One would expect that our drinking water, especially or tap water and bottled water would be free of contaminants, especially seeing that they are well-regulated by governments, but unfortunately there are still contaminants to be found in some.
The list of contaminants that can be found in various water sources is rather daunting, but it is good to have this knowledge so that one can avoid them and all the problems and illnesses that they can cause.
Just Some of the Contaminants Found in Water
Below is a list of just some of the contaminants that can be found in various types of water, including lakes, rivers, drinking water and more:
Microbes
- Faecal Coliform and E coli are bacteria that can be found in lakes, rivers and dams. Their presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with animal or human waste. Microbes in the waste cause short-term effects such as headaches, diarrhoea, nausea, and cramps amongst others.
- Cryptosporidium is a parasite found in lakes and rivers; it comes from animal waste and sewage. It is tolerant to many chlorine disinfectants and causes a mild gastrointestinal disease called cryptosporidiosis. The disease can be fatal for those with severely compromised immune systems though.
- Coliform bacteria are generally not harmful but if found in drinking water it will denote a problem with the treatment system or water distribution pipes. Their presence indicates that there may be germs present that could cause disease.
Radionuclides
- Alpha emitters are radioactive minerals that emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Continuous drinking of water containing alpha emitters may cause cancer
- Beta/photon emitters are radioactive minerals that emit forms of radiation known as photons and beta radiation. Drinking water containing beta and photon emitters for many years may increase the risk of getting cancer.
- Combined Radium 226/228 is radium in the drinking water that exceeds the standards set out for drinking water and drinking water containing this type of radium may increase the risk of getting cancer.
- Radon gas is gas that can be dissolved and can be found in underground water sources like wells and can also accumulate in the air in your home. Breathing in radon gas can cause cancer as can drinking water containing the gas. Radon air is more dangerous than water containing radon gas.
Inorganic Contaminants
- Arsenic is a highly toxic heavy metal, and when foundin drinking water can result in damage to the lungs, heart, bladder, kidney and liver over the years amongst other problems. It can also do grave damage to the circulatory system and the central & peripheral nervous systems.
- Fluoride is often used in drinking water to promote dental health, but drinking fluoride in your drinking water over a number of years can cause bone cancer or dental fluorosis, which is a staining or pitting of the teeth.
- Lead often leaches into drinking water from old pipes and can cause delays in physical or mental development in children and high blood pressure and kidney problems in adults.
There are many other water contaminants that can cause anything from mild discomfort to death when consumed in your drinking water over a long period of time.
The only way to ensure that you do not accidently drink any of these contaminants is to never drink water from rivers, dams or lakes and to purchase a water cooler that has a filter or dispenses spring water. Water coolers are great for homes, offices, sports clubs, schools and many other public venues, and come in various styles and models to suit all budgets.
The best way to ensure that other water in your home is also free of contaminants is to install a full home reverse osmosis filtration system which guarantees to get rid of 99% of contaminants.
Source:
Living-Water supply water cooler service to companies in London. Buy mains water cooler and bottled water dispensers from Living-Water. Hire water coolers and purchase water coolers
