the tap water that have the potential to cause a variety of health issues, including cancers of the bladder, lungs, and bones:
Chlorine
The addition of chlorine to water serves to sanitise it; nevertheless, chlorine has been shown to degrade vitamin E, cause damage to arteries, and kill the so-called “friendly bacteria” that live in your digestive tract. Other contaminants in the water can be oxidised by chlorine, which produces free radicals. Chlorine can also react with other contaminants in the water, which results in the development of chloroform, chloramines, and other harmful and carcinogenic by-products. Trichloroethylene (TCE), for example, is generated when chlorine mixes with rising quantities of contaminants in the water. This chemical, which has been related to infant leukaemia, kidney cancer, and a number of other ailments, can be found in drinking water.
Fluoride
The sodium fluoride that is used in the drinking water of many countries, including the UK, is a by-product of the aluminium industry. As a result, the drinking water that contains sodium fluoride frequently becomes contaminated with heavy metals such as aluminium and arsenic. Fluoride is a carcinogen that cannot be definitively ruled out. It has been demonstrated that fluoride is harmful to the immune system, that it inhibits thyroid function, that it is linked to osteoporosis (bone cancer), particularly in young boys, and that it is medically contraindicated for formula-fed infants, pregnant mothers, people with impaired kidney function, and diabetics.
Parasites
It has been discovered that 20% of the water in the UK and 82% of the water in Carolina have parasites that have developed resistance to chlorine.
In addition to oestrogen, nitrates and nitrites, heavy metals, and cocaine, there are a great number of other potentially lethal poisons present in the tap water that we are not aware of. I, for one, will not be drinking water directly from the faucet anytime in the near future. I have made the investment in a Living-Water Executive POU water cooler, which is plumbed directly into my main water line, has a Living-Water Triple Activated Carbon Filter fitted, and serves up great-tasting cold, ambient, or hot water whenever it is required. This allows me to even make my tea, coffee, or hot chocolate with pure filtered water instead of tap water.
Living-Water is the place to go to rent a water cooler in London as well as affordable water dispensers.
